Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, plot or he sort from ASOIAF.

Companion fic to "Great Ascent." This is the complete story based on that one-shot and will actually go beyond it too. Depending on how it goes, I might take it down or continue it.

If you have any questions or concerns, PM or review- I'll answer some way. With everything out of the way, I present Chapter 1...

Joffrey yawned discreetly into his palm, blinking away the sun's rays however faint they were. He was about to drop. Traveling for an entire moon's turn was quite exhausting and if he didn't have a horse, he imagined he would be somewhere in the middle of the road...from the very first week.

Surely his father could have requested the Starks to come to King's Landing instead of making the whole royal family leave the Throne at the foolish hands of the Court? Apparently, Eddard Stark meant quite much to his father.

He was just happy it wasn't him that got to be near his mother at this time of day. She was becoming more irritable as the days passed. Joff hated to think about how 'irritable' Myrcella and Tommen were. That was why he stuck around the end of the royal procession, just before the procession turned sour and became rankings of commoners and peasants. Of course, the quiet yet distracted company of his Uncle Tyrion kept some boredom at bay.

And of course, he could always just ride in the palanquin but the joy of journeying was upon the horse. Only Myrcella and Tommen rode in there with their mother.

Admittedly, he did get quite a workout just the day before and he had been tempted to ride on the damn thing. They had gone hunting and Joffrey had squared a good shot at the stag his father had been chasing for almost the whole morning. It made him proud that just for that one second, Robert had seemed prouder like any father would be of their son. The moment of course, was broken as soon as the stag proved to be already bitten by predators.

"Prince Joffrey, your father the King requests your presence at the front of the procession. He wants you to be one of the first to see Winterfell." Sandor Clegane commented quite nonchalantly yet obediently.

Also known as 'The Hound,' he had been riding beside Joffrey all throughout the journey except when Joff himself sent the dog to guard Tommen and Myrcella when he left to hunt.

"Funny that. Probably to showcase us to Lord Stark." Joffrey drawled lazily, "Where is Lucas?"

"Keeping order between your siblings, Prince Joffrey, just as you've ordered."

Joffrey rolled his eyes, 'They are such children.' Sometimes he was ashamed to consider them his siblings. But he recognized their worth and treated them accordingly. Myrcella would serve as a good bargaining chip someday when he sat on the Iron Throne so he always treated her kindly so that she would bow to his requests later on.

Tommen was his heir, in case something happened, so Joff always took Tommen aside to teach him a few tricks with the bow or a short history lesson that he found particularly important. Usually, Joffrey would hate to think about losing the Iron Throne, but in case he did, he would prefer his younger brother to continue upon the throne rather than let some trash do it.

'Better keep Baratheon blood upon the chair.'

"Alright alright, come with me. This had better be worth it." He ordered, spurring his horse faster until he had the beast trotting steadily. The Dog followed behind, occasionally throwing insults at those who stepped in his way. No one dared to step in front of Joffrey of course, so he had no trouble.

And indeed, he did catch an impressive first view of the frigid-looking palace. From this distance, it seemed mightier than even the Red Keep; a behemoth looming over them, ready to devour them at a moment's notice. It did have it's beauty however but it was a rough kind of beauty that was best marked as natural.

Banners of the white Stark direwolf upon the grey filed flew atop the keep. Joffrey almost blinked at the absurdity of this place and the lack of color of it. It was so drab but he was still impressed. If nothing, this place showed the Starks focused on practicality and military. And this place housed a potential ally of his father and he would exploit it all he could.

"Maybe this will be interesting." Joffrey commented, turning to his father who immediately frowned.

"Quiet, Joffrey."

Rolling his eyes again, he let his horse slow and walk beside the bannermen his father did bring along. Cold green eyes hatefully stared at Robert Baratheon for a second before it diminished and Joffrey admitted nothing would ever change so it was best to let go of any hatred towards the King. Better to not feel anything.

He did wish Eddard Stark wasn't another Robert Baratheon. The irony would not be lost upon him.

The Stark family was waiting for them outside, all so deeply covered in furs and overcoats that Joffrey had a hard time distinguishing Eddard Stark from his sons and Catelyn Stark from her daughter, Sansa Stark; also his betrothed.

Sansa Stark was beautiful. She seemed so out of place amongst the Northerners with their heavy brows and dark hair. Like a rose in the middle of weeds and grass. She was slim and had a dark fur thrown over quite stylishly. She, however, wasn't at the top of his mind right now.

Three other children, just about the size of Tommen peered out from behind their elder siblings. The rest of the greeting party was a mixture of servants and ostlers along with a few other guests ready to help the incoming King's party. Absently, he wondered how the procession must look: wagon upon wagon strolling into previously lone space.

He feels Sansa's curious glance and he actually meets her eyes and smirks before directing his glance to his father's boisterous greeting towards Eddard Stark. He is quite interested when somewhere along the lines, his father and Stark become somber and they deviate from the original path towards the entrance of the hold and to somewhere else.

He did notice the dark look that hung around his Queen Mother for a few moments before it cleared behind that mask of false cheer and queenly regality. Joffrey and his siblings are led by both Clegane and Lucas to the inside of the hold. Tyrion dispersed to the common hall, jesting merrily with Jaime.

Some of the children trailed after them like lost little dogs...or wolves. It's quite adorable and pathetic. Everyone is conversing with each other; celebrations and good natured laughs echo throughout the entire courtyard.

"It's very functional, Dog." Joffrey commented quietly, tugging another layer of thick leather off to warm in the surprisingly temperate keep. Before the Hound can answer, Joffrey catches a glimpse of the eager Tommen and darts to catch the stray silk coat in the child's hands, "Steady Tommen. Behave or I will tell the Dog to hang you from the wall. This is not the time and place to wreak havoc. Not yet."

