Lord Roboute Tyrell

- 255 AC - 

(3rd Person POV)

Roboute walked through the hallways at Highgarden, making his way to the gardens, where he was told his parents would be. He had gotten good news: his mother's labour had gone through without a problem, and Mace Tyrell had been born a few weeks prior, just before the previous year had come to a close. Roboute was now seven, almost eight name days old and as such quite a bit older than his younger brother. He had been busy in these two years that Macragge had been built. 

There were many things happening at the same time, which he had to attend to simultaneously. Roboute's mother, Olenna, had helped keep things off of him for a while, but after she got pregnant and approached her labour, Roboute had to do everything on his own. He was more intelligent than everyone and looked like a 13-name day-old at the age of 8, but he was still young. Gaining respect took time and needed merit on his part. All things he was working towards. 

On one hand, there was the internal problem of the Reach. Unlike the North, the Reach wasn't as united behind House Tyrell as they liked. This meant that Roboute had to be wary of plots within the Reach. He needed to demonstrate his skills and capabilities, accumulating merit, while maintaining a relatively low profile, as far as that was possible. Quite early on, he had already seen those who had the most potential and managed to slowly influence them with his 'presence or aura'. 

The most important among them were Mathis Rowan, Randyll Tarly, his sister Rowena, Paxter Redwyne, Baelor Hightower, his brother Garth Hightower, Garth Crane, Jon Footly and Androw Ashford. But not only were the heirs of noble Houses promising. There were many of the smallfolk children who were skilled as well. 

However, Roboute knew that Baelor Hightower wasn't content, and he held some sway over a few older boys who had already left Macragge again. Problems were present at all times, and Roboute needed to address them sooner or later. And they weren't only political in nature. 

.

Roboute nodded at his guards and then walked into the garden, approaching his mother, who was enjoying some tea and the afternoon sunshine. In her arms, she cradled a small bundle of linen, containing a babe inside it. At her side stood Septon Osmund of the Highgarden sept, discussing something with her. Roboute would have frowned if he were normal. There stood another and rather sizeable obstacle and problem he saw: the faith. Olenna's demeanour brightened when she saw her son approach. 

"That would be all, Septon. Leave us," she said. 

"As you wish, Lady Olenna."

The septon looked at Roboute and then walked away, leaving the mother and son pair alone. 

"Now, you come to visit me, after all this time?" Olenna asked. 

"I apologise, Mother. Macragge has turned out to affect the Reach and Westeros more deeply, politically, than I could trust anyone but you and me to handle," Roboute said and gave his mother a gentle kiss on the forehead. 

That was the only gesture of affection Roboute ever showed. And only because it was Olenna's wish. He cared for his family and his mother the most, despite what it seemed, but he saw so much more than everyone else, and didn't see kisses or flowery words as a means of proving it. Only results mattered. Olenna taught her son all that she knew and held considerable authority. Her opinion mattered to Roboute. She also didn't talk or treat him differently and would never do so, no matter how 'great' he would become. 

"Allow me to introduce you to your brother, Mace. You'll have to take care of him, son; I can tell already. I fear he comes after your father, unlike you."

"You believe him to be slow?" Roboute asked and observed the babe for a moment. 

He saw the erratic movement from his younger brother and the innocence in his eyes. He didn't see any abnormality or physical impairment.

"I'll make sure to get him enrolled in Macragge as soon as he is old enough."

"That would be for the better. Tell me, how are things, son? Did you make any ties with heirs of other houses?"

It had been a while since Roboute had seen his mother. The initial two years were challenging, since he was the only one who saw the entire picture, apart from his mother. She had helped him during the first, but he was on his own during the second. He had to juggle everything on his own, but it was getting better. Progress would never stop as long as he was alive. 

"I have discovered talented heirs and smallfolk who will be of use to us and the Reach in the coming years. The monetary deficit is still somewhat present, but I will use this time to make up for it."

"Did you discover new techniques for agriculture again?" Olenna asked. 

"I have created new tools for our farmers to use, which will reduce the time spent working each day. This will increase productivity by a lot and allow us to increase the size of the farmland and, in turn, our yield. Apart from that, I have created a theoretical map for roads I wish to introduce and changes to our waterways."

