Difference between revisions of "A Dance with Dragons-Epilogue"

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Kevan has begun to resent the demands of Tyrell as his niece did, but he realises he cannot openly oppose them; Tyrell and his bannerman [[Randyll Tarly]] have both brought armies to King's Landing, while the Lannisters' standing army is still in the [[Riverlands]]. Tyrell insists that he will deal with Connington and his boy once his daughter's trial is done, but both he and Tarley show much reluctance about it; Kevan however chides them, insisting that defying the Faith will send them straight into the arms of Connington or [[Stannis Baratheon]]. Mace also dismisses the threat Connington poses but Kevan is unsure; he still remembers when [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys]] appointed Connington to the role of Hand, and while [[Tywin Lannister|his brother's]] assessment of Connington as unsuitable for the post proved true after his failure to kill [[Robert Baratheon]] at the [[Battle of the Bells]], Kevan believes age will have made Connington wiser, more cautious and more dangerous.
 
Kevan has begun to resent the demands of Tyrell as his niece did, but he realises he cannot openly oppose them; Tyrell and his bannerman [[Randyll Tarly]] have both brought armies to King's Landing, while the Lannisters' standing army is still in the [[Riverlands]]. Tyrell insists that he will deal with Connington and his boy once his daughter's trial is done, but both he and Tarley show much reluctance about it; Kevan however chides them, insisting that defying the Faith will send them straight into the arms of Connington or [[Stannis Baratheon]]. Mace also dismisses the threat Connington poses but Kevan is unsure; he still remembers when [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys]] appointed Connington to the role of Hand, and while [[Tywin Lannister|his brother's]] assessment of Connington as unsuitable for the post proved true after his failure to kill [[Robert Baratheon]] at the [[Battle of the Bells]], Kevan believes age will have made Connington wiser, more cautious and more dangerous.
  
The small council all agree that Connington and his pretender must be crushed, lest [[Daenerys Targaryen]] receive word and leave [[Meeren]] to join forces with them. [[Pycelle]] suggests that they buy off the Golden Company, but Kevan dismisses this idea; thanks to Cersei's economic mismanagement, the treasury is nearly empty, the [[Iron Bank]] is still demanding its money and their hopes of replenishing the treasuries with the fabled wealth on [[Dragonstone]] following [[Loras Tyrell|Ser Loras']] capture of the island have proven in vain. Kevan suggests that the new Master of Coin [[Harys Swyft]] try Pentoshi moneylenders, or else go to Braavos and deal with the Iron Bank in person.  
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The small council all agree that Connington and his pretender must be crushed, lest [[Daenerys Targaryen]] receive word and leave [[Meereen]] to join forces with them. [[Pycelle]] suggests that they buy off the Golden Company, but Kevan dismisses this idea; thanks to Cersei's economic mismanagement, the treasury is nearly empty, the [[Iron Bank of Braavos|Iron Bank]] is still demanding its money and their hopes of replenishing the treasuries with the fabled wealth on [[Dragonstone]] following [[Loras Tyrell|Ser Loras']] capture of the island have proven in vain. Kevan suggests that the new Master of Coin [[Harys Swyft]] try Pentoshi moneylenders, or else go to Braavos and deal with the Iron Bank in person.  
  
 
Next, business turns to the forthcoming trials; Kevan tells that Cersei has chosen trial by battle, with Ser [[Robert Strong]] to represent her. Tyrell and Tarly express deep misgivings about the man, which Kevan shares as they have all heard rumours; [[Boros Blount]] says he has never seen Strong eat or drink, and [[Meryn Trant]] claims to have never seen him use the privy. Kevan muses that ''"Dead men don't shit"'', suspecting that he and the others know who Strong really is. Kevan also assures the council that even if Cersei proves her innocence, she will be sent back to [[Casterly Rock]] afterwards, and play no further part in ruling or Tommen's education.
 
Next, business turns to the forthcoming trials; Kevan tells that Cersei has chosen trial by battle, with Ser [[Robert Strong]] to represent her. Tyrell and Tarly express deep misgivings about the man, which Kevan shares as they have all heard rumours; [[Boros Blount]] says he has never seen Strong eat or drink, and [[Meryn Trant]] claims to have never seen him use the privy. Kevan muses that ''"Dead men don't shit"'', suspecting that he and the others know who Strong really is. Kevan also assures the council that even if Cersei proves her innocence, she will be sent back to [[Casterly Rock]] afterwards, and play no further part in ruling or Tommen's education.

Revision as of 09:46, 22 March 2012

Epilogue
A Dance with Dragons chapter
ADanceWithDragons.jpg
POV {{{pov}}}
Page {{{page}}} UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Daenerys X  ← {{{current}}} →  Appendix

Synopsis

Lord Regent Kevan Lannister is hosting a small council meeting in the Red Keep's throne room; neither Queen Margaery or Cersei are present, nor is Tommen, Kevan having thought it kinder to let the boy spend as much time with his mother before her trial and possible execution. The lord of Griffin's Roost, Ronnet Connington stands before them, insisting that he is loyal to King Tommen and uninvolved with his uncle Jon Connington and the Targaryen pretender he has brought with him, who have landed with the Golden Company in the Stormlands, attacking towns and villages as they march on Storm's End. Ronnet begs to prove his loyalty in battle, but the new Hand of the King Mace Tyrell refuses, and orders Connington kept in his quarters for the moment, in addition to sending the men-at-arms Jaime sent to accompany Connington south- all former thugs of Gregor Clegane's- to the Night's Watch.

