The Unyielding Stag (Game of Thrones AU/Invincible)
Chapter 21: Pitching the Trial

A/N: Axel summons his Small Council to hear their advice… but really, he's already made up his mind.

-x-X-x-

Axel is trying his damnedest to be a better king than his father was, but one way in which he found himself mimicking Robert was the fact that he had no love for Small Council Meetings. As such, he knows it surprises all of them, including Jon, when he calls for such a meeting of his own initiative.

Sitting at the head of the table, he waits until everyone is seated before dropping the announcement on the lot of them.

"I intend to challenge my uncle Renly to a Trial by the Seven. I've already brought the idea to the High Septon to make sure that he and the Faith would be on board with such a thing and he was extremely supportive. However, I will not do anything without at least hearing the advice of my Small Council first. You have until the end of this meeting to convince me that this is a bad idea."

Its heavy handed and Axel knows it. Especially since everyone in this room probably knows that he barely gives two shits about the opinion of most of the men on his Small Council. Pycelle was a doddering old fool who should have been replaced ages ago, Baelish was a weaselly penny pincher, and Varys was only as good as the information he rarely seemed to manage to bring to the table.

In truth, the only two men Axel actually wants to advise him in this moment are Jon as his Hand and Stannis as his Master of Ships. No doubt the others all recognize this, because they all look between the two men for a moment before settling on the Lord of the Vale and quietly waiting for him to speak first.

Silence reigns as a result, because poor Jon Arryn looks absolutely gobsmacked by Axel's declaration.

"A Trial by the Seven… Axel… my King, that would be the height of foolishness! I know it may not look like it, but we have the advantage right now! Despite certain Lords dragging their feet, despite the unfortunate geography of the situation, we are nevertheless in a winning position! It would be foolish for us to give that up!"

The thing is… Axel knows that. Just as he knows Cersei Lannister doesn't have his best intentions at heart. He's not an idiot. Sure, he's weak to a pretty face and weaker still to a beautiful body, but he can tell when he's being manipulated. Jon himself has told Axel that Cersei wasn't trustworthy, and while she has yet to prove to be as much of a snake as the Lord of the Eyrie claimed, he trusts his Hand more than he trusts his bedwarmer.

… However, just because Cersei is manipulating him for some selfish reason Axel doesn't quite comprehend yet does not mean this is a bad idea. Fixing Jon with a look, Axel tries to convey his feelings to the older man.

"I travel this city every day, as you well know. I journey to the Great Sept of Baelor each morning to pray before the Seven and ask for their guidance. When I leave, I tend to take unconventional routes back to the Red Keep. To let myself see the city as it truly is."

Gesturing to the window behind him, through which the whole of King's Landing sprawls into the distance, Axel growls.

"I've seen the smallfolk starving in the streets already! If this is what a winning position looks like, I don't want to ever see what it looks like to lose, Jon!"

His Hand grimaces but nevertheless persists.

"… There are over five hundred thousand people in this city, Your Majesty. There will always be those who are worse off. Starving, even. Especially during a siege. But Lord Stannis has made sure we've continued to retrieve shipments of foodstuffs by sea. Even with the Redwyne Fleet finally arriving to start to harrying our ships, we're doing alright. We have enough to survive this siege, at least until our allies can make their way down the Kingsroad and reinforce the Crownlands army waiting at Hayford Castle."

The thing is, Axel can tell that it pains Jon just as much as him. The suffering of the smallfolk that is. But unlike Axel, his Hand has been alive for a long time. He's seen too much, becoming inured to the grief. He's had to weigh the cost of different types of lives against one another one too many times and its made him jaded.

Axel respected Jon's opinion, but he would sooner march out alone and take on Renly's entire army by himself than he would allow the current state of affairs to continue. At least this Trial by the Seven offered him the possibility of concealing his true nature a little while longer.

"We'll survive Jon. But how many smallfolk must die just so I can continue hiding behind these walls like a coward? How many babies must wither away, leaving their mothers in despair? How many mothers and fathers must starve, leaving their children orphaned?"

Silence falls when Jon opens his mouth but can't seem to find the words. After a moment, Axel looks to Stannis next.

The Master of Ships has done as much for his reign so far as Jon in Axel's mind. Not only has he stayed loyal where Axel's other uncle turned treacherous, he's also been the city's only source of new food throughout this siege.

But the recent arrival of the Redwyne Fleet in the Narrow Sea might soon change that, even if Stannis is a proud man and not the type who likes to admit defeat, let alone a disadvantageous situation. So in the end, his response is to be expected.

"… You risk much by offering Renly a way out, Your Majesty."

