I am back!

I'm so sorry, for the late update, but life came and kicked me in the butt. I got, (had to use Translate for this one so if it is wrong, do tell me nicely) an ear canal inflammation. I still haven't fully recovered, and spent nearly a week drugged with three different sorts of painkillers just to be able to sit up straight with my ear going dunk.

This also means I cannot use headphones, and as I use music to relax and let imagination flow when writing, it got more difficult.

But I do have a treat for you guys. The largest chapter I have ever written. Without AN it reached 16k. This chapter does include a lot, and more will be written at the end.

Without out further ado, Enjoy!

Chapter 2.

298 AC, Eight Month.

Two fucking days. It took two days before Hadrian had started to recover after his use of magic on the Stark guard. How he hated having access to that kind of power, but not the means to fully utilize it.

Magic was, sadly, a pathetic weapon at best. Magic would give him an edge for a short while, and could save his life, but magic was too tough to perform to be an efficient weapon. He had theories that the death of the Dragons, cutting down the Weirwood Tree's and other acts made by the Maester's and the Faith had crippled the flow of magic. Hadrian did have much easier time using magic when close to a Wierwood, such as the ones on the Isle of Faces or the huge Weirwood in Casterly Rock. His one journey to Highgarden had also enriched his magic, as the Tyrells had three of the damned trees.

The Valyrians were clearly powerful mages, and the few Valyrian artifacts Hadrian had researched on were heavily enchanted. The enchantments were so good that they were far more superior to anything Hadrian remembered from his former life. They had layers of magic, each with a purpose and a meaning, strengthening the artifact and giving them power far superior to anything Hadrian had dreamt of. But they also were the only good magical focus that Hadrian had stumbled upon.

Having Brightroar had already strengthened Hadrian's magic, and he had started to delve into some of the tougher spells available. But he couldn't exactly use Brighroar as a medium for his magic. Pointing a bastard sword around like a wand was a bit… obvious. No, he needed something smaller, like the knife Lord Stark had in his office.

But that would have to wait, as for now Hadrian would have to rely on wandless casting and the small boost having Brightroar near him would enhance his magic. There was of course the Oath between him and Gerion, but even now Hadrian wasn't sure how it had happened. Magical Oath's were binding between magical. That of course meant that Gerion must have had a magical core, but that still didn't explain how an oath like that sprung up.

But for the two days Hadrian had spent in isolation, claiming food poisoning that he got from his travels to the city. They had stayed at many inns and ate hunted animals. It wouldn't be the first time somebody ate something bad on the road. And because he was feeling sick after all that magic people had an easier time believing him.

As for the guard… Hadrian berated himself repeatedly for that. It had been stupid, his nerves had been fried after keeping the Mountain in check, dealing with Baelish and the fuckin demands from his vassals and he simply… snapped.

While a cutting curse would have been easier, Hadrian was glad he didn't do that. The cut would have been so clean that only Valyrian Steel would be looked on as the murder weapon. And as two of the three Valyrian blades in King's Landing belonged to House Stark Hadrian would have been a prime suspect.

Thankfully everybody thought the guard went to a dirtier brothel and had a bad ending. It was hardly the first time that happened.

But now it was time to re-enter King's Landing. Therefore the nobles that had gossiped about Hadrian behind his back fell awkwardly quiet when he entered the Throne Room, dressed in a replica of his grandfather's more formal attire, Brightroar strapped to his waist and head held high. The two Lannister Guards behind him helped.

This would be the last time before the Tourney that the King held court, as he would be pissed drunk once the tourney started. Smart people would wait for that to happen before asking Robert for anything. A drunk Robert was a happy and free going Robert.

"Next to approach the King!" the Steward called out from beneath the Iron Throne. It was guarded by five of the Kingsguard, with only Blount and Jaime being missing, more than likely guarding Tommen and Myrcella.

A snobby teenager, more than likely a nobleman's son, approached the King. "Your Grace, I'm Ser Galwarn Tarth, my father is second cousin to Lord Selwyn Tarth."

Robert seemed to regain some sense of interest upon hearing Galwarn's last name. No surprise really, House Tarth originates from the Stormlands, Roberts ancestral lands. And being that the King was surrounded by Crowlanders, River Lords and Westerlanders the man must be somewhat happy to see a Storm Lord. "Selwyn Tarth is a fine man."

Galwarn nodded and gave a false smile. Hadrian nearly sighed. "You need a better mask you snotty brat. Even Robert sees through it!"

"He is. And that is why I am here. My Lord has a bit of a problem with his heirs. He sadly has no sons and-"

"What of it?" Robert said strongly. And no wonder, Lord Selwyn was a great supporter of Robert during the Rebellion.

"With no sons the inheritance of the Tarth lands they are in disarray. I am asking you to resolve this once and for all," Galwarn said.

"Lord Selwyn has a daughter. Whoever marries her will inherit the Tarth lands," Robert declared with a grin.

Hadrian had to use every bit of his trained mental capabilities to not laugh at the look on Galwarn's face. Even he had heard of the Beauty of Tarth. Oh this was gold…

"Your Grace-" Galwarn tried but Robert got a hungry grin.

"Are you not man enough for her, Ser Galwarn?"

Hadrian could feel a smile nearly forming of his face as he laughed inwards. Robert Baratheon had tricked a noble! This was gold! Two surprise in one day! Not only did Robert knew something about his bannermen, but he used it to trick someone!

And while Hadrian could keep a straight face, many others couldn't and laughter rang around in the Throne Room, while Robert only chuckled. Galwarn was very red in the face. "Mari-Marriage? Your Grace-"

"You aren't too closely related. And from what I've heard she is a woman flowered. There is no reason why you couldn't marry her," Robert stated leaving no room for argument.