Kevan has begun to resent the demands of Tyrell as his niece did, but he realises he cannot openly oppose them; Tyrell and his bannerman Randyll Tarly have both brought armies to King's Landing, while the Lannisters' standing army is still in the Riverlands. Tyrell insists that he will deal with Connington and his boy once his daughter's trial is done, but both he and Tarley show much reluctance about it; Kevan however chides them, insisting that defying the Faith will send them straight into the arms of Connington or Stannis Baratheon. Mace also dismisses the threat Connington poses but Kevan is unsure; he still remembers when Aerys appointed Connington to the role of Hand, and while his brother's assessment of Connington as unsuitable for the post proved true after his failure to kill Robert Baratheon at the Battle of the Bells, Kevan believes age will have made Connington wiser, more cautious and more dangerous.

The small council all agree that Connington and his pretender must be crushed, lest Daenerys Targaryen receive word and leave Meereen to join forces with them. Pycelle suggests that they buy off the Golden Company, but Kevan dismisses this idea; thanks to Cersei's economic mismanagement, the treasury is nearly empty, the Iron Bank is still demanding its money and their hopes of replenishing the treasuries with the fabled wealth on Dragonstone following Ser Loras' capture of the island have proven in vain. Kevan suggests that the new Master of Coin Harys Swyft try Pentoshi moneylenders, or else go to Braavos and deal with the Iron Bank in person.

Next, business turns to the forthcoming trials; Kevan tells that Cersei has chosen trial by battle, with Ser Robert Strong to represent her. Tyrell and Tarly express deep misgivings about the man, which Kevan shares as they have all heard rumours; Boros Blount says he has never seen Strong eat or drink, and Meryn Trant claims to have never seen him use the privy. Kevan muses that "Dead men don't shit", suspecting that he and the others know who Strong really is. Kevan also assures the council that even if Cersei proves her innocence, she will be sent back to Casterly Rock afterwards, and play no further part in ruling or Tommen's education.

The meeting adjourns, intending to reconvene in five days time. Pycelle asks Kevan for guards, fearing that Mace Tyrell means to do him harm for his part in Cersei's claims about Margaery, but Kevan dismisses his concerns. It is snowing heavily in King's Landing and Kevan retires to his study for a time to warm up. He muses on the possibility of raising his son Lancel to the Kingsguard to end his newfound piety, before his thoughts turn to Cersei, on the charming and sweet girl she'd been; Kevan believes that if Aerys had accepted Tywin's offer and wed his son to Cersei, Rhaegar would never have looked twice at Lyanna Stark, and perhaps many now dead would still be alive. He then thinks on Cersei's walk of shame and how similar it was to what Tywin did to their father's mistress, but Kevan reassures himself it was necessary; the Faith had to be appeased, and left unchecked, Cersei would have corrupted Tommen as she did Joffrey.

Kevan then goes to Cersei's chambers, where he has dinner with her and Tommen. Cersei is very calm and guarded after her walk of atonement, which Kevan thinks a good sign. She makes a humble request that Taena Merryweather attend on her once more after the trial and that her son be brought to court as a companion for Tommen; she also asks after her brothers, but Kevan has no news of Jaime or Tyrion. He also says that he has imprisoned the remaining Kettleblack brothers for their crimes of fornicating with a Queen; if they confess, he will send them to the Wall. If not, they will face Robert Strong.

A messenger then announces that Grand Maester Pycelle is asking for Kevan's presence. Kevan arrives at the Maester's chambers and enters to find a white raven sitting on the window ledge...a sign from the Citadel that winter has come. Kevan turns to leave, and is hit in the chest by a crossbow bolt. He calls out for help, but then sees Pycelle sat at his table, already dead. For one moment, Kevan calls out to Tyrion, thinking his nephew responsible, but a familiar voice tells him otherwise as the real killer emerges...Varys. Varys explains to the dying Kevan that he bears the man no ill will, that Kevan is simply a good man in service to a bad cause, but he was becoming too successful in uniting the realm behind Tommen and undoing the damage Cersei had caused. The eunuch adds that Cersei will suspect the Tyrells (with help from the Imp) responsible for Kevan's death, the Tyrells will blame her and someone will blame the Dornish and the alliances shoring up Tommen's hold on the Iron Throne will crumble as Aegon makes his presence known at Storm's End and the realm flocks to the side of the Targaryens.

Kevan insists that Aegon was killed during the Sack of King's Landing but Varys explains otherwise; that Aegon has been groomed since birth to be king, taught not just in skill at arms and ruling, but how to look after himself, what it means to go hungry, to be hunted and most importantly, that it is his duty to rule, not his right and to put his people first. Varys then summons some of his "little birds" and instructs them to finish the dying Kevan off.