The Moon Behind the Tower

Confrontation

Osman was walking down the walkway that overlooked the training area, and he noticed a man that was training on a dummy, and Osman had never seen such a man before. His bulk was impressive, and his swordsmanship was great. Osman walked down the stairs to see the knight, the men noticed the Sultan as he was coming down the stairs, and all of the men that were training came to the bottom of the stairs to greet the Sultan. Osman walked to the tall man, and spoke to him, shocking all the men that were there.

Osman: You there, what is your name?

Man: I am Ser Harwin Strong, Sultan Osman.

Osman: Breakbones?

Harwin was shocked that the Sultan knew his nickname, and he didn't know what to feel at this point. Osman could see the kindness in Harwin's eyes and his body language, that he was a good man. Osman was interested in this man and so Osman's next question had all of the men look at the Sultan with shock and jealousy towards Ser Harwin.

Osman: Ser Strong, will you take a stroll with me in the garden?

Harwin: Yes, Sultan Osman.

The men walked away from the training area, and soon the two reached the gardens. Viserys was also heading to the gardens when he saw Ser Harwin and Sultan Osman walking in the garden entrance, shocked to see Osman walking with the knight. Osman was worried about his finance, and the stress of getting her niece Princess Rhaenyra, to marry. So, to help his love he walked around the castle seeing possible men that could fit the bill. Osman talked with Harwin, speaking of wars, training, and morals even. Osman enjoyed his time with Harwin, seeing a man of honor, virtue, and a good soul. Osman thought he found the perfect groom for his niece. Harwin saw the young Sultan as a man of good judgment, character, and noble spirit. Osman to Harwin was the perfect choice to rule the Cresent Empire. Joffrey was walking to the gardens, where he heard the maids talking about how Ser Harwin was having the honor of walking with Sultan Osman. Joffrey was mad with rage, so mad that he had a plan of killing the Sultan. How dare he steal his wife and daughter! How dare he be a whore in front of the court! Joffrey knew for a fact that Osman acted like an honorable man to win the heart of the king and princess. Joffrey knew that he was dressed in a fitting outfit to show off his body to the princess, and she took the bait. Soon Joffrey reached too the gardens and walked in, searching for the man whore. Osman was still with Harwin, and he was getting thirsty, so he asked a servant that was working on the hedges to find someone that could help them. The servant walked away, and Osman was looking at a flower when he heard someone coming up to him at a fast pace, he ducked his head to dodge an incoming punch to the back of his head. Joffrey missed his strike to the Sultan's head and the power of his punch made Joffrey lose his balance and he fell to the ground. Harwin rushed to Joffrey and pinned him to the ground, shocked and horrified that he would try to strike a ruler.

Harwin: Joffrey, what in the seven hells is wrong with you?!

Joffrey: It's all his fault!

Osman: Really?

Soon guards came rushing into the garden, surrounding the men, and three came up to help Harwin to get Joffrey off the ground and he was held in place. Osman looked at the man, now knowing what his love's ex-husband was like. Seeing him Osman had nothing but disgust for this man, an old man with barely a speck of respect for anyone. Joffrey looked at Osman, a young man that has everything that he never had. Power, respect, and glory. Joffrey couldn't stand it, he refused to be defeated by a boy! He will not lose, even if it cost him his life!

Osman: Joffrey, is it really necessary for you to act like this? You have a wife that is carrying a child, and your house is already on the rocks of your actions and the divorce. I understand that your older brother is having an even harder time marring his daughters away, for not many houses are willing to deal with a man that can't control his little brother and have to deal with paying a large amount of gold to compensate the Princess. So please, for what little dignity house Baratheon has left, go back to your wife.

Joffrey: To the seven hells with my older brother and his sluts! They can die for all I care! It's you that ruined everything! Baela is my wife! Alyssa is my daughter!! You stole them from me!

Osman: Then why are you in this situation now? If you loved Baela and Alyssa, why did you cheat? If you married Baela without ulterior motives, you would be having a great marriage, but no. Your here now, letting everyone see the real you.

Joffrey was fighting against the guards, rage clouding his judgment as he struggled to get to Osman, Harwin standing in front of the Sultan, ready to defend him when the king was rushing to the scene.

Viserys: What is happening here?!

The Sultan and the rest of the men except Joffrey and the men that were holding him bowed their heads to the king. Joffrey was in such a rage that he didn't seem to notice the king. Viserys walked to the Sultan, worried that Osman got hurt.

Viserys: Sultan Osman?! Are you hurt?!

Osman: I'm fine, I would be more concerned about Lord Joffrey, Your Majesty.

Joffrey was still struggling, and his breathing alone was ragged and labored. Viserys never knew that Joffrey was this crazy. He ordered that Joffrey be taken to the dungeons, and Joffrey was kicking and screaming away from the group.

Viserys: I am so sorry Osman; I should have sent Joffrey away as soon as he got married to Lady Strong.

Osman: No damage was done, Your Majesty. I only hope that Lord Joffrey's family doesn't take the blame.

Viserys: It will not be so; The Baratheons have already taken much blame as it is.

Osman: Now that is over, why I don't treat you two to Turkish wine?

Harwin and Viserys walked with Osman to a table that was ready for them. Osman's servant was there, with a bottle of Turkish make. Soon the men were seated, and goblets were placed in front of the men. Harwin felt embarrassed, he was all sweaty and didn't smell great. Osman noticed Harwin's discomfort.

Osman: No need to be ashamed of your appearance. If anything, it was I who took you right out of training. And if it makes you feel any better back at home there has not been a day where I was not covered in baby puke, sweat, and dirt. I could stay clean for only ten minutes a day. It drives my mother crazy every day and once I just wanted to go to bed, dirty clothes and all and my mother wasn't having it, so she dragged me from my room to my private bathroom, stripped me down, and with strength, I never knew she had she picked me up and tossed me in the bath. Let us say that for my mother's sake, I never did it again.

The men were laughing at the story, and the servant walked around the table, pouring the wine into the goblets.

Servant: This is our most famous wine. Made with our legendary Calkarasi grapes, strawberries, and raspberries, along with watermelon and thistle.

Both Viserys and Harwin were very interested in this wine, they heard the stories, but never had the money to buy the wine. Harwin looked into the goblet and noticed that the wine was a caramel pink, an interesting color for wine. Soon the two took a sip of the wine, and their mouths had never been more thankful at that moment. The balance of sweetness and acid was perfect, and the wine smelled sweet, adding more to the wine. There was barely a hint of bitterness, and it was smooth to the throat and filled the stomach with warmth.

Viserys: My gods, this wine is heavenly Sultan Osman!

Harwin: Yes, this wine is perfect my Sultan.

Osman: If it pleases you, I will have two crates full of this wine sent to the palace.

Viserys: You are too kind, my Sultan.

The rest of the day was spent in the garden, the men enjoying the wine and talking. Viserys had never been happier with the company that he was with.