A/N: Jon Arryn's Funeral.
-x-X-x-
Funerals for those of high nobility in King's Landing were quite the grandiose affairs. First, the bodies were tended to and prepared by the Silent Sisters. Then, they were laid atop an altar in the center of the Great Sept of Baelor, with the deceased positioned so that the head was pointed towards the back of the statue of the Stranger.
If they were male, then their hands were positioned clasping a sword laid upon their chest that pointed down towards their feet. Meanwhile, two funeral stones painted to resemble open eyes were put over their closed lids. The symbolism was supposed to remind the living that death was just the next step. Basically, you closed your eyes in one world and opened them again in the afterlife.
Meanwhile, men of Jon Arryn's stature and wealth could usually afford to have their corpses embalmed to slow the process of decay down. This apparently involved removing the internal organs likely to decay the most quickly and placing them in seven ceremonial vases at the foot of the body.
Finally, the body would sit in the Great Sept for seven days and seven nights, tended by members of the Faith of varying degrees of seniority depending on just who the deceased was.
This was how most funerals for someone like the Hand of the King would go in a place like King's Landing. But of course… the vast majority of that could not be applied to Jon Arryn.
There was no body for the Silent Sisters to tend to. There was nothing to clean up. No hands to clasp a sword, no eyes to cover with painted stones. No organs to extract and put in vases. Jon Arryn, much like Varys the Spider and Grandmaester Pycelle… had been reduced to naught but ash.
To their credit, the High Septon and the Most Devout still gave it their best go. There was a casket placed on the altar in the center of the Great Sept instead, said to contain the Lord Hand's ashes. Of course, Axel knew better.
The wildfire in the Small Council Room had burned and it had burned long. By the time the green flames finally went out, everything was pretty much unrecognizable. Sure, one could point to the part of the room where Jon had been sat and say 'those must be his ashes', but the truth was… the ashes of all three men, as well as the rest of the room, had long commingled by the time anything had been gathered up.
It was just one of the many indignities and injustices regarding Jon's death that Axel had to stomach. After all, what good would it do to throw a tantrum about the contents of a casket now? No, better to just swallow the lie and send the casket on to the Eyrie once these seven days in the Great Sept were over.
In the end, Axel would take some solace in knowing at least a small part of Jon would be buried with his ancestors.
Seven of the Most Devout, veiled so that their true identities are hidden and they might best embody the Seven Who Are One, suddenly enter the main chamber and begin to perform their daily rites, moving around the altar where Jon's casket is placed and speaking in unison with one another.
Axel watches from an alcove nearby, though he doesn't actually listen too closely. He's heard them do this enough by this point. Meanwhile, even as they're performing the ritual, he feels a presence come up behind him and step into place at his side.
"Your Grace."
Looking to Stannis Baratheon, Axel nods his head in acknowledgment.
"Lord Hand."
Stannis is quiet for a moment out of respect for Jon Arryn. But in the end, Axel's new Hand is not the type to mince words.
"Lannisport has fallen and Casterly Rock is under siege. They say Ser Kevan Lannister was slain in battle trying to hold the city. There are also rumors that Euron Greyjoy commands a monstrous kraken said to be large and powerful enough to destroy the city's walls."
Axel processes this for a moment, breathing in and then out. Finally, he turns to fully look at his uncle.
"Rumors?"
Stannis grimaces.
"The sources are reputable. The news is just… hard to swallow."
Yes, Axel imagines the sources would be reputable. After all, it wasn't like they really had access to disreputable sources anymore, not with Varys' death. All of his so-called 'little birds' had gone to ground, disappearing into Flea Bottom or maybe the depths of the Red Keep's tunnels.
Axel didn't really know where they'd gone or what they were doing with the death of the Spider. He just knew that any and all information coming to them these days would likely be official correspondence via ravens for the foreseeable future. At least until another Master of Whispers could be found.
"You had best learn to swallow even the strangest news, uncle. If someone like me can exist… then I should think a particularly massive kraken wouldn't be nearly as farfetched. It would explain how Euron Greyjoy was able to take over the Iron Islands without them holding one of their Kingsmoots, after all."
Stannis inclines his head in acknowledgment, before scowling.
"You're right. It would also explain why he acted so brashly. When his brother Balon declared his independence, he did so by burning the Lannister Fleet first and then announcing himself King. But Euron wanted the Lannisters to pull their fleet back to Lannisport."