Hadrian had to bite his own cheek, and he could see his Aunt barely suppressing a smile of her own, but her eyes betrayed her. She too found this enjoyable.

The entire court laughing or smirking, and grinning in Robert's case, broke the young man. "But she is so ugly! No man wants her!"

The effect was immediate. Robert simply nodded towards Barristan Selmy, and the old Knight marched forward and slapped the boy before stepping back. Galwarn looked so shocked you could nearly think he had never been slapped before… that might actually be the case.

"That lady," Robert growled. "Is of a higher rank than you, a daughter of one of my most loyal bannermen and you have no right to say things about her. Now, leave. I will not change the fact that whoever Lady Brienne marries will become the next Lord Tarth. Seven above knows that I owe Selwyn that much."

Galwarn, having humiliated himself nodded and left the Throne Room in a hurry. Cersei could barely contain her smirk. And was that appreciation Hadrian saw in her eyes towards Robert?

Nah, that bitch doesn't have feelings about anything that hasn't come from her own womb.

After the comedy that had occurred court was dismissed, and Hadrian turned to his guards. "Go tell Lucion and Damon that I will want to meet them in the training yard in an hour. And if you could get Clegane to come I would appreciate that."

The guards gulped at Hadrian's words. And no wonder, no matter what Clegane it was, you were flirting with death by disturbing them. "Not Gregor, I need technique training. Get Sandor if he can't see if you can find my father."

The guard did relax upon his words. "We'll see to it, my lord. But are you sure you won't need guards?"

"No. Not with what I am about to do," Hadrian growled in his mind. Stupid, but loyal, guards. "That will not be necessary, I'll be perfectly safe."

The two shared an uncomfortable look. "As you wish. When should Clegane or your father be in the yard?"

"In an hour. I have business to take care of."

The guards made a quick bow before leaving, and left Hadrian alone in the throne room. His eyes naturally sought out the Iron Throne. Even here he his magic resonated being so close to a chair made by dragon fire, and the room was soaked in thick magic, thanks to the dragon skulls that hanged here.

Magic always left traces. And the Red Keep was a treasure trove.

But sadly, the great chair made out of the Conquerors enemies swords was still an ugly thing. Aegon the Conqueror had tried to establish a dynasty of tough, but wise rulers. He failed. But every family had good lords and bad ones.

The Lannister's had their fair share of bad examples. There was a reason nobody used the name Loreon Lannister after Loreon IV. Or as history remembers him, Queen Lorea.

Hadrian left the Throne Room, heading directly to the Royal Apartments through the backdoor. He had already missed valuable time. And he did have things to do. Time was precious.

The Royal Apartments had wide corridors and small gardens beneath it. The red stone shined in the sun, and Hadrian could even hear birds chirping. It was a very peaceful place. Of course the secret tunnels running alongside did damper the effects.

Talk about walls having ears…

But Hadrian had a purpose and was soon at the right door. The door was guarded by Idiot Number Two. Jaime called him Meryn Trant.

"I'm here to see the Queen, Ser Trant."

Trant sneered. The man wasn't very impressive looking, but he was a better sword the Boros Blount. "You are not allowed inside. Only people invited by Her Grace are."

Hadrian sighed. "I am her nephew, and I have family business to talk to her about. Now, you can either move or I'll go downstairs and make the Mountain move you." He really didn't have the time or energy for this.

Trant's hand flew to his sword. "Is that a threat?"

Hadrian smirked. "It is. Now, we both know I can beat you. We both know that the King and Queen will be angry, but they will not do anything. You, my dear Ser, are replaceable. But I don't feel like killing, so I will leave now and get Ser Gregor."

Trant had paled to a stunning white and was sweating. Hadrian smiled sweetly going for the kill. "Or you let me inside. Your choice, good ser."

Trant moved to the side faster than the speed of light and bowed. "Go inside my lord," he said.

Hadrian smiled. And that was the reason he kept the Mountain around. Damn good door opener. "Ser Trant, do stand a little bit away from the door. It would be a shame if you… heard things."

Trant, still scared of Hadrian's previous threat seemed to have an internal battle before taking two steps further from the door. It wasn't much, but Hadrian wasn't going to press the issue. The man was one of his aunt's creatures anyway.

"We will not want to be disturbed," the young lord said as he pushed the door opened and entered his aunts living quarters. Her dining table, personal desk, bed and wine carafe were there arranged to make the room look bigger. It did work, but sadly, Hadrian's appreciation of the room ended when he saw her.

Hadrian might call her a bitch, but even he knew that Cersei Lannister was a beauty. With her long hair, green eyes and plentiful body some people didn't understand why Robert fucked whores. Than you spent an hour with her in person and you suddenly understood.

"My queen," Hadrian said respectfully and bowed his head, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Hadrian," she answered, her voice hard and cold yet sweet. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Hadrian motioned for a chair. "Might I sit?"

"Still not feeling well?"

Hadrian chuckled. "Bad chicken. Nothing I can't handle. I'm actually sparring later today."

"It is good that you have recovered," his aunt said. Hadrian only motioned for the chair once again.

Cersei only nodded and soon he sat down. "I am here on the orders of grandfather. Trust me, I really don't want to be here," he said after getting comfortable.

"And why not? Don't like my company?"

Hadrian simply leaned his head to the side and smiled a little bit. "More like waiting for the bucket of water to appear."

Cersei smirked. "I do make… powerful first impressions, don't I?"

"Your first impressions make men run to the hills screaming, my dear aunt," Hadrian thought. He only smiled. "I believe that's a talent we Lannister's have."

All he got out of that was a small twitch on her left eye. "Yes. That we do."

A servant entered the room and started pouring up wine, stopping the conversation. As the servant left the room