Editing Varys (section)

===House Targaryen===
Their trade in information increased Varys and Illyrio's wealth tenfold, and in time Varys became so infamous that word of his talents reached the ears of King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] in [[Westeros]] across the [[narrow sea]]. In his growing paranoia, Aerys no longer trusted his son, Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]], his wife, Queen [[Rhaella Targaryen]], or his [[Hand of the King]], Lord [[Tywin Lannister]].{{Ref|ADWD|5}}

Varys was brought to Aerys's court at some point after the death of Lord [[Steffon Baratheon]] in {{Date|278}}.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}} As a [[spymaster]] in [[King's Landing]], Varys's influence grew with Aerys's increasing paranoia. According to Ser [[Barristan Selmy]], "the rot in King Aerys's reign began with Varys",{{Ref|ASOS|36}} while [[Maester]] [[Yandel]] would count Varys among the "[[lickspittle lords]]" that surrounded the king.{{Ref|twoiaf|5|1}} Varys was always quick to point out any traitors Aerys might have missed.{{Ref|ASOS|37}} He used the crown's gold to create his spy network,{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}} whom he called his "[[little birds]]". Varys mastered the [[secret passages]] within the [[Red Keep]]. Varys alerted Aerys to the possibility that his son Rhaegar was using attendance at the [[tourney at Harrenhal]] as a pretext to rally lords to his cause in removing Aerys as king.{{Ref|ADWD|67}} This caused Aerys to attend the tournament, the first time he had left the Red Keep since the [[Defiance of Duskendale]], four years prior.{{ref|ADWD|67}}

Following Rhaegar's defeat during the [[Battle of the Trident]] near the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]], Varys counseled King Aerys against opening the city gates{{Ref|ASOS|37}} when [[Tywin Lannister]] appeared at King's Landing with an army of twelve thousand men.{{Ref|agot|12}} Aerys, however, decided to listen to Grand Maester [[Pycelle]] and opened his gates to the Lannister forces. The Mad King was then killed by Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] of his own [[Kingsguard]] during the [[Sack of King's Landing]].{{ref|ASOS|37}}