WILOW-Ch.456: Do You Have a Champion?

Red Keep, King’s Landing

POV of Domeric Pendragon

"It seems you have nothing more to say, then..." King Eddard began, but Petyr’s shout interrupted him.

"I DEMAND A TRIAL BY COMBAT!"

"Haaahhh..." Domeric sighed deeply at Petyr’s demand.

"If you were going to demand a trial by combat, you could have done so from the beginning and wouldn’t have made us go through all this trouble," he said.

"This is my right. I don’t believe this court will conduct a fair trial. Therefore, I will leave it to the gods to determine who is right." Petyr Baelish.

"Yeah, yeah. I understand what you mean. As Emperor, I accept your demand for a trial by combat. Your trial will take place tomorrow morning. But you should know that the punishment this court has determined for your crimes is death. If you or your champion surrenders during the fight, your sentence will be carried out without delay." Domeric said.

"Fine. Who will be the accuser’s champion?" Petyr asked, knowing that the answer would directly affect his fate. If he or his champion were sent to face someone like Varko, he had no chance.

Just as Domeric was about to announce the champion Petyr would face, King Eddard interrupted and said, "I will be the accuser’s champion."

But before the grin that had formed on Petyr’s face could fully settle, Domeric’s words wiped it away.

"No. I won’t allow it." Domeric said.

"Your Majesty, Petyr Baelish’s crimes against the Royal House of Stark formed a personal vendetta. I will never rest easy unless I can personally deliver his punishment. Please understand," King Eddard said.

"I understand your efforts to protect your honour, King Eddard. But I do not believe Petyr Baelish will act with the same honour. However, it is not impossible for me to allow you to be the champion of the accusing side in this trial by combat. Of course, under certain conditions," Domeric said.

"What are your conditions, Your Majesty?" King Eddard asked.

Without answering King Eddard, Domeric turned to Petyr Baelish and said, "King Eddard wants to personally stand against you in your trial, Petyr Baelish, for your actions against the Royal House of Stark. But if you do not personally participate in the trial as the accused side, then it is meaningless."

Then he paused for a moment, waiting for everyone to digest his words, before continuing. "Therefore, if you intend to personally participate in the trial you requested, the person you will face will be King Eddard. But if you are sending a champion in your place, then the accuser’s champion will be one of my Dark Knights, Dame Raksa the Giantess. So, tell us your decision. Will you fight yourself, or do you have a champion to put forward?"

Petyr Baelish gritted his teeth at Domeric’s words, glaring at him with hateful eyes for a while.

Domeric understood perfectly well why. Varko might be known as the best swordsman and fighter in Westeros right now, but if asked who the most fearsome warrior was, it would definitely be Raksa.

If Domeric had chosen Varko as champion, Littlefinger would have had a slight chance of finding a champion for himself. Even if they couldn’t win against Varko, there was a chance Varko would pardon them if they surrendered.

After all, they weren’t the guilty ones, and if they surrendered, Petyr Baelish would be considered to have lost the trial. Varko would have no reason to kill them.

But the same couldn’t be said for Raksa. Anyone who faced Raksa would most likely not survive the fight.

And that was why Domeric chose Raksa. Watching Petyr writhe in despair was the only entertaining part of this trial.

Petyr glared at Domeric with hatred for a moment, then turned to those in the Great Hall and said, "I need a brave warrior to represent me in this trial. I will give a thousand golden dragons to whoever becomes my champion."

But there was no sound in the Great Hall except for the murmur of people talking amongst themselves.

"Ten thousand golden dragons." Petyr raised his offer, but the result was the same.

"One hundred thousand golden dragons. This is an opportunity to change your life." Petyr said, but no one stepped forward.

"One million golden dragons. If you become my champion and accompany me to Braavos after the trial, I will give you a full one million golden dragons. I have the money. It’s all in the Iron Bank."

Littlefinger’s words whetted the appetite of many warriors in the Great Hall, but they later shook their heads and retreated. After all, what did it matter how much money you had if you didn’t have a life?