"And you did all that while you were learning and training? You need to take some time to relax, son. I don't want you to tire yourself out."

"I will."

In truth, Roboute had never experienced exhaustion. He was always ready, always working on something, either mentally or physically. It was his inexhaustible drive that pushed the Reach forward and would make it the most powerful among all the other kingdoms. 

"And if you think that you can leave right away again, you don't know me. You will spend some time with us, whether you have something to do or not," she said. 

"I understand. What did the septon want, mother?" Roboute asked.

"The usual, more power and money. Ever since your project didn't implode, the Faith of the Seven has grown more interested in the idea of manipulating young minds to their cause."

"That was to be expected."

"I know how you think about the faith, Roboute, and I understand your concerns, but think about the repercussions, alright? We both knew this would happen sooner or later. And we aren't yet prepared for them, should they speak against us," Olenna warned Roboute. 

"I am aware of it. Which is also why I am using their words against them," Roboute said, thinking about his plan. 

"Oh? Have you found a way to do that?" Olenna asked with interest. 

"Their lies and hypocrisy will be their undoing. When I am done with them, they will disappear with a whisper."

"How ominous and amusing, coming from a young child."

"..."

"Oh, now don't look at me like that. We both know that you might not have acted like one, but you are my son and always will be my child. Now, get to your father before he does something stupid again. Chop chop. Unlike you, your brother and I need some rest."

Roboute nodded and left the gardens. As he entered their hallways and made his way towards his father's solar, septon Osmund called out to him. He waited for the right moment to approach him. 

"Young Lord Roboute, a word?" 

"I am busy. So if you want something, you will have to say it while we walk."

"That's perfectly fine, my lord. I heard about your success with the learning institution Macragge, and I wanted to congratulate you."

"Come to the point," Roboute said. 

"As I was conversing with the gods the past few months, I felt that there is yet something missing in Macragge. A place to thank the Seven for their great gift we were presented with."

"You are still wasting my time. What do you want, septon?" Roboute asked. 

"I had the idea that a place such as Macragge would be ideal for a sept where all the children who attend are to be introduced to the Seven and may even choose to join the service. All so that we may be saved and--"

"I despise nothing more than lies, septon. Declined."

Roboute ignored the septon and walked away, but before he could turn around the corner, Osmund called after him. 

"I understand, young Lord. You are still young after all and don't understand what truly matters in this world. Maybe Lord Luthor will be more forthcoming when I present him with the advantages and disadvantages of angering the gods..."

Roboute stopped walking and turned to face the septon. His face looked the same, and so did his posture. But the air grew heavier than it already was in Roboute's presence. 

"We will talk about this later," Roboute said and walked away. 

Osmund smiled to himself, knowing that he had won this battle. The young lord might be smart when it came to mastering theoretical knowledge, but the game they were playing was still beyond him, or so he thought. 

.

Roboute knocked at his father's door and then entered. Luthor looked up from the papers he was reading. Seeing his son brightened Luthor's demeanour considerably, since he never enjoyed doing paperwork of any kind. He was taught to do it, of course, but he was a dreamer. He enjoyed riding and spending time with his family in their gardens. That made him a good father, but in terms of political power, authority and presence, he was just above Tytos Lannister. 

"Roboute! Oh, it is great to see you, my son. How have you been?" Luthor exclaimed and embraced his son. 

"I have been well, Father. I see that you have more to do, now that Mother is in her postpartum period."

"Tell me everything that happened at that training hall of yours."

"I will, but first we need to talk about a few other things. There are some projects I have finished and which are ready to be built."

"Really? Like what?" Luthor asked. 

"I have been thinking about our infrastructure and the distribution of both resources and manpower, in the case of need. Getting anything around is dreadfully slow, and we will change that. The Roseroad is not enough, and the other smaller ones are in a terrible condition."

"Hmm, I agree with you. Your idea of crop rotation has indeed increased our yield and the monetary gain, and at this point, I know better than to question you, son. So what did you have in mind?" Luthor asked. 

