A Crown for a Prince, A Bride for a King

## A Crown for a Prince

Following the Defiance of Duskendale, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, adorned by his Kingsguard, reentered the confines of King's Landing, closely followed by an armed force led by Lord Rickard Stark having assumed command of the remaining Baratheon forces subsequent to their lord's censure and expeditious assignment to the Night's Watch.

The arrival of the Prince and his retinue was met not with the anticipated air of mourning befitting the demise of a sovereign, but instead had ignited with zeal treating Prince Rhaegar with a Hero's Welcome he and his party perhaps did not expect, nor deserve. It became clear the unaffectionate memory of King Aerys I faded with his last breaths, and instead the people look to Prince Rhaegar to lead them into the future.

The measured and deliberate procession of Rhaegar's ascent to the Red Keep served as a poignant spectacle. Meanwhile, within the sanctum of the Keep, the Crown's most trusted advisors meticulously orchestrated a grand reception,  preparing the halls to herald the return of a revered figure - their new, yet uncrowned, King.

It is widely reported that the diligent and indomitable Lord Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King, presided with uncharacteristically natural authority from the central seat of power in Westeros - the Iron Throne. His reputation as the guiding Hand the Realm required had been long-established yet in this moment of chaos the court looked to Lord Tywin for order and stability. When Rhaegar finally made it to the Throne Room he found the Lord Hand holding court and barking commands at various figures of nobility yet all voices came to a pause as he entered the room. Tense glances were exchanged between the two centrally imposing figures but Lord Tywin descended from the Throne vacating it for Prince Rhaegar Targaryen who was followed closely by Lord Rickard Stark. Many close to Lord Tywin had noticed a change in the relations at Court and the unfortunate dwindling influence of Lord Tywin that followed is often attributed to the growing influence of others close to Rhaegar such as Lord Stark.

Following this, a grand coronation was swiftly arranged and crowds not known since the days of King Jaehaerys I formed to celebrate the crowning of the new monarch - King Rhaegar Targaryen I. His Grace wasted no time in forging his own council with a view to remove those he feared had provided materially adverse counsel to his father and appointing those both loyal to him with Lord Tywin Lannister remaining as Hand. Though Lord Tywin wore the Golden Chains befitting his station it became clear to all those in court that King Rhaegar look to Lord Rickard Stark for counsel where many believe it more appropriate, and expected, to pursue the sage wisdom of Lord Tywin.

The Hour of the Wolf had struck once more in King's Landing with House Stark's resurgence of influence far beyond their scope. Whilst Lords of all kind had long appealed to Lord Rickard for the hand of his daughter Lyanna Stark, widely believed to be the most beautiful woman in all Seven Kingdoms, she had never married and Lord Stark had never entertained any proposals with any weight. It should not have come as a surprise that shortly following King Rhaegar's coronation an announcement from the Crown revealed a Royal Marriage between Rhaegar and Lyanna. This royal union forged a strong alliance between the North and the Throne and further seemed to consolidate House Stark's influence.

## A Bride for a King

The Royal Wedding, however, would not come to pass for two years following an upheaval across the Seven Kingdoms with infighting between the Tyrells and the Florents over the reach and greater calls for liberty within Dorne. Marriage pacts and bonds of blood had tied many of the Great Lords into these bloody conflicts. Yet, peace was re-established shortly thereafter and the great Royal Wedding came to pass. Queen Lyanna Stark, as a true avatar of the North, embodieid a fierce and wilful demeanor throughout the whole ceremony having shed the fine silks purchased by her father and instead braiding her hair and coveting her body with furs and leathers. Many at court began to whisper of the Wild Wolf Queen but her potentially uncouth display did not usher disdain from His Grace the King and instead he seemed entertained by her more bashful nature.

Following the celebrations of the Royal Wedding, Lord Rickard Stark was officially appointed as Regent of the Iron Throne to act in the event of an unforeseeable tragedy befalling the King. This move served as the tipping point in the balance of power between House Stark and Lannister, with many widely criticising this move as an outright shunning of Lord Tywin and an effort to reaffirm King Rhaegar's own power in the youth of his reign. Shortly thereafter, the King ordered the Master of Coin Prince Doran Martell to begin construction of the Dune Road which would form a road connecting Sunspear to Storm's End and further on to King's Landing. Whilst this move attracted condemnation from those on both sides of the Dornish Marches the benefits of such a proposal were almost overwhelming. King Rhaegar had made a firm commitment to improve the poor economy of Dorne and bring greater unity between his people in order to preserve his most paramount concern - the King's Peace and thus the safety of his people.

Following the death of two great knights of the Kingsguard, Ser Gwayne Gaunt during the Defiance and Ser Harlan Grandison peacefully in his sleep a Grand Tournament at Harrenhal was announced alongside the birth of the royal heir Prince Rodrik Targaryen. The coveted prize to be awarded was consideration for one of the greatest honours afforded to man - a position on the Kingsguard. This tournament fell as a historic occassion and was attended by Lords small and Great as the feeling of a great peace was ushered in, momentarily.

After many jousts and duels and melees, the final victors of the tourney were Lord's Hoster Tully and Clegane. Brynden 'Blackfish' Tully, the brother of Hoster Tully was granted the honor of having a place in the king's seven. Brynden having much prowess as a competent military man accepted the vacant position with open arms. Still, one knight was needed to fill the seven. Gregor Clegane being one of the victors had a say and he offered his brother Sandor 'the hound' Clegane to fill a missing sword of the Kingsguard.