His disapproval evident in his tone, Stannis has a frown on his face as he sits there at the table. Unlike Jon, he doesn't know what Axel is capable of. He doesn't know that this Trial would only end one way… in Axel's favor. Still that ignorance has allowed Axel to think up a way of hopefully placating him.

"Well… to be fair, all I'd be doing is sacrificing my own claim to the crown. If I lose, then you become the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, not Renly. Even if I have to take the Black, then the Vale, the North, and the Riverlands should still come to your aid and make sure you take your place as King."

"They will, I'll make sure of it."

Jon's words seem to give Stannis some pause, the Master of Ships looking as surprised as Axel has ever seen him. Even Axel is a little caught off guard by how quickly the older man backs him up. Finally though, Stannis simply inclines his head in acceptance and falls quiet.

Looking at the others sitting quietly at the table, Axel waves his hand in an almost dismissive gesture.

"Speak your minds."

Of the other three men, Pycelle speaks up first, talking in his stumbling, stuttering manner.

"W-Well Your Grace… it would seem to me that you have your h-heart set on this. And if the High Septon believes it to be a worthy endeavor…"

Pycelle trails off for a moment, in that way of his. Then, he seems to come back to himself, smiling what he probably thinks is a grandfatherly smile.

"I am sure the Seven Who Are One will b-bless the worthiest side of such a Trial."

Empty platitudes at best, but then Axel expected nothing less from the ancient Grandmaester. Though he doesn't fail to notice that Pycelle makes no mention of Axel himself being the worthiest of the two sides. Old man is hedging his bets, isn't he?

No matter. Axel sweeps his gaze to Varys and Baelish next. Smiling rather smarmily, the Master of the Coin speaks first.

"There is much to be said about ending this war as swiftly as possible, Your Majesty. It seems you've found the best way to go about that. I can find no fault in relying on such an ancient tradition."

Hmph. Lord Baelish makes all the proper noises, saying all the right things… and yet, every time Axel hears the other man speak, it sounds less and less sincere. Does he actually believe the things he's saying? Or has he just become a master at saying what he believes others want to hear?

Lord Varys, meanwhile, clears his throat.

"Ahem. The Lord Hand is right; it should be pointed out. Renly Baratheon is already living on borrowed time. We have the supplies to outlast this siege while the armies of the Vale, the Riverlands, and the North make their way down to us. While House Redwyne might start to cut us off at sea, one could argue that they are too little too late. However, there is some question of how things would go from there."

Axel raises an eyebrow, gesturing for Varys to continue. The Spider does so with a small apologetic smile.

"Tywin Lannister has sworn fealty to you but takes his time putting action to his words. There is still a possibility that the Lannister Armies might join forces with the Reach and the Stormlands when they finally arrive at King's Landing, putting things on a more… even footing. Three Kingdoms against three, and with the more populous, prosperous Kingdoms arrayed against us."

Grandmaester Pycelle sputters.

"P-Preposterous! The Lord of House Lannister would not side against our young King under any circumstances, not after swearing loyalty! What a ridiculous assertion!"

His small smile remaining on his face, Varys just hums as he looks between Pycelle and Axel.

"Perhaps not. But it's about the implication, isn't it?"

Blinking, Axel frowns in confusion.

"… The implication?"

Nodding, Varys shrugs.

"Indeed, my young King. If we wait for all the Great Houses and their armies to finally reach King's Landing, then the most advantageous position will go to Lord Tywin. Rather than having bled his army via protecting against the siege by arriving earlier, he will instead arrive just in time to play Kingmaker… as he's done once before."

Pycelle lets out another gasp of outrage, but Axel holds up a hand, cutting the Grandmaester off. Truth be told, he found Varys' words more compelling than he would have thought. And now he's irritated, because while he had just been thinking that he wasn't letting Cersei's manipulations get to him… he actually had believed her when she'd said that her father sent a letter speaking of sabotage and treachery in his lands.

Was that a bold-faced lie? Tch.

Varys just dips his head.

"To get to my point, Your Grace… all of this is to say that there is wisdom in ending things before Lord Tywin is allowed such an advantageous position. A Trial by the Seven is one such route to doing so, even if waiting for our allies from the North might ultimately be… safer. And as you've already pointed out, even if you were to fail, Lord Stannis would still have the most prominent claim to the throne."

… Perhaps he'd misjudged his Master of Whispers. Smiling at the bald man now, Axel nods.

"Thank you, Lord Varys. I have now received all of your counsel. Leave us so that I might speak with my Lord Hand alone for a moment."

