William Baratheon: The Tale of a True Kings Struggle

Summary: I am William of House Baratheon, Second son of Robert, First of his name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm. And if I am to believe Lord Stark and my uncles I am his one true heir.

Disclaimer: The Song of Ice and Fire series belongs to George R.R. Martin, I am simply playing in it.

Authors Note: For the reader context William Baratheon is the second 'child' of Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister. However unlike the other children William is a true son of Robert. For the purposes of this story it has been 17 years since Roberts rebellion, Joffery is 16, William is 15, Robb and John are 17, Sansa is 14, Margaery is 15, Arya is 11, Bran 9, Rickon 6, Theon 18.

Warning: This story is rated M for a reason, this is Game of Thrones, Sexual content, profanity, graphic violence, all that nice stuff.

Chapter One: Highgarden I

The warm breeze rolled through the training ground at Highgarden as Prince William Baratheon duelled his uncle Lord Renly Baratheon with wooden swords. The sweat was dripping from William while Renly was barely breaking a sweat as he swung down of William with their swords crashing into one another. As the two black haired men clashed they those watching could see the similarities between them the Baratheon facial features were strikingly the same William's eyes however were of Lannister green, where his uncle grew a short beard William preferred to remain clean shaven.

On the balcony above them stood Margaery Tyrell wearing a dress of Highgarden green with roses woven through the braids in her hair looking down on their fight. The rose maiden William called her, the love of his life, the women William had known since they were both eight, the woman who William hoped to marry if her father would allow it. Sadly her father had other plans to become the father of the Queen and Grandfather of a King by marrying her to his older brother Joffery.

William had been Renly's fosterling since he was eight years old when his mother sent him away. William had been Lord Renly's squire since he was twelve; while Renly was Master of Laws he was almost never in kings landing as the work was easily dealt with on the road. William had seen many parts of the Storm Land and the Reach over these many years but most of his time was spent here in Highgarden or at Storms End.

William was suddenly brought off his feet when Renly's sword struck his own hard enough that it splintered the sword. With another quick swing Williams's sword was out of his hands and on the ground far from him with Renly's sword at his throat he was calmly asked "Do you yield?"

"Yes" said William nearly out of breath inhaling rapidly in an attempt to refill his lungs.

"You did well" said Renly "You lasted five minutes this time, you are still a long way from prepared for the squire's tourney"

"I still haven't beaten you" replied William

Renly Laughed "I doubt you will for many years yet Will."

"Will we at least fight with real steel next time?" inquired William

"Perhaps, if I think you are ready"

There discussion was quickly interrupted as Margaery ran up to William and gave him a sudden hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You did well My Prince" said Margaery sweetly with her rose smelling hair and skin beside him.

"Thank you my lady" he said as he wrapped his arm around her back as they began to walk toward the gardens for lunch.

"Are you excited for the tournament, my prince" asked Margaery politely

"So long I can fight it for your honour my lady"

"Nothing would please me more my prince"

They came through one of the many archways into one of the main gardens of Highgarden where Margaery's Grandmother Olenna Redwyne the 'Queen of Thorns' was holding court with her many ladies and spies. She piped up as he approached.

"Ahh William, you shall be joining us for lunch then?" She asked

"Yes thank you Lady Redwyne" Said William politely as he took a seat at the table with Margaery taking the opposite seat.

"So Prince William how will your father receive our offer?" Asked Olenna

"My father has been rather clear on this with my mother that Joffery will marry one of Lord Eddard Stark's daughters once they come of age, and will not be swayed otherwise, no matter the bride price. Admittedly my father has not yet approached Lord Eddard about this but seems to be determined to join House Stark and Baratheon." replied William

"That is unfortunate" said Lady Redwyne "Mace will be most disappointed, however it may advance your plans to marry Margaery. I myself have no problem with it, but my son still has his ambitions and I doubt will be swayed until Joffery is married."

Margaery and William looked excitedly at each other at the prospect that they may yet be able to marry. Then they noticed that Willas had arrived, Willas turned to William and inquired "Three weeks until the squires tourney William, I trust your preparations are going well?"

