3rd Month of 284 A.C. King's Landing
Ser Arthur Dayne
The hall erupts into chaos at this, with various lords and ladies shouting various things, but Rickard has only eyes for Robert Baratheon, who stands and bellows for quiet. "I demand trial by combat," the man roars. "I won this war in battle once, I will win it again."
Arthur is somewhat taken aback by the man's declaration, though when he thinks on it, it does make sense. The man is a warrior after all, Tywin Lannister ever the opportunist speaks then. "Your Grace, I am sure my son Ser Jaime would be more than happy to stand beside you and fight for you."
Arthur looks at the man and then at Ser Jaime who looks completely stunned by this, their eyes meet briefly and then the boy he had knighted, stands forward and says quite clearly. "I am afraid not father. I have already broken one Kingsguard vow I shall not break another. It was to the Targaryens I swore myself to, not this child killer." With that Ser Jaime removes his own white cloak and walks towards them.
As Tywin Lannister splutters, Arthur feels a sense of pride for the boy he knighted, and clasps his hand as he joins them. "Welcome home Jaime," he says. "But why the change of heart?" The hall is in chaos just now, and as such they have to struggle to hear his response.
"I have grown tired of being a pawn for my father and sister, I want to do something by myself and I want to be a true knight." The boy replies.
Arthur is about to respond, but then Ser Gerold speaks. "Such as killing the king Jaime? Was that in holding to your Kingsguard vows?"
Arthur knows his friend and lord commander is merely doing his duty, that he does not still think of Jaime as a traitor but still it grates to hear the question. Jaime however, seems to take it well. "Aerys was going to burn King's Landing to the ground, you know as well as I do what he was and what he had become. They found the stores of wildfire where I told them they would be. I did what any knight would do and I killed him to protect everyone, no one needed to die for his insanity."
"And Princess Elia and her children?" Ser Gerold asks.
Jaime looks torn at this and his voice is soft. "I did not know that would happen. I was naïve, and I pay for it every day. But I wish for a chance to make up for that now, I would swear to never take up arms against King Jonothor from this day till my last." He says so looking at Lord Rickard and the woman carrying the king.
Lord Rickard nods and says. "Very well then, it would appear Pycelle wishes for the Council to be adjourned for now. Let us retire to the hall to discuss who shall fight the Stag." And so that is what they do, most of the lords and ladies have already left the hall as has the stag, and when they arrive into an antechamber known as the Old Man's Tomb, Stark speaks. "How the devil did Baratheon get his hammer into the hall? I specifically stated that there should be no weapons other than those of the Kingsguard present."
They all ponder this and then Ser Barristan speaks. "It seems Tywin Lannister is not against breaking the rules. I believe it was him who suggested it. Baratheon has been corrupted into something more than what he was at the God's Eye."
Lord Rickard nods then and says. "Aye, I can see that. Still that is not the matter here, we must decide who fights the stag. I believe it should be I who fights him. I am the regent for my grandson, and it is I who brought this about."
Arthur looks at his fellow Kingsguard, and is about to protest when Eddard Stark says. "But father, you must remain here to protect Jonothor. You are his grandfather and guardian and Lord of Winterfell. If you die then the cause falls. I shall fight Robert, I must do this."
Lord Stark shakes his head. "No son, you must remain here as well. You would not be able to fight at your best against the man. No it must be me or one of the Kingsguard."
Arthur and his sworn brothers look at one another and then Arthur speaks. "My lord, allow me the opportunity to defend the king. I failed Prince Rhaegar, but I shall not fail King Jonothor. I am confident that I can beat Robert Baratheon, he will be using his anger to fuel him, and whilst anger can sometimes be a good thing in a fight, in a situation such as this, it will be his downfall. I am sure I can be the better fighter."
There is a moment's silence, and Stark looks at him for a long time and then finally says. "Well if you are certain of your victory, I see no reason to prevent you from fighting. You shall be King Jonothor's champion."
Having reached a decision, they walk from the antechamber and enter the throne room. The Iron Throne, stands on its platform imposing as always, the room itself has been modified from the discussions in the morning. Chairs have been moved backwards, some have been removed, it is clear they are trying to form a ring around them. Something for the lords gathered to watch and to cheer at. Baratheon is stood in the middle of this ring, dressed head to toe in his armour, which glitters silver in the light, his stag antlered helm on his head. Arthur himself is dressed in his Kingsguard armour, and has been since the morning, something that could impede him, but considering the Baratheon is shaking with fury, it seems that this might not be such a big disadvantage. He dons his helm and walks forward to the middle of the ring, standing before the Baratheon, and waits. Pycelle's voice comes from somewhere. "We are here for the Trial by Combat, declared by King Robert Baratheon and accepted by Lord Rickard Stark, regent for King Jonothor Targaryen, Lord Stark has chosen Ser Arthur Dayne as his champion. The rules are simple, the two competitors fight to the death, and should Ser Arthur die then King Robert will be acknowledged by all parties as the rightful King of Westeros, should King Robert die, King Jonothor Targaryen shall be acknowledged by all as rightful king of Westeros. Is this clear?" everyone nods and voices agreement. Pycelle speaks once more. "Then let us begin."
