A talk with the imprisoned Hightower

**Lord Dread** · June 19, 2014, 11:09 AM

After the host of House Hightower was defeated, Lord Robert had decided to bring the captured Hightower general for now into the dungeons of Grassy Vale.
Since he had now a hostage, the Reach would be careful in approaching him, as the Stormlord had once shown, why his enemies shouldn't underestimate him. Even though Robert was wounded, he went after some while down to his prisoner for looking after him. Even though he was now resting in an uncomfortable dungeon cell, no harm was done to the Hightower and he wasn't tortured.
For now.

With an inspecting look, the Stormlord eyed the man in front of him. So far the young Stormlord wasn't drunken, but the tired look on his face, either caused by the battle or by sleepless look, already showed, that Robert's patience might not be the best at all. It was hard to tell if it was the sorrow about Lyanna's loss or the thought about the countless men, he had slain in battle. Maybe it was even a mixture of both.
"Tell me", he said then after a while, before mustering the prisoner, "Why Aerys? With our rebellion we have broken the laws of the realm, but I will never understand what motivations your overlord and your family drive to fight for a king, who nowadays burns honorable men alive and tolerates the crimes of his son."

**Honors Bastion** · June 19, 2014, 12:26 PM

"You think we are fighting in the name of the Mad King? How amusing." said the exhausted Ser Brandon Hightower with a slight arrogant laugh.

"Do you really think that one of the oldest and wisest Houses in all of Westeros would willingly support a man who is called by many as the 'Mad King'? No, of course not."

**Lord Dread** · June 19, 2014, 01:12 PM

Robert raised an eyebrow.
"So, House Hightower only fights for it's liege lord, I guess", Robert said sighing, even though he had to nod, "I do like loyal men, even though it is unfortunate that we are enemies. I have sworn to bring down Aerys for his crimes upon the Starks and Prince Rhaegar has kidnapped the girl, to whom I was promised. The armies of the Reach have either to be repelled or shall bow as all I want is justice. My brother Stannis would say it is a selfish justice - but selfish are as well the Targaryens."
He eyed the man another time after he looked down at the floor for a short moment. Reminding himself of Lyanna always made him pray silent, that she might be still safe, somewhere locked away by the Dragons, but still alive.
"Or does the realm eye me already as a monster as well?", he then asked back.

**Honors Bastion** · June 19, 2014, 01:50 PM

"We do not view you as a monster Lord Baratheon. A foolish rebel, a traitor to you King yes, but as a monster no. Why would we? The only thing that you have done is rise up in arms to fight for what you believe is right. No one can fault you for that save for the fact that you are doing so by fighting against you own King." said Brandon with a slight serious tone. "You claim that you want justice. Do you not trust that the Seven won't give you what you want?"

**Lord Dread** · June 19, 2014, 02:34 PM

"If there is justice, they will grant it to me", he said after some thinking, "The moment on, where Stark was burnt alive with his son in the capital, my life was doomed. The king demanded the head of Lord Bayard and me - without Lord Arryn's help I wouldn't even stand here, but would be a pile of ash as well. Unlike you, mylord, my existence is as long doomed as Aerys lives. I won't find peace until I haven't got rid of those, who haunt me."
The Stormlord made another pause, more than unsure what to say next, as he didn't know if he could trust the man. On the other side, upon whom else could he built than a high-ranked loyalist for this information.
"What about Lady Lyanna?", he asked then after a while, "Does any member of your House knows, where the Prince has hidden her? Or would he consider her to be kept in the capital next to his father?"
Even if Hightower would not know the answer he desired, he hoped that she wasn't in the capital as otherwise she would assumingly end up like her father. For whatever reasons Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna, Aerys' mind was probably dangerous enough to even consider the cruel death of another direwolf.

**Honors Bastion** · June 19, 2014, 03:01 PM

"It can be only one or the other it seems, you or Aerys. One must die for the other to continue living. Strangely enough Lord Baratheon, I both pity and detest you at the same time. What a terrible fate is to suffer in the knowledge that the only way for you to continue living is to seek to end the life of another, and as a result of this quest, many others shall lose their lives as well." said Ser Brandon in a somber tone, pausing for a moment to reflect upon his words.

"I do not know where your Lyanna has been taken to but I assume that it will be somewhere in the Southern lands beyond the grasp of your or your allies. Somewhere in the Dornish mountains make the most sense. The Crownlands will be at the center of the war and the Reach is two wide, too open to hide a single girl."

**Lord Dread** · June 19, 2014, 04:12 PM

Robert nodded, as Hightower's thoughts seemed logical to him after some thinking. Even though it meant unfortunately that his search for Lyanna will have to wait after the war - searching midwar after his love would be madness with the Reach and Dorne in his back. He sighed deeply before he took from one of his surprised guardians the key for the cell and opened the door.
"I thank you for your kind words", he said slightly monotonous, making it difficult to discover if he was actually glad about Hightower understanding his burden or hating him for doing so, "My priorities lie on ending this war. And even though I might regret this decision some day, you are free to go. I'm the enemy of the Targaryens, not yours, even if your House sees me as an enemy. All I can hope is that we won't meet eachother again on battlefield."
Since he was willing to accompany the knight outside, it didn't seem as if he planned a trap for Ser Brandon.