"Indeed, I had a gruelling melee practice this morning and I suspect I shall have another this afternoon, before I start jousting practice next week. And Renly has promised to knight me should I win in the melee or joust." Boasted William

"My Prince will be a Ser, Ser William Baratheon, Prince of the Iron Throne, Heir to Storm's End" Proclaimed Margaery with great pride and a beaming smile on her face.

"That is assuming he will win, there is a saying about counting ones chickens before they hatch" Said Willas with his voice of cool wisdom.

"My prince will win, he is a Baratheon." Boasted Margaery

"Quite" replied Lady Redwyne

As the conversation steered away from him and into some discussion about some such lord and some lady between Willas and Olenna, William began to focus on the beautiful food before him, fresh breads, cheeses and meats, the finest wines of the Reach, the freshest and sweetest of fruits. As William begins to eat he feels a small foot sliding up his leg, knowing precisely who it was he smiles and looks up slowly so as not to arouse suspicion at Margaery who picks up one of the fresh cherries from one of the platters places it in her mouth and twirls it around sucking on it lusciously before pulling out the stalk and giving him one of her more flirtatious looks. As Margaery reaches for another cherry Lady Redwyne pipes up. "Margaery stop teasing the poor boy and William don't fall to the wills of that wanton siren."

William burst with laughter while Margaery seemed shocked at her grandmother's words before she began giggling out of control before she fell out of her chair. William stood up, went around to the other side of the table and helped Margaery up, before he turned to Lady Redwyne and said "If you would excuse us my Lady."

A courteous nod of the head from Lady Olenna and William left through the archway holding Margaery's hand. As soon as they had turned the corner and entered the castle Margaery pushed him up against the wall. Her lips crashed into his, her tongue slid into his mouth, his hand slid down to her lower back when Margaery broke the kiss and took his other hand to her core and said with whispered lust that he had never heard from her before "I want you William."

William stopped and grabbed her shoulders looked into those deep brown eyes and spoke. "Margaery Tyrell, I love you with all my heart, but I will not dishonour you, I will not be my father and father a thousand bastards. I will win the squires tourney in three weeks' time. I will crown you the Queen of love and beauty. I will ask your father for you hand. We will be married, and we shall have many children. I swear this by the Old Gods, the Drowned God, the Storm God and the Seven."

Margaery's lips were quickly back upon him and she whispered

"Then you had better win that tourney"

"When I fight for your honour I will always win" he said with a smile

Several weeks of gruelling training came for William the only respite came with Margaery and the beautiful dinners in Highgarden. It was the day before the tourney when Renly barged into Williams's room at the crack of dawn.

"Wake up prince, we're going hunting." Shouted Renly

William looked up bleary eyed at his uncle in his full armour with his sword at his side and his Stag Helm under his arm, Loras stood beside him with his full armour as well. William turned to his uncle and asked

"Why are we going hunting?"

"One of Mace Tyrell's banner men told me that he had spotted a great stag out to the east yesterday with a huge set of antlers, we need these antlers for your helmet if you're a Baratheon you need to look the part."

William smiled, the stag helm was one of the great symbols of his house and all Baratheon's killed the stag themselves. William leapt out of bed he saw his uncle smirk at his nudity and his uncle commented "I see you and Margaery were busy last night then."

William immediately became flustered and sputtered and replied

"No it was too dammed hot; I would never dishonour Lady Margaery."

"I was only joking nephew, get your armour on, I'll prep the horses."

William quickly rushed and with the help of several pages donned his silver armour and rushed to the main hall where he found Loras and Renly breaking there fast. William joined them with a bowl of the reach fruit porridge they ate quickly and silently before rushing out to the courtyard where he found his black stallion Shadow waiting. Shadow had been a gift from Lord Willas for his last name day. This jet black stallion was extremely strong and tough, while not the fastest it made up for that in its strength being able to carry William and his gear without breaking a sweat. The hunting party consisted of just himself, Ser Loras and Renly and they swiftly rode out of Highgarden to the eastern plains.