There is silence at that, and Arthur and the stag circle one another, both watching and waiting for the other to make the first move. They circle one another, taking full view of the ring and the surroundings, they move around one another taking stock of where there is a weakness n the other's armour or defence. The stag lunges first as Arthur thought he would, his hammer swinging at an angle that Arthur manages to block, sparks fly, and he manages to force the hammer off of his sword. He moves backward, tempting the stag to follow him, trying to tire him out. Baratheon lunges once more his hammer coming out in another angle, but his hammer misses Arthur once more. He can hear Baratheon curse, and as the man charges forward, Arthur dances towards the left side, whilst Robert lunges after him, Arthur continues dancing away from Baratheon taunting him by how often the Stag is missing him.
With Baratheon tiring out, Arthur decides to go on the offensive. He moves forward bringing Dawn up high and bringing it down low in a quick fluid motion, and Baratheon does not manage to bring his hammer into the defensive in time, and when Baratheon curses at the dent Arthur leaves in his armour, he does smile. Arthur dances back, and then dances forward once more, swinging his sword, attacking the weak spots, near his shoulders slashing away at the man, bringing dents and cuts aplenty to the man. Baratheon is struggling now, and Arthur exploits this completely, he swings and slashes, and more and more bruises and cuts begin appearing on the stag. Arthur senses he has the advantage, and he brings Dawn up in a high arch and when he brings it down he is surprised when Baratheon's hammer blocks his sword. They are engaged in a duel of strength and when Baratheon shrugs Arthur's sword off of his hammer, Arthur dances backwards drawing Baratheon towards him.
Baratheon follows him as Arthur knew he would, and this time it seems the man is intent on attack. Baratheon lunges forward, his hammer swinging at the angles he so favours, two hands on the handle, and Arthur finds himself on the back foot. Baratheon comes charging forward, his confidence clearly back, and the hammer comes battering into Arthur's own armour, dents begin appearing in his own armour, and tiredness begins colouring his vision. His breathing is heavy and is echoing in his ears, Dawn is heavy in his hands, but still he pushes on. The Baratheon's strength is quite something to behold even Arthur can acknowledge that, his hammer seems a part of his body, an extension of his arms. Arthur can see blood on the hammer and he wonders if perhaps that his own. Dawn and the man's hammer clash once more, Dawn resting heavily on the hammer's handle. Both men are exerting their strength, trying to force themselves onto the better half of the battle. Eventually the pull away and Arthur dances backward.
Baratheon is tired out by this point, so is Arthur, and yet they come together once more, Dawn vs the hammer, sparks begin flying off of the weapons as they come together. Both men are breathing heavily, and Arthur knows one way or another one of them will die now. Baratheon swings his hammer, Arthur ducks and thrusts his sword into Baratheon breaking through an already dented piece of breastplate before pulling Dawn out, and dancing backward. Blood is pouring from the man's armour, now and Arthur senses blood. He moves forward just as Baratheon does, they meet in the middle of the ring, and sweat is pouring off of Arthur's face and down his neck onto his armour, but still they meet and sword and hammer clash in the middle. Sparks begin flying, Baratheon with one hand on his hammer swings once more and Arthur manages to just about avoid the hammer as it comes close to his side. The dance continues, and Baratheon follows Arthur through the chaos that the ring has now become. The chairs have been disturbed, they are crashing into spectators now as Baratheon is firmly on the offensive now.
The usurper swings his hammer and connects with Dawn, they break apart and then Baratheon comes again this time connecting with Arthur's armour, sparks fly and dents begin appearing, blood is also trickling down. They break apart, and this time Arthur begins following the usurper, he moves forward and using each piece of strength he has left inside of him he swings dawn in arcs, and cuts and dents Baratheon, until at one point they are locked in a contest of strength. Dawn is locked on the handle of Baratheon's hammer, both men are pushing using their arms trying to force the other to break contact, and neither is willing to give, Arthur's arms are shaking and he knows a second longer and he will not last. But surprisingly, it is not Dawn that drops to the ground it is Baratheon's hammer, it is covered in blood and dirt, and Arthur takes one look at Baratheon to know the man is shocked. Arthur uses that shock to bring Dawn back from the grip and then thrusts it firmly into Baratheon's chest, piercing through his armour and drawing blood. He pulls Dawn out from the man's chest, and watches as the man falls to his knees, blood pooling forth from his armour on to the floor.
There is a shocked silence throughout the hall, Arthur himself is panting somewhat, tired from his exertions, and he swears he is not imagining it when he hears Baratheon scream. "Ned!" Before he slumps to the floor and dies.