"But Joff-"

"I mean it, Tommen." Joffrey muttered through gritted teeth, smiling pleasantly at the passing servant girl who tottered and blushed. Tommen deflated, looking quite offbeat now and nodded reluctantly, "Oh all right. I'll behave."

"Make sure you're ready for dinner."

With that, Joffrey slipped off to the darkened corners of the castle, eager to find its weak points and learn so that one day, when he became king, he could take this place as his own and add it to his kingdom. And would be the basis of the greatest fort he could possibly build. Something like the most impenetrable fortress on Red Keep.

Of course, he didn't have much time to get by since he managed to hear the some of the Stark children wanting to go outside and spar a bit. Like always, it also meant that he had to go and show his own abilities. Granted, he didn't have much to show. He doubted these roughed up little wolves appreciated archery.

It ashamed him to think he was incapable of wielding a blade. It was one of the reasons why, when guards and servants passed by his hidden position, he hid further into the shadows and grimly pressed his lips into a tight line. For being the heir of the Iron Throne, he was pathetic and he knew it because nobody hesitated to make it know.

It was his hope however, that one day,meh would grow to be physically strong so that people would accept him.

Optimism bled through again when he discovered a thrilling marvel of construction. When he touched the walls, he became aware that they were warm and not as cold as he had expected them to be. 'It must be underground water springs of hot water...magnificent!'

If he ever had a project like this one, he'd be sure to remember something like this.

"People are looking for you."

The voice came from his far left and Joffrey didn't have enough time to react to actually show some expression other than the reverence he had as soon as he touched the walls. A quick observation and he knew he was talking with one of the Stark children.

He wasn't sure which one though. He hadn't been paying attention when they had been introduced. Yet he wasn't so rude as to ignore someone when being spoken to, "I know."

"They want to see how good you are with a sword." The boy said quietly, raising a curious eyebrow at Joffrey. Joff had no idea what the boy was curious about specifically although he suspected it might be over his reluctance to showcase a nonexistent skill rather than explaining why he was practically fondling the wall.

"I know." Joffrey responded.

"So why don't you go?"

Tilting his head and wondering how he might answer it without exposing any weaknesses, he let his gaze wander distractedly beyond the boy, "I just don't want to."

The boy immediately dropped the almost blank curiosity and a new expression filled in the vacant space. It astounded Joffrey how open this child was...why, at his age, Joff had already learnt by heart that smiling was forbidden in public. This behavior spoke volumes of the Starks...more than they'd ever imagine. It spoke of honor, honesty and courage; values that didn't last long back at the South.

"Why wouldn't you want to? You're the Prince! You live with knights- why wouldn't you like to spar?" The boy gaped, little dark eyes sparkling with disbelief and childish innocence Joffrey would have labeled as stupidity had he not been thinking of his own failures.

Trying to divert the boy's attention would prove troublesome if he didn't do it correctly. "I just don't want to. I prefer other forms of entertainment." Gosh, the way he was wording things...

"Have you sparred with live steel?"

Joffrey would have answered but he heard voices coming up the staircases he had been wandering by. The boy blinked and it was all Joffrey needed to slip away stealthily. The shadows and darkness hid him pretty well and when he slipped into another hallway, his worries had dissolved when he caught sight of the humble tapestries adorning this part of the keep.

This tapestry was a story tapestry and like all story tapestries, it showed its story in beautiful and careful detail. The tapestry began with a single wolf- the direwolf to be exact- who was crouched in a hunting crouch. The beast roamed, all throughout spring thorough winter, and never stopped hunting. It seemed obvious that it was never sated from its bloodthirsty spree.

Until the tapestry began showing something he was very familiar with. Amongst pines and snow trees, man appeared, swathed in furs and holding crude weapons that Joff would have been disgusted to hold. But the direwolf stopped. At first, man feared the gigantic animal, but when the beast showed no signs of antagonism to new species, man began to attempt communication between the direwolf. The tapestry showed a bloody battle in which man fought against man and the direwolf appeared by the man's side.

It became apparent to Joff what it meant now. The first man and the first direwolf had began an almost instant connection against other foes. The first man had been the beginning of the Stark House. And the first direwolf had been honored by accepting the beast as the sigil of the born house. The other man represented the Southern men who had no doubt been at odds with North men.

His attention was quickly diverted when he caught sight of the stag and the direwolf running beside each other. Neither outran the other, both majestic in their own ways, side by side. Joffrey knew what that simplistic tapestry meant: it had been the beginning of the alliance between the Baratheon and Stark Houses.

He was struck with quiet reverence at how long the alliance ran...despite them being so different, they had stuck. The direwolf had never attacked the stag, no matter how bloodthirsty it could have been. Neither did the stag fear the wolf and neither did it try to subjugate it.

It made him wonder about what he would do with the Starks when he stepped in Robert's stead. Would they stay allied when he did, or would the wolf bite for the first time? Could it be the stag that would strike first instead? Did he even have to fear the Starks? Would they run beside him in the game of thrones?

Besides, Joffrey had thought the Starks and Baratheons had first allied when Lyanna's honor had been besmirched at the hands of Raegar Targaryen. Apparently, it wasn't so and for a time, both houses had forgotten their treaty until then.

Would this treaty be strong enough to survive his ascent?

Joffrey left the Tapestry Room with quiet contemplative thoughts. It was time for the feast that would undoubtedly take place in a few moments, judging by the lack of sunlight left. He had years to decide such alliance and he hoped it would be the correct one; hopefully by the time they headed back to King's Landing, he'd have a good impression of the Winterfell wolves.