"For the king!" Max held his goblet high. It had been a few weeks since the Greyjoy rebellion ended. In the end Theon was sent to Winterfell and his sister was shipped off to Casterly Rock. The tourney at Lannisport was in full motion and Max was allowed to sit and drink with king Robert.
The warrior king raised his goblet too, speaking, "to the iron cunts death!"
They raised their goblets to their mouths and drank. The wine was sweet and warming. Truly, a marvel of fermentation. The two sea dragons slept around his arms… he would have to come up with names for them soon…
After the joust ended with Lord Mormont courting lady Hightower, Robert stood up and motioned for Max to follow. The two of them(flanked by the kings guard) walked to the tourney ground, where king Robert addressed the people in attendance, his voice booming with authority, which made everyone stop talking and focus on him, "people of the seven kingdoms, lords and ladies, this victory against the iron cunts has been won not just by the lords riding at the front of the armies but also by the people actually fighting. Yes, many of them lost their lives but some others have shown great promise. This man, Max of Yi Ti, came to Westeros as nothing but a foreigner but he was instrumental to the crushing of the greyjoys. Not only has he broken up the wall around Pyke but he also killed this 'king of salt and rock' and presented me with his head… those of you who followed me from kings landing might remember my Promise. I said those who presented me with a Greyjoy head would be made a lord and I aim to keep that promise. Max of Yi Ti, with the power of the seven kingdoms, I make you lord of sea dragon point, with all the powers that come with it. Taxes at his to collect, justice is his to bring down and the land is his to command. Max of Yi Ti present yourself as a lord of the north"
Max nodded, pulling out from his backpack a flag. He unfurled it and present it to the crowd. A shattered silver hand on a field of gold, "from this day on, I am Max Veyne of sea dragon point and my words are 'our work is eternal'", his voice carried clear and sharp, not booming like the king's but no less penetrating, no less heard. The lords and ladies whispered amongst themselves as King Robert called for Eddard Stark.
"As bannerman of the Starks, you must swear both fealty to him and to me… Lord Veyne, to you swear to uphold justice, to serve, to answer our calls and follow our commands?"
"I swear it, both to your grace and my Lord"
"Good… good! For now that is all"
Amongst the lords and ladies, the opinions were split. Some honoured him for his contribution to the war whilst others branded him a sorcerer, "have you seen his eyes? Golden and like a cat's. No man has eyes like those! A demon I say!"
"I actually like the eyes, it has an exotic charm to it, doesn't it?"
"I heard he destroyed the walls to Pyke in a single punch"
"Well I have heard that he can breathe fire like a dragon"
"No, no, no, he can breathe underwater!"
"Whatever he is, for he certainly is no normal man, he has gotten the short end of the stick. Sea dragon point is barely even populated. There were once many keeps there, in the era of the first men but now, now only ruins remain. The weather is harsh and the only two resources they have access to is wild animals and lumber"
Later, when all the lords and ladies were leaving, when the crowds had dispersed and only hushed whispers were left of the happenings of that day, Max Veyne approached a certain old lion, Tywin Lannister, with a proposal, "Lord Lannister! Just the man I have been searching for!"
"Have you now?" The old lion watched him like a lion sizing up a gazelle.
"Yes!" He beamed, "I am a new lord, I have no capital and only the resource poor lands of sea dragon point. You have more than enough gold and-"
"I am not interested in funding you", he waved his hand dismissively, mind already on other things.
"Oh but you will be once you have heard what I can do for you"
Lord Tywin Lannister didn't say anything, not dismissing the idea but still not fully convinced or committed. He was curious where this was going.
"I have heard of your plight. The heir you wanted, Jamie, is stuck as a kings guard, who will never hold titles for as long as he is one and the gods know he is too proud to ask the king to dismiss him and your other son is a dwarf, bright, yes but unfit to inherit Casterly Rock, what would become of the Lannister name with a dwarf at its head? You have heard of my powers, right? To destroy and reconstruct?"
"Get to the point"
"Yes- well I can reconstruct inanimate things but I can also do so with living things. It is harder but possible"
Tywin's eyes widened. He had seen what had become of the wall surrounding Pyke. He could do that… to men?
"I might be able to turn Tyrion into a proper man with my powers, no longer a dwarf"
Lord Tywin choked on his wine, "you- you can what?!"
"It is painful but should be possible"
"Should be? You say you don't know for certain?"
"Well, I never have tried this exact thing before but I have done other things, just as difficult with success" it was one of his visions which had sparked this idea, the sickly lion being made into a healthy one, this should be what that vision meant, right?
"I will… think on it", Tywin was lost in thought, in deep contemplation.
"I will stay in lannisport for another week or so, you need not decide now but once I am gone, this offer is null and void", Max smiled, walking off to the tavern he was staying at.