Axel raises an eyebrow, prompting Stannis to elaborate further.
"He wanted them to leave the rest of the coast undefended so that he could continue raiding the fishing villages all up and down it. Plus, it allowed him to smash their fleet to pieces in one fell swoop. And a kraken of the size being reported would make the latter task… all too easy."
Yes, that made sense. It's good to see that Stannis still has all the sense of a man who knew his way around naval warfare. Unfortunate then, what Axel was going to have to do.
"You'll be staying in King's Landing when I depart with our armies."
Stannis stiffens, but Axel continues on unabated.
"Lord Seaworth will command the Royal Fleet and take it southward to eventually link up with the Redwyne Fleet at the Arbor, assuming they're still intact by then. I will take our armies over land to the Westerlands and we'll either relieve the siege on Casterly Rock or take back the castle if its already fallen."
Sighing, Axel waves a hand through the air.
"From there, we'll smash whatever Ironborn remain in Lannisport, kill this kraken if it shows up, and head for the Iron Islands to finish this once and for all. But you… I need you here, Uncle. Acting as my Hand and Regent while I'm gone."
He waits for Stannis to argue. To his surprise, the dour man eventually bows his head.
"… As my King commands."
Axel considers that for a moment. If it were Jon, he might have tried harder to make sure that the older man knew he meant no insult by it. But then, if it were Jon, Axel wouldn't have had to worry about an unintended insult anyways. Jon Arryn would have understood… but also, Jon Arryn had been an old man. His days of war were long behind him.
Stannis was… not young, but still young enough to fight. Unfortunately, Axel needed him more here than he needed him by his side in the coming war. Fortunately, it seems that his new Hand cares more for duty than glory. In that way, Stannis and Jon were quite a lot alike.
"How go the preparations for the Royal Fleet anyways? Are Davos and our ships going to be ready in a timely manner?"
Straightening up, Stannis nods sharply.
"Yes. Everything is moving without delay. They'll be ready to depart for the Arbor as soon as possible."
"Good. Very good."
For a long moment, Axel stares out at the casket upon the altar. The Most Devout who had been performing their rites are finished by now and have left the main chamber at this point. Stannis doesn't leave though. He remains… until finally he speaks his mind.
"Will you consider marrying before you leave for war, Your Grace? Having a Queen… and potentially one pregnant with your heir ahead of your departure would go a long way to securing the Realm in your absence."
Axel smiles softly. Now this felt like something Jon would have said. And if it were Jon standing beside him now, Axel might have even caved. But… no. He's made his decision and he's sticking to it.
"I will not. The wedding will take place when I return."
Stannis stiffens up beside him. His tone, when he finally speaks again, is actually hopeful.
"You've made your choice then."
Hesitating, Axel considers holding off from telling the other man for now. He knows Stannis won't approve. Jon wouldn't have either. But… Axel doesn't care. And besides, he doesn't like the thought of keeping secrets. Not from his Hand.
"Yes, I have. I've chosen both of them. Once I'm done putting Euron Greyjoy down like the mad dog he is, I will return and marry Lady Sansa Stark and Princess Arianne Martell. They will both be Queen."
The Hand of the King goes absolutely still at that. Axel isn't surprised. This time around, Stannis can't quite hold his tongue. That doesn't surprise Axel either.
"… Are you sure that's a wise decision, Your Grace? The Faith are not likely to be happy about such things. To say nothing of the Nobility…"
Here, Axel allows himself to grin.
"On the contrary, my Hand… the Faith will be quite enthused. I've already spoken to the High Septon. He agrees that if I wait until after I've won my war with Euron, when my reputation has never been greater, that the announcement, along with his and the Most Devout's vocal approval, will allow me to get away with quite a lot. Including taking two Queens instead of one."
Before Stannis can muster a response, Axel continues on.
"It will be likened to House Targaryen's Doctrine of Exceptionalism, though I assure you that I have no intentions of going as far as they did. Still, Lady Sansa and Princess Arianne… I couldn't bring myself to choose between them. And they've made it quite clear they're happy to share me, as it turns out. So if the Faith are onboard and the women are onboard and the smallfolk will be onboard… well, I suppose the Nobility will also fall in line, won't they?"
Jon would have been trying to talk Axel out of this by now. He would have sounded so disappointed too. Axel can almost hear the older man's voice now, telling him how he's going too far. But Stannis Baratheon is not Jon Arryn. He will never be Jon Arryn, not really.
