Renly's POV
Lord Stark, the only man I respected in this entire stupid kingdom, and unfortunately for me, it's the kingdom I'm entitled to. Well, I'm not entitled to it, I admit. My brother Stannis is, at least more so than I am, I know, but who cares?
I honestly don't know when I became so obsessed with that damned throne. Since I arrived here, I haven't thought about anything but conquest. After almost seven years, this body managed to influence me, or have I always thought this way? I don't remember much of my previous life, and I don't care. Accept my new life.
I remember what I need, or at least I think I do. My desires, though I don't know if they're mine or someone else's. I remember how I used to respect Stannis, Eddard Stark, but I also know how stupid they were, and how stupid the king could be, and of course, how stupid I could be too.
Great kings have passed through this continent, wise men, tyrants, warriors, fools, incompetents, idiots, cruel, warlike, pacifists, paranoids, lustful conquerors. Could I be king? Did I want to be? The answer was yes. That's all I had left: a strange world, strange desires, but now the convictions are mine.
And I'll do everything I can with what I have to be a conqueror, yeah right! That was a good speech, and I'd honestly repeat it to myself. It would be my creed, and I'd be happy, if only there wasn't some crazy woman with a thirst for revenge and the power of dragons crossing the sea.
Not to mention that weirdo with his army of the dead. I was screwed, and even if I managed to become king, I wouldn't hesitate for long against those two. And not only that, this damn kingdom was rotten to the core. Damn, most kings died under mysterious circumstances; it was very rare for a king to live to old age.
Robert would be assassinated, leaving bastards on the throne. Pretenders would rise one after another, and just as quickly as they appeared, they died. Only House Baratheon was left, reduced to a couple of Robert's bastards and a sick little girl. Oh, and I almost forgot young Griff, Rhaegar Targaryen's supposed son.
*Sigh*
When the Targaryens and the Blackfyre arrive, I doubt they'll think very highly of the younger brother of the guy who stole their throne and basically massacred their family. Good news, there's still time for that. The moment those damned beasts touch my kingdom, the roar of my cannons is what they'll face.
Sure, it's easy to talk and make empty promises, but at least it's an idea, one worthwhile and that could become possible in time, or so I hope...
-Do you understand why we're doing this, little one?-{calmly}-(Jon Arryn)
*Ugh* Damn it, I have to break this bad habit of starting internal monologues in the worst possible situations. The great Jon Arryn had nothing against him, but the guy was an idiot. The Tyrells supported the lost Targaryens, and what did they get in return? A betrothal to the future Lord of Storm's End and younger brother of the king, a royal pardon, and privileges to secure their harvests.
"I understand, my lord. It is for the good of the realm and for the good of my brother's throne, the new king." {serious} "And what about the Lannisters, who, even with Jon alive, control the capital as they please? And let's not forget the Lannister bastards, about whom I knew and said nothing—a complete idiot."
"Lord Mace, I hope that with this alliance we have sealed today, peace will return to the realm and that the Reach will honestly support the new king." {serious} (Jon Arryn)
"I swear by the honor of House Tyrell that the reign of King Robert the First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, shall be prosperous and wise. Our banners and grain shall always be ready for the throne." (Mace Tyrell)
As the two great dukes exchanged words about peace and unity, I couldn't help but curse that idiot Jon Arryn and that imbecile of a brother, Robert. The Tyrells, owners of Highgarden, Wardens of the South, Lords Paramount of the Mander, the great granary of the realm, and the kingdom with the largest army.
And now the eldest daughter of the Lord of the Reach was my betrothed. I wouldn't have any complaints if it weren't for the fact that I was now under the watchful eye of possibly the most powerful woman in the Seven Kingdoms, Olenna Tyrell, née Redwyne, now Tyrell, the Queen of Thorns. I knew what was coming. I doubt she holds me in high regard.
I doubt that, even as her future grandson, she doesn't have certain plans if I stray too far from those plans she might have for me. Those kinds of people who see others only as tools and who do everything possible for their own interests are the most dangerous, and the most unfortunate thing is that those kinds of people are the ones who prosper in this realm.
Margaery Tyrell, with her thick, soft, curly brown hair, large brown eyes, and pale, smooth, and immaculate skin, the future wife of power, was the wife of a prince and two kings. The prince was murdered by his brother, and the king by his own grandmother, and she ended up married to the boy king. And the worst part?
Now I am that prince. Even though she's very young, she already dreams of becoming queen, and I know she has very little trouble with the manners required for that. And now I'm tied to her and her family, when not long ago her father was the one who almost starved all my servants and me.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Margaery said calmly. I looked at the smile on her face, so innocent and sincere, and yet I couldn't help but think that she was raised to appear that way.
-Likewise, I always wanted to meet the children of the guy who almost starved me and my brother to death-{sarcastically}- he sighed and lowered his gaze *Snort* I raised an eyebrow and met the intense gaze of the one who would one day become the knight of the roses and of course the soulmate of whoever I would have been.
Loras Tyrell, remarkably handsome with curly brown hair and striking "liquid gold" eyes, sent as a squire to Storm's End and, of course, as a deterrent in case the Tyrells caused trouble. The guy was staring at me with far too much intensity, and knowing what that meant only made me more uneasy.
"It will be an honor to share the same roof with the great prince of the realm," he said calmly.
*Hmph* This guy. *Sigh* Annoying family. Not all this is bad. I have an alliance with one of the most powerful kingdoms, powerful enough that I don't have to fear the Lannisters. And if I play my cards right, I could turn them into nothing more than mere henchmen. But I must be careful.
Their influence cannot be allowed to spread. Fortunately, I know what I have to do to avoid depending on them. After all, now with Robert as king and the imminent coronation, peace has returned to the Seven Kingdoms, and the game of thrones is about to begin.
The lion stalks the capital, and the lion will be the one to give me the key to my throne.