Trials and Tribulations of the Oathkeeper

Chapter 34: Conspiracies Unraveled

—At King's Landing—

Red Keep — Royal bedchamber...

Daveth stood at his desk, staring at the inner contents of 'The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses' for Gods know how long. Never in his life had he felt so... sick; betrayed, even. He traced his index finger across the pages detailing the lineage of House Baratheon, the appearance of its male heirs... and comparing them to a certain Great House of the Seven Kingdoms. "'Robert Baratheon, black of hair, Daveth Baratheon, black of hair,'" he read quietly to himself. "'Joffrey Baratheon, golden-haired... Myrcella Baratheon, golden-haired... Tommen Baratheon, golden-haired...'"

Who knows how many times Daveth read the old tome. Again and again, he flipped between House Baratheon and House Lannister. And every time, the answer was always the same.

"Your brothers and sister are not your father's children. They have no actual claim to the throne," the late Lord Eddard Stark's last words rung repeatedly through his head before he died. "Jon Arryn learned the truth. That's why he died."

"'Tywin Lannister, golden-haired... Cersei Lannister, golden-haired... Jaime Lannister, golden-haired... Tyrion Lannister, golden-haired...'"

The Young Stag shook his head in utter bewilderment and realization as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. As it turns out, the rumor that surrounded Cersei which spread during Renly's rebellion—one he originally thought was a disgusting lie—actually had merit! Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen are all bastards born of incest between his mother and his uncle Jaime; meaning they all had no claim to the Iron Throne whatsoever. Daveth could care less what happens to Joffrey even after exiling him to the Wall, but Myrcella and Tommen...? He loved them and had a hand in raising them himself as if they were his own; just the thought of the two of them being ostracized as abominations in the eyes of the Faith of the Seven, or worse, killed... Daveth felt his head spin and stomach being tied into knots. He shook his head once more and slammed the book closed as a knock on the door snapped his concentration.

"It's open."

The door opened and Tommen entered the room. The boy was only 13 years old, but Tommen still displayed the same innocent smile whenever he looked up at his eldest brother... no, his half-brother. Daveth looked at him, but couldn't change the way he felt no matter how bad the truth stung. His brother, no... bastard half-brother, he had to remind himself... was a good, innocent child like Myrcella is, too. They may not have the same father, but they still shared the same mother. For the first time in his life, as much as it was for Myrcella and Tommen's sake, Daveth planned to take the darkest truth in history with him to his grave. Gods forgive him. It was a sin that would weigh heavily on his soul.

"What's that?" Tommen asked, pointing to the book.

Daveth sighed. "I was just filing in the latest entries to this dusty old relic. Lady Reina of Summerhall had just given birth to a boy with her husband Lord Durran," he lied.

The blonde-haired Baratheon blinked in curiosity, but bought it. "Which houses are they from again?" he asked.

"Reina is of House Fishport and Durran is of House Northborne. And before you ask any more questions, their houses are rather new. Just like House Seaworth."

"Oh."

"Now, is there something you wanted?"

Tommen nodded. "Yes, brother. Lady Lysa and her son just arrived at the capital with her household guards to swear fealty. They're in the throne room with Lord Baelish right now."