"… What if you do not return from this war?"
Scoffing, Axel looks Stannis in the eye and raises a brow.
"That won't be a problem. Kraken or no kraken, I will kill Euron Greyjoy. I will return triumphant. And I will marry my two Queens. You don't need to worry about me and the war, Uncle. The outcome has already been decided. Euron Greyjoy is a dead man walking, he just doesn't know it yet."
Stannis' eyes drop down to his own sword for a moment and Axel knows he's remembering the events of the other day. Smiling slightly, Axel shakes his head… and draws Stonehart. This causes his uncle to stiffen, but Axel just takes the Valyrian Steel Blade and presses it against his palm. And then, gripping it tightly, he slides his hand along the impossibly sharp edge.
"The other day, I showed you that normal, Castle-Forged Steel could not cut me. As you know, on the day of the Trial by the Seven, Loras Tyrell managed to make me bleed with this very sword."
Pulling his hand back, Axel shows it to Stannis, revealing a complete lack of injury. There's the barest hints of a thin red mark across his skin, but even that is rapidly vanishing.
"Not even Valyrian Steel can cut me at this point, Uncle. A mere kraken, no matter how large, will not be the death of me either. I'll crawl down it's throat and rip it apart from the inside before I let a mere beast kill me."
In the face of Stannis' silence, Axel sheathes his blade and lets out a sigh.
"Like I said, you needn't worry about the outcome of this war. It's already decided, even if I have to swim to the Iron Islands and slaughter every last Ironborn myself. Instead, I want you to focus on other things while I'm gone."
That gets a narrow eyed look from his Hand.
"Such as?"
Looking back out at Jon's casket again, Axel hums.
"A new Small Council for one. Send a letter to the Citadel and tell them to get me a new Grandmaester as soon as their traditions allow for it. We will also need a new Master of Law to replace you and a new Master of Coin to replace Littlefinger. Another Master of Whispers would also be nice, but I'm not expecting miracles here. Work on having short lists for possible candidates drawn up by the time I return from the Iron Islands."
Thinking of something else, Axel continues.
"Oh and have you seized Littlefinger's brothels yet?"
"I have."
Axel smiles at his uncle's competence.
"Good. Have them turned over… feel free to destroy the buildings and dig a hole if you have to. Before I executed Littlefinger for his crimes, he tried to entice me into sparing his life by offering me the very gold he stole from my father back to me."
That gets a scoff from Stannis and a shake of the man's head.
"Craven fool."
Axel nods, having known that Stannis would sneer at the very thought of sparing Baelish's life. His Uncle was far too stiff to even consider bending on that sort of thing.
"Indeed. Needless to say, I didn't take him up on his offer… but it stands to reason that at least some of that gold of his has to still be in King's Landing. Not all of it, and admittedly Baelish would have been a fool to hide any of it in his own establishments… but it's worth checking."
Grunting, Stannis nods as well.
"Agreed, Your Grace. I'll put trusted men on it right away."
Finally, his uncle turns to leave… only to pause and turn back. Axel raises a brow, wondering what it was this time.
"Apologies, I almost forgot. Asha Greyjoy has been asking for a meeting with you for some time now. I've been stonewalling her while also making sure to keep her and her crew in the city, just in case it turns out they were in league with Euron Greyjoy. What did you want done with them?"
Axel blinks, tilting his head to the side even as he considers the frankly… wondrous conversation about Asha that he'd had with Sansa and Arianne just a couple days ago.
"Asking? Not demanding?"
Stannis doesn't smile… he never seems to smile. But he does raise an eyebrow in response, letting Axel know exactly what form Asha's 'requests' have taken. Grinning a little bit, Axel shakes his head.
"I don't think Asha Greyjoy had anything to do with her uncle's treason. But I might as well meet with her and get to the bottom of this once and for all. Thank you, Uncle. That will be all."
Bowing, his Hand finally departs, leaving Axel to turn his attention back to Jon's casket. He stays for a little while longer and then turns and leaves. It would seem he has a kraken to pump for information before he departs on his hunt.
-x-X-x-
A/N: Next time… Asha~
Feedback is GREATLY appreciated, every comment helps me shape the story with a Daily Free Write like this one!
Plug: If you're interested in reading more ASAP, you can sign up over on my Patreon right now to read FIFTEEN chapters ahead!