Roboute presented a map of House Tyrell's lands in the Reach. There were some roads marked, and changes to the Mander were also to be seen. Roboute had big plans and saw far into the future. 

"For now, I wish to connect Highgarden with Macragge as a start. Getting here took far too much time, and time is life," Roboute showed it to his father.

"What are all these other markings?"

"These are ideas I had as well, but which aren't as important right now. To achieve our desired outcome, we will need resources and authority. Both of which we currently lack. I am, however, working on both fronts already. The North has a better opinion of us, due to the lowering of our prices on grain and other food. They won't bother us, as it isn't in their nature. The Westerlands are currently occupied with different matters, which are fortunate for us. Lord Tytos Lannister is incapable and has no backbone. From what I hear, his son, Tywin Lannister, is a different matter altogether. This gives us time, Father, do you understand?"

"...Hmm, yes, yes, I understand. What else?"

Roboute didn't want to go too far, since he knew his father did, in fact, not really understand what this meant for the Reach. But that wasn't a problem, Roboute knew, and he also knew the current state of most of the other kingdoms. Not as much as he'd like, but that couldn't be expected at this stage. 

"Well, it seems that the Stormlands and the Dornish have a bit of an interest in us."

"Very well, son. If you tell me exactly what to do, I'll get right ahead."

.

In a specific brothel and underground gambling place of Highgarden, three men were holding a meeting in the back room. They wore similarly styled clothing, but looked different, each of them stemming from a different part of Westeros. Two of them had a whore at their side, who was giving them kisses and rubbing themselves on them, arousing their lust. One of them, the fattest among them, had three. 

"Have you achieved what we asked of you, Osmund?" the first man asked. 

"Indeed. The Young Lord is still too young to understand the world. He is green, and we can use that. Very soon, we will control him and his creation: Macragge. The Reach will be in our hands then."

"This is the biggest chance we have been waiting for, Osmund. If you fail this, I fear the gods won't be able to save you," the second man said. 

"I will not fail, High Septon. It will work out perfectly. The Tyrells are faithful, and they wouldn't dare to go against the Seven directly. So he will agree, and when he does, it will already be too late to do anything else," Osmund said. 

"You shouldn't talk like that, septon..."

The three men looked at the woman who had just spoken with raised eyebrows and disgust. 

"You dare speak to us, whore?! Your sins need to be punished, I will personally--"

The High Septon was shut up as he felt a knife placed at his throat by two of the other women. All three men were suddenly threatened with knives, which the prostitutes hold at their throats, silencing them.

"Wha-- what is this? Do you know who I am?!"

"Oh, we know, High Septon."

"And yet, you dare to threaten us?"

"We are merely following orders, oh, holy man," the woman jested. 

"Whose orders?!" 

The door to the secret room opened. Two Tyrell guards were seen as they pushed open the door and made way for a smaller individual to enter. Seeing the boy stand there with blonde hair, a stern face and a powerful presence, the three men of the Faith of the Seven's hearts sank. 

"That would be mine, Septon," Roboute says as he walks into the room. 

"Y--You!? What are you doing here? Call off these... these--"

Septon Osmund was slapped in the face by one of the women. The remaining women nodded their heads and took a step back, awaiting Roboute's next orders. One of them pulled up a chair for Roboute to sit in. 

"Well?" Roboute asked. 

"Well, what?"

"I told you we would talk about it later, did I not, Osmund?" Roboute asked. 

"What are you talking about?!" Osmund asked angrily.

"You threatened my family and me, wish to take advantage of us and then believe we will not talk about it?"

"..."

"You won't harm us," the High Septon said. 

"No?"

"Of course not. We both know what would happen once the realm finds out what you did. You would incite the greatest rebellion you have ever seen. The King would destroy you and your entire house. All this is a pathetic show of authority, and I am bored."

"And who would ever find out?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Someone will find out, someone always does. We were seen entering here, entering Highgarden. It will be known that we were last seen entering Highgarden."

"You misunderstand, I'm not going to kill you. That would be thoughtless of me. I don't waste resources after all."

...

Roboute stood up and nodded at the guards, then walked out, leaving the three men to their fate.