Pycelle, Baelish, and Varys all look like they each might want to stay a little while longer. But Axel's tone is final and Stannis doesn't hesitate to rise and begin walking out of the room, causing the other three men to stand up and follow after him as well.

Soon, it's just Axel and Jon sitting at the table. Looking at his Hand, Axel raises an eyebrow. He feels a little guilty for blindsiding Jon with this. But at the same time…

"Do you think I'll lose?"

Jon flinches at that, inhaling sharply. Because they both know the answer to that question… no. No, Axel will not lose. Not in a Trial by the Seven. After taking a moment to let out a long, shuddering breath, the older man fixes him with a hard gaze.

"No, I don't. But do you think you can win without giving too much away?"

Axel grins. Jon is coming around; he can feel it.

"Yes, I do. I've been practicing with the knights in the Red Keep's yard every single day since I was crowned King. I've been training myself as much as I've been training them. I've been learning how to hold back just enough to not seem… too unnatural."

Jon huffs.

"You've only partially succeeded at that, Axel. Rumors abound about your martial prowess. Perhaps if you wanted not to seem unnatural, you shouldn't have begun regularly trouncing five fully armored knights at a time."

That… Axel's grin drops, replaced by a frown. He'd needed the challenge, and even then five armed men in full armor hadn't been much of one.

"… I'll hold back even further in the Trial. Seven versus Seven… I'll only double up on my opponents if I absolutely have to, otherwise I'll just take on one at a time and deal with them carefully."

Humming for a moment, Jon seems to think before coming to another question.

"And where will these six brave men fighting alongside you come from? The Kingsguard is still vastly depleted. Need I remind you that you have yet to name a single new brother to the Order meant to safeguard your life."

Axel just rolls his eyes at that.

"You and I both know I don't need Kingsguard protecting me day and night. I'm more than capable of protecting myself. Still… the Trial would be the perfect time to handle some tryouts, would it not? Ser Oakheart and Ser Trant will stay out of things and continue guarding the Queen Dowager and the Princess. Meanwhile, I'll pick six of the men I've been sparring with to fight alongside me. If we win, any survivors will be inducted into the Kingsguard. Kills two birds with one stone."

Jon nods, seeming to find no issue with that. Well, almost no issue.

"If you have no casualties, you'll wind up with six new members of the Kingsguard when there are only five vacancies."

This time, Axel resists the urge to roll his eyes. But he can't help the slightly derisive scoff all the same.

"Whoever Renly fields couldn't possibly be so bad that all six of the knights on my side will survive. Especially if I'm holding back and only going after one of my opponents at a time."

Inclining his head to concede the point, Jon grimaces, coming to the final issue at hand.

"… All of this is predicated on your enemy making the utterly foolish decision to accept your challenge in the first place, Axel. Renly Baratheon should be the only one who has an inkling of what you're truly capable of, given those men of his who survived their failed ambush on the Kingsroad and managed to make it back to the city. He fled on their word. How can you be so sure he'll agree to this?"

That was an issue, admittedly. But…

"He'll have to agree. Not just because we'll hold out until our allies reach King's Landing if he doesn't. But also because the High Septon will spread word of the sanctity of this would be Trial. If he rejects it, then all will know he's afraid of being judged by the gods themselves."

Jon still doesn't look entirely convinced. Sighing, Axel shrugs.

"Not to mention, if my uncle has any sort of heart whatsoever, he'll recognize that this is the option that ends this stupid war with the least bloodshed. Maybe it's too much for me to hope for, given he's the one who started this insanity in the first place… but all the same, with how fast he's moved, its clear he was hoping to handle things before it came to open, pitched battle. On the surface, this seems to allow him to avoid that altogether, as well as avoid facing the armies coming for his head."

Finally, the Lord of the Vale sighs and nods his head in defeat.

"Very well. I imagine you wish me to draft up the challenge for you."

Perking up, Axel smiles, unable to help but teasing Jon just a little bit.

"That would be within your duties as my Hand, yes."

When Jon just gives him a long suffering look, Axel chuckles.

"Look, if Renly wins the Trial and proves himself more worthy in the eyes of the Seven, I'm more than willing to give up the throne and take the Black if I survive. And then he'll be facing Stannis and his claim, along with whichever Kingdoms back him. But… I think we both know it won't come to that. We both know who's going to win this damn thing."

Huffing, its Jon's turn to roll his eyes, though Axel note that he does so good-naturedly, fighting to hide a smile.

"Indeed my very young King. Indeed."

-x-X-x-

A/N: Will Renly do the smart thing and reject the challenge? But then where will he be if he doesn't accept? Hmmm~

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