"That’s enough, Petyr Baelish. Do you have a champion or not? Let’s hear your answer," Domeric said.

"Hmph. I’ll fight myself in the trial. After all, I have unfinished business with the Starks," Petyr said.

"I think this is also suitable for you, King Eddard," Domeric said.

"Yes, Your Majesty," King Eddard replied.

"Then the details of the trial by combat are set. Men. Take Petyr Baelish to one of the dungeons. But make sure he’s well cared for and fed until tomorrow morning’s duel," Domeric ordered.

Then the men took Petyr by the arms and led him to the dungeon, where he would remain until his trial by combat tomorrow.

As the doors of the Throne Room closed behind Littlefinger, Domeric said, "This was truly a coronation to remember."

"I agree entirely, Your Majesty," said King Aegon.

"Oh. I almost forgot," he said, rising to his feet and addressing the Great Hall. "Before we proceed to this trial, I was declaring my gifts to the Kings, and there is one more gift that I have not yet revealed."

"My last gift to you, King Aegon, is Vincent Page." He said as the man came and knelt in front of the king, "As you heard from his own mouth, he’s one of my top agents in King’s Landing. He’s also the man who convinced Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Sandor Clegane to serve me. Because of his contributions, I’ve made him the Spymaster of the Crownlands."

"As of now, my spy network is not only as large as that of Varys, but it is also more efficient and far faster than his ever was. I’ll lend you my spies and a connection to my spy network in the form of Vincent Page." He said, "I do not know where Varys is. Or whether he is alive. But if he isn’t or doesn’t come back, then you can continue to make use of my spy network for no cost."

Then Domeric turned to King Eddard and said, "And of course, when we return to the North, I will personally appoint another person from Dreadfort to be the Spymaster of the Kingdom of Honour. And King Eddard will thus have access to the Empire’s Spy Network without any cost until he can establish his own spy network."

"Thank you again for your generosity, Your Majesty," said King Eddard.

But instead of a simple thank you, King Aegon got up from the throne and said, "Your Majesty, the reason I sit on this throne is thanks to you."

"You were the one who told me about my heritage. You were the one who brought the proof of my heritage and showed it to the other lords. You were the one who arranged my betrothal to Lady Margaery when we were undecided about our next course of action. You were the one who saved Riverlands and destroyed the Lannisters. You were the one who won peace with Dorne and brought stability to the Kingdom of Ashborn."

"And once again, you have aided my kingdom more than anyone could. For this, I swear on my honour that as long as the Kingdom of Ashborn exists, it will remain loyal to the Empire, and I fulfil my duties with all my heart." King Aegon finished his final words by kneeling down and placing his right hand over his heart.

"That’s exactly what the Empire expects from the Kingdom of Ashborn, King Aegon. And I’m confident you’ll fulfil it admirably. You can rise."

"If you will allow me, Your Majesty, I would like to request your assistance in one more matter," King Aegon said, rising to his feet again.

"Tell me, and I will see what I can do," Domeric said.

"Do you have anyone you can recommend as my Hand? I need to fill this vacant position in the Small Council as soon as possible," King Aegon said.

"Hmm. Someone suitable to be the King’s Hand... I think Willas Tyrell would be a suitable choice. The man might have been crippled, but he is wise and very resourceful. I don’t think you’ll find any better man more suited to the task," Domeric said.

King Aegon nodded and said, "Thank you for your recommendation, Your Majesty."

In response, Domeric simply smiled at him.

Then the coronation celebration continued. Domeric sometimes sat on his throne, conversing with the other two Kings, and sometimes descended to the Great Hall to converse with the other nobles.

And with the rest of the day passing without incident, everyone retired to their rooms at the end of the day.

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Next Chapters’ Name:

Ch.457: Camelot – Home Sweet Home

Ch.458: Side Effects of Soul Bond

Ch.459: New Dragons