For several hours they wandered the eastern plains while there were many deer, none were this stag. It was as we came over a hill we saw it standing majestically in a grass field with some of the largest antlers that any of them had seen. William made his horse begin a quiet approach as he drew his bow. While he would traditionally aim for the neck any chance of damaging those antlers would make it pointless so he instead aimed for the hind legs hoping to slow the stag down if it bolted. As he drew back the stag suddenly turned to him and began pawing the ground and dipping its head to show its antlers. William fired and his shot rang true striking into one of the stags hind legs sending in running with a limping back leg, William charged his horse onward at once drawing his sword and preparing to strike. As his horse came right up beside he stabbed right into the chest of the stag and with a sudden lurch the stag fell head over hoof into the grass. William quickly steadied his horse and drew out his meat sack with Loras and Renly approaching with their own. They made quick work off it with William taking the head and Loras and Renly taking the real meat. They quickly sat and ate their lunch rations before riding back to Highgarden.

As they returned to the courtyard at Highgarden Margaery was waiting for him wearing one of her more revealing dresses along with the Highgarden smith. William immediately dismounted and presented the Smith with the Stag's head before Lady Margaery spoke to him "I trust you were successful my prince?"

"Indeed Lady Margaery, we shall be feasting on Venison tonight" said William as they proceeded inside.

The first day of the tourney had arrived at last, the Reach unlike most parts of Westeros had very formal tournaments and this one would be no different. There were three events Archery, Melee and the Joust each with points up for grabs, three points for first place, two for second, and one for third, the winner would be the person with the most points or if there was a draw they would fight a duel till one of them wins.

William had sent a raven to his father a month ago informing him of the impending tourney and inviting him to attend. He received a reply back from his father apologising that he could not come for some excuse that William knew was a farce and no doubt his mother's fault. For all his life William had never understood his mother's constant hate of him, while she constantly doted on Joffery and somewhat ignored Myrcella and Tommen but absolutely despised him. She had never shown any affection for him, no hugs, no gifts, only cold words and a cold demeanour. The only people who had shown affection were his father, his uncle Renly and Jon Arryn. Renly was the one who suggested fostering me, while my father was directly opposed but he came around with the convincing of both Jon and Renly of the need to get him away from his angry mother. William had also written to his uncle Tyrion who had informed him that he wouldn't miss it for the world, but then again his uncle did love tourneys.

William wandered his way down into the gardens, nervousness flowed through his veins as he came through the archway he saw his uncle Tyrion with Renly and Ser Loras when Tyrion turned to him and shouted "Ahh here his is, the man of the hour" as Tyrion stood up and waddled up to him "nervous, come drink some of these beautiful Reach wines and break your fast with us." William joined them as they chatted for a while before William saw Margaery approaching holding something covered by a large red cloth. "My prince" she said "I have a gift for you." William stood up, walked over and pulled back the cloth revealing his new helmet with the antlers of the stag he killed the day before forged as part of it with gold and silver trim the helm was something to behold. He turned to the four of them and spoke true "Thank you, Lady Margaery, Ser Loras, Uncles, let us go win a tourney."

The first day of the tourney would be the melee, William's best event; he stepped out onto the tourney arena with the other fifteen squires as Lord Mace Tyrell began his opening speech with Margaery sitting to his left looking absolutely resplendent in a dress that while covering her breasts showed her chest and belly. William couldn't help but smile as others ogled her knowing that she only had eyes for him. As Lord Mace's speech ended the squires headed to different areas to make final preparations for the melee. William went before the stands and knelt and spoke loudly to Margaery "Margaery of House Tyrell, I ask to fight in your honour."

Margaery rose and removed a handkerchief she had up her sleeve and spoke in those formal tones that always came out at court "It would be my pleasure, William of House Baratheon" as she approached him and tied the handkerchief to his upper arm. He could see the jealously of some of the other squires at the attention he got from Margaery and knew there was going to be some viciousness in this melee. There were traditionally two ways that a melee could be fought. The first was a series of one on one duels, the second was an all-out brawl. In this tourney it was going to be a brawl, ever fighter starts an equal distance apart and whoever was the last man standing would win and the last two to yield would get second and third. William took his spot, drew his sword and threw on his helm with his antlers giving him an imposing look on all the other squires. William looked at his opponents some of them were green boys, most were from the reach one of the more interesting opponents was a squire for Oberyn Martell.