**Honors Bastion** · June 19, 2014, 07:49 PM

A look of surprise appeared on Brandon's face as he found out that he was free. After all he was Hightower and a ransom for his release paid by his House would have been worth quite a lot. "I'm free, truly? You are an honorable man Lord Baratheon, much more so than your Lord Estermont."

He slowly rose to feet, still exhausted and sore from the recent battle. "I thank you for your kindness and I shall remember what you have done for me Lord Robert. I wish you luck in your search for Lyanna Stark. Finding her will not be so easy and I can only imagine what challenges Prince Rhaegar has put in your way. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Kingsguard or two personally protecting her."

**jacb547** · June 19, 2014, 08:02 PM

Lord Andrew Estermont

On the morning after Ser Brandon was released the King's cousin Andrew Estermont came to find Robert, he looked not particularly angry since he had after all turned Hightower over to his liege but he still felt he needed a proper explanation for this. "My Lord, when I turned over Ser Brandon Hightower to you I did not expect him to get away so easily. I respect your decision cousin, but why did you do it? A ransom from Oldtown would surely have numbered thousands of dragons!"

**Lord Dread** · June 20, 2014, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by Honors Bastion

A look of surprise appeared on Brandon's face as he found out that he was free. After all he was Hightower and a ransom for his release paid by his House would have been worth quite a lot. "I'm free, truly? You are an honorable man Lord Baratheon, much more so than your Lord Estermont."

He slowly rose to feet, still exhausted and sore from the recent battle. "I thank you for your kindness and I shall remember what you have done for me Lord Robert. I wish you luck in your search for Lyanna Stark. Finding her will not be so easy and I can only imagine what challenges Prince Rhaegar has put in your way. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Kingsguard or two personally protecting her."

"Blame not my lord cousin, he only did, what his duty was", Robert said with a weak smile, still remembering himself that he talked to a possible enemy, "Your informations have been more valuable for me than any ransom in the world, Ser. If we manage to defeat the Mad King and the Prince, House Hightower will profit from them, if your informations lead us directly to Lyanna. I will keep our talk as a secret as long as the Targaryens live and I haven't defeated them, so your life shouldn't be endangered."

Originally Posted by jacb547

Lord Andrew Estermont

On the morning after Ser Brandon was released the King's cousin Andrew Estermont came to find Robert, he looked not particularly angry since he had after all turned Hightower over to his liege but he still felt he needed a proper explanation for this. "My Lord, when I turned over Ser Brandon Hightower to you I did not expect him to get away so easily. I respect your decision cousin, but why did you do it? A ransom from Oldtown would surely have numbered thousands of dragons!"

Robert sighed, as he had already expected the questions.
"Andrew, as you know I'm not a great man of politics and neither a man of great words", he then said calm, "After all, we have to think about the future, if we really manage to defeat Aerys - I do not fight the Reach because the Reach has declared war upon me. Aerys and Rhaegar did this. It has no use to have him as a captive, as only the capturing of the Lord or his heir might have changed circumstances in alliances. And so far I'm not in need of more money - we shouldn't forget the main purpose of this rebellion.
If we have luck, my deed has granted us perhaps a valuable ally in later time - if his release has doomed us all, however, I defintily will accept it as my own fault and die with this knowledge."
He didn't want to mention what he might have found out about Lady Lyanna's remain, as he would inform the Starks first about it. Sending them out for this task might be a better idea than searching for her with his own damaged host.

**jacb547** · June 22, 2014, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Lord Dread

Robert sighed, as he had already expected the questions.
"Andrew, as you know I'm not a great man of politics and neither a man of great words", he then said calm, "After all, we have to think about the future, if we really manage to defeat Aerys - I do not fight the Reach because the Reach has declared war upon me. Aerys and Rhaegar did this. It has no use to have him as a captive, as only the capturing of the Lord or his heir might have changed circumstances in alliances. And so far I'm not in need of more money - we shouldn't forget the main purpose of this rebellion.
If we have luck, my deed has granted us perhaps a valuable ally in later time - if his release has doomed us all, however, I defintily will accept it as my own fault and die with this knowledge."
He didn't want to mention what he might have found out about Lady Lyanna's remain, as he would inform the Starks first about it. Sending them out for this task might be a better idea than searching for her with his own damaged host.

Lord Andrew Estermont, Grassy Vale

Lord Estermont was none too fussed about "As you say, My Lord." Andrew hoped the Hightower Knight would not be accosted by some outlaws on the road and his death be blamed on them. "Where to now? Back home?"