Ser Bonifer Hasty, Lord Commander of the King's Gallowglasses, Steward of the Cooleys
Oh how high you have found yourself, came the thoughts of Ser Bonifer Hasty, his father's words congratulating him for marrying Princess Rhaella and becoming the bodyguard of King Anarawd of the True North as well as having a family in this far away place, when Rhaella proposed that they run away, he was hesitant he feared the wrath of her family and it was her reassurance that she would rather spend her time locked away in a Sept and taking the vows of a Silent Sister than be parted with him that assured him that it was all worth it. "Bonifer" came the accented greeting of his new king, Anarawd son of Rhodri, of the House of Canmore, when the man had spent his youth as a hostage of King Aegon V, he had thought of him like the princes of House Targaryen, separate to those they deemed lesser and yet then Prince Anarawd and he a squire shoveling horse dung, he was the one that approached him and asked if there were any places where he could take a drink.
"I mislike the piss they call wine here" Bonifer remembers the man saying and they went to a tavern where they talk of a lot of things, Bonifer asks him of how he found King's Landing and the wildling prince gave him a stare that reminded him of the cold north. "It smells like shit" the two had a laugh about that, he also remembers at Court when Prince Jaehaerys decided to insult Anarawd after the latter's father has died fighting the Others, and the wildling prince petitioned before King Aegon V to go back to his home.
"You call us savages and wild beasts, when you should be on your knees grateful that if not for us you can spend your summers with a belly full of fruits, vegetables, grain, mutton, pork, beef, ale and wine and worrying over who gets to seat at such an ugly throne" those words alone made Prince Jaehaerys to demand for his head in which he was reprimanded publicly by King Aegon V who took Anarawd's side and granted him leave to take his father's crown.
"Your grace..." Anarawd glares at him and Bonifer sighs. "Tis' only proper we are not back in King's Landing anymore" Anarawd sighs as they both walk around the Glass gardens that was built next to the Great Hall cared for by servants trained by the gardeners of House Stark, they were followed by Bonifer's son, Daemon Hasty who is on alert like him for any assassins that would threaten the life of the king.
"My family and our supporters, the Hawk Feathers, fear for the future" King Anarawd began, "they have been fighting with the Horsetails who wish to return to the days where everyone can elect their chief, but they have one thing they agreed on this time they wish to elect a king rather than support my daughters and their husbands"
"It has been known that Realms would rather bleed than let a woman rule over them" Bonifer states.
"And yet there is Dorne who allows their women to succeed their fathers" Anarawd remarks and sighs.
"My wife wanted us to try again for a son so as to sooth their fears, but I can't lose her, not after Morgan's birth" Anarawd said as Bonifer could see the tiredness creeping in from his friend's eyes, even he can agree with that, he cannot bear a single thought to imagine what if Rhaella had died in her five childbirths.
"The choice is obvious then? You would have to hold a council to choose who will be your heir amongst your family?" he finally asks to which the King of the True North snorts.
"They would like that you'd think? Nay, I would declare Gisla, my middle daughter and her husband, Styr Map Sigr, and their children as my heirs..." before Bonifer could say anything Anarawd shook his head "it is a good choice, it would calm both the Hawk Feathers and the Horsetails, Styr is a good husband and would not mind sharing his power with Gisla and their children, it would appease the two sides something we desperately need in this Watchful Peace" he is right, Bonifer had known Gisla's husband to be a good man that can appease the Horsetails, Gisla however had no intention to "endanger herself and her children" her words but still a stable kingdom is needed as the danger of the White Walkers was still there.
"But Gisla fears the consequences of taking power" Bonifer reminds his friend as he looks at him and then to his son.
"And that is where you will come in, my friend, you will help her and her husband, and their children to succeed" he puts a hand on his shoulder "please..." Bonifer nods.
"You have my word that their reign will be greater than yours" he assures his friend who laughs.
"That would be a great story to tell to my father should we meet in the Afterlife!" he remarks at those words.