Mace Tyrell declared the battle to begin, William immediately charged for the squire who was on the opposite side of the arena to him, the Green boy raised his shield expecting a direct blow. Stupid boy though William and swung his sword underneath the shield with all the strength the black haired Baratheon could muster sending the shield flying from the green boys hand up into his head sending the green boy spiralling into unconsciousness. William turned and was that three others were already unconscious, another had yielded and that Oberyn's squire was in the process of downing another. Knowing that this was his major opponent William turned to him just as Oberyn's squires' opponent fell. Like most Dornishmen Oberyn's squire fought with a spear and shield while William had always fought on foot with just his sword. As William and the Dornishman circled one another William knew what he had to do, it was a move that he had practiced many times before but should it fail would result in a spear through the stomach which would put him out of the tourney.

William and the Dornishman circled each other slowly while the clangs of the other swords rang in the background. As the Dornishman lunged with his spear William swung his sword underneath the spear and drove it upwards enough to bring William close enough to the Dornishman to Bring his boot into his stomach, as the Dornishman reeled from the attack William slammed down with all his strength onto the Dornishman's head sending him into unconsciousness. As William looked up he saw only one last opponent a squire from House Hightower who he swiftly disarmed winning the melee to the applause of the crowd. But in the end it was not the crowd he was fighting for was he nodded his head in Margaery's direction and left the field.

As William began with the help of some pages to remove his armour he saw both is uncles approaching with Tyrion holding a large bag of gold with a grin on his face and mirth in his eyes as Renly came over and slapped his hand on his shoulder while Tyrion said laughing "Keep this up boy and I shall be a very rich man, rich on Oberyn Martell's Gold."

The archery on the second day was an event that William knew would not go well for him as there were many better archers in this tourney. Yet above Williams own expectations he came third the only issue was that Martell's squire had come first after coming third in the melee meaning that they were on equal points. The competition in the joust was now between himself and Oberyn Martell's squire with the winner winning the tourney.

The day of the joust finally came and William knew his match ups as they had been drawn the night before. He was facing some House Florent green boy as his first matching. He came out onto the field on Shadow to thunderous cheering for the Stag Prince. He once again went to the king's box and asked for the right to fight for Margaery's honour. With Margaery's Handkerchief once again tied to his arm William took his place at the his end of the arena facing toward his opponent as he was thrown lance William looked at his opponent and saw how nervous he looked he nodded his head and lowered his helmets visor and began his charge. In the end it takes a fair bit to stop the charge of Shadow and when his lance hit the House Florent boy with a resounding bang as he was ploughed off his horse with William not even breaking a sweat. William was next challenged by a Squire from House Tarly who fell after two lances. His next opponent was a squire for House Hightower the same squire who he had beaten for first place in the melee. William could see the look of vengeance on his face before he lowered his face shield. As they charged William could feel his fury, and then there was a crack and William felt nothing but pain in his gut. He'd been hit but he was still on the horse, William felt as though the lance had torn out his stomach he looked back at his opponent who had triumphant look on his face. Williams face hardened to all seriousness, he looked to his page, a Seaworth. He shouted "Lance" and grabbed the lance and remembered those words of his house Ours is the fury and with those words William gathered the Fury that his house was famed for and focused on the gut of that Hightower boy and charged. His lance slammed into the Hightower Boy's gut sending him flying off the back of his horse. William threw up his visor with a triumphant look on his face and thought Mine is the fury as he took in the applause of the crowd he tipped his head to Margaery and proceeded off the arena.

The time of the final joust had come; the Martell Squire had won all of his previous tipping's making him William's opponent. William knew that he was not going to be at his strongest in this tipping due to his injury in the previous one; his stomach would be black and blue by the next morning. He rode out onto the arena for the final joust doing his circle of the field when he noticed Margaery she had changed her dress now to one of the brightest yellow that was open in the middle so much so that you could see in-between her breasts and all the way down to her belly button. To William she looked absolutely radiant, something to fight for. William approached the king's box and held out the handkerchief that Margaery had given him and presented his lance, she tied it to the end. He led his horse around to his start position; William knew that any hit would take him off the horse due to his injury which meant that he had to land his lance or he would lose. Luckily the Dornishman had a House Martell shield which made for a perfect target to focus on to slam his lance into that sun. William charged so focused on slamming it into that sun, and then came the Slam.

The crack was louder than any heard that day both lances shattered, William fell backward trying so hard to hold on to his horse as his stomach rippled with pain. As William managed to slow the horse and pull himself back upright with an incredible throbbing pain in his gut. He looked over and saw the Martell lying on the ground and William could not help but smile. He saw a servant girl come over to him holding a tray with a crown of blue flowers on it, William picked it up led his horse to the king's box and he reached over and placed the crown atop Margaery's head to the cheer of the crowd. Lord Mace rises and declares him the winner and hands him the prize money he then notices he has no idea where Renly is, that is when he sees him come onto the arena and William comes down off Shadow. William sees Renly standing there in his full green armour with his gold stag's helm at his side as Renly approaches he shouts "Take a knee boy." William drops to one knee as Renly draws his sword and says those famous words "I Renly of House Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Master of Laws." Renly Sword came upon his right shoulder "William of House Baratheon, In the name of the Warrior I charge you to be Brave." The sword was moved to his left "In the name of the Father I charge you to be just." The sword moved back to his right "In the name of the Mother I charge you to defend the young and innocent." Before moving it back to his left "In the name of the Maid I charge you to protect Women, rise Ser William of House Baratheon." William stood to the cheers of the crowd and the smiling face of his uncle who turned to him and said "now we feast" with a grin.

The great hall of Highgarden was brimming with the many banner men and knights who had come for the tourney the smell of the many meals filled the hall. The newly knighted Ser William sat at the high table Beside Margaery and Lord Mace who had taken a real liking to him that night, but when you crown a man's daughter the Queen of Love and Beauty it can do that sort of thing. The feast had been going for hours and while the great wine of the reach did somewhat dull the pain in William's Gut it was still there, he signalled one of the servants to ready a very hot bath in his chambers to help relax his stretched muscles and hopefully put him to sleep. William excused himself from the feast and proceeded to his chambers, taking in the last of the many congratulations that were thrown his way. When he go to his chambers he slipped into the bath without second thought. William could not help but smile to himself I've done it he thought A knight of the realm, my love crowned a queen of love and beauty, what more can the second son of a king ask for. His musing was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. William assumed that it was a servant with more hot water for him but was surprised when he heard the door locking and that is when she came around the corner. Margaery stood at the doorway to the bathroom resplendent in that beautiful yellow robe with her blue flower crown atop her head. His finger rose out of the water and pointed at her and he spoke quietly "That dress is beautiful on you; you had every man in that arenas eyes on you."

She looked him in the eye and said "I can't decide how I like it better, this way or this way" as she removed it revealing her lightly tanned perky breasts with their pink nipples on the end. William groaned with lust as she reached down and removed her skirt and underclothes revealing the wispy brown bush that covered her sex. She lowered herself into the bath with him and reached out and took his length in her hand as it slowly hardened while she leant over and took his lips in hers. She broke there kiss and giggled "you are much bigger than I expected." William whispered in reply with such loving adoration "you were far more beautiful then I imagined." Margaery took his lips again and deepened there kiss as William reached out at slowly brushed across her sex drawing a moan from Margaery. William felt her move to bring him to her hole, he broke there kiss and said with all seriousness "I will honour you my lady, you know this, I will marry you, save your maiden head till then, for now sit here with me." She looked him in the eye both respectful of his choice and slightly disappointed before moving to the other end of the bath as William passed her a glass of wine. She turned to him "I have good news, I managed to convince father, he will write to the King and offer my hand for yours" she said as she took his hand. William exploded into a smile knowing this was the best day of his life so far, as he and Margaery drank and talked the night away William could not help but smile despite the pain in his chest.

William awoke the next morning to a knock on the door with a splitting headache and a sore chest but still with a smile. Before he could even answer the door was opened with his Uncle Renly entering looking grim and said "A raven arrived this morning from Kings Landing, Jon Arryn is dead, and your father commands us to return."

Authors Note: And so it begins… Leave reviews if you would, I will try get the next chapter out within the next two weeks, I hope you enjoyed it.

William Baratheon