Trials and Tribulations of the Oathkeeper

Chapter 81: Another Year, Another Nameday

Red Keep — Tommen's room...

Nightfall had once again consumed the skies above King's Landing. Snugging underneath his bedsheets rested Tommen, youngest brother of Daveth and publicly acknowledged as second-in-line of the throne behind his newborn nephew Prince Lyonel. The fourteen-year-old is known by most at court as kind hearted and well-intentioned, but considered a passive and weak-willed lad. Despite his shortcomings, Tommen actually tries very hard to meet the expectations set on him. Even Daveth himself occasionally took time out of his schedule to help educate Tommen on political intrigue and learn the importance of what it means to govern should anything happen to him.

Tommen groaned, stretching his arms out to the side and gave a big yawn. Rubbing his eyes, he reached for a glass of warm milk. He felt the liquid slide down his throat with each gulp and set the cup down. Deciding that he would not fall back to sleep for at least a while, he gazed at the nearest painting across from him. It was an old portrait; one from a time from when the royal House Baratheon of King's Landing was whole: from left to right, the painting depicted a younger Daveth holding a toddler Tommen, a younger Joffrey posturing as if he meant to make himself look more glorious and a younger Myrcella smiling sweetly. Behind them was their father King Robert and Queen Cersei.

Looking at it somehow made Tommen feel saddened. Another life, another time,' he would sometimes ask himself in times of doubt. Back when we were... happy, I guess. Brother didn't smile enough, but kept some for 'Cella and me.

"Pway wif me, big bwover! Come pway wif me!" a 3 ½-year-old Tommen would pester Daveth almost regularly.

"Okay, Tommen," a 10-year-old Daveth would reply.

Tommen looked back on those memories fondly, even if they had faded away a bit once he grew older. As a child, wherever Daveth went Tommen was not too far behind him like a puppy on a leash. The lords and ladies of the royal court often remarked how cute the boys looked—complementing on how good he was behaving. On the other hand, whenever their brother Joffrey bullied and tormented Tommen (whether physically or emotionally) or even killed his pets for amusement, it was Daveth who intervened and put an end to it—sometimes if it meant being physical.

"He-he killed my-my... Joff killed Ser Fonsie!" a 6-year-old Tommen sobbed, referring to a fawn he once adopted as a pet, burying his face deep into Daveth's shoulder to cry on. Moments before their brother Joffrey had killed and skinned the animal.

A 12-year-old Daveth ignored the tears and snot staining his attire; instead, patted Tommen's head and held him close. "Shhh, shhh, shhh. Hush, Tommen. Dry your eyes and go to room. I'll take care of it."

And take care of it he did. The next day, Daveth returned with a litter of kittens—much to Tommen's delight. Indeed, he wiped his puffy eyes and was back to his old self in no time. But it was also the beginning of the hated sibling rivalry that formed between his two older brothers—and the estrangement from their mother. Nowadays, Tommen knew his brother would have any time to spare now that he's not only King of the Seven Kingdoms but now as a father himself too. It was something that Tommen wanted from the beginning as soon as his awareness matured; a family, whole and supportive. But there was indeed a slimmer of hope he held for himself once he was informed of his engagement to Lady Margaery Tyrell. Outside his room, a small sound broke his concentration. Tommen looked at the edge of his bedroom door, now cracked open ajar and assumed it was one of his cats. "Ser Pounce?" he called out.

But lo and behold, he soon noticed he had a visitor: Margaery. She hadn't made any formal requests known and it was possible that Daveth wasn't aware of her unannounced visit to his brother's room at this hour. Holding a lit candle in her left hand for illumination, she looked absolutely beautiful despite the twelve-year age gap between them; an olive-green ivory dress with golden rose embroidering and seed pearls, her soft curling brown hair was as smooth as silk, and her slender but womanly figure was enticing; quite tempting in Tommen's opinion. Understandable, considering he found his betrothed so attractive. Even so, he shook his head to rid himself of any perverse thoughts.