The King's Solar

The King summons Ser Axell Blackwood to a private audience.

The king looks up when Blackwood entered. After allowing the man to kneel for a few moments, Maekar spoke. "You may rise, Ser, and take a seat," he said gesturing to a set of chairs. "You may be pleased to know that your wife's name has been cleared, and she has been freed from her imprisonment."

The king nodded. "We are aware that your marriage was not consummated, due to issues with her pregnancy. It is our wish to anull your marriage, and we will arrange for you another beneficial marriage for you as compensation."

The King nodded again. "A daughter of Riverrun would be a most worthy match," he agreed, "tough beyond her dowry and pedigree would would gain little. Lord Tully has a number of sons, but there are other men in the Riverlands who have marriageable daughters and no sons at all. The lord of Stone Hedge, for example, lost his heir in a skirmish with the Warrior's Sons two years ago, and all that remains to him is a daughter of sixteen, whose husband will succeed to that title upon the Lord's death."

He dropped the bait carefully, hoping to spark Ser Axell's greed. Lord Tully's daughter was all well and good, but even she would not bring him a lordship, such as marrying an heiress like Alyx Bracken would gain him.

"Neither your lord father nor your brother would be displeased to see you become the heir to Stone Hedge," Maekar replied dryly. "Lord Bracken will likely be the one who balks, but against pressure applied from both his liegelord and his King, he will be able to say very little in protest. There has been peace between Blackwood and Bracken before, and even if it is only temporary, the Riverlands will be well served by it."

"Your hands," the King corrected gently. "As Lord of Stone Hedge your first duty would be to your liegelord, and then to your own vassals, and to your people, not to Raventree Hall."

"As for Lord Bracken; we shall deal with him and gain his acceptance. When you do wed his daughter, treat him with respect and deference as your goodfather, and treat her as a wife ought to be treated. In time, you shall gain his acceptance, and the title and wealth of Stone Hedge are surely worth it the effort," he added.

"We will consider it," King Maekar replied. "In the meanwhile, you will be required to publicly renounce your marriage to Lady Vira. You may cite the unseemliness of the accusations made against her despite her acquittal, if you wish, and make it public that your marriage was never consummated."

The King met Ser Axell's gaze, and when he spoke again the knight noticed that he'd dropped the usage of the royal 'we'. "You may rest assured that I will properly reward you for your loyalty, Ser. While I make the proper arrangements with Lord Bracken, it is my wish that you ride north, and join Lord Tully's army that marches on the Riverroad for Harrenhal. I shall send a rider to inform you once Lord Bracken has agreed to the marriage."

"And you will be, Ser, once we have written to Lord Bracken and won his agreement," King Maekar replied, his tone indicating asking again would not yield a different answer. "A rider will be sent to you, when Lord Bracken has agreed to the match, but for now, that is all, Ser. I expect you need some time to draft your announcement; when you do I will agree and annul the marriage," he added, in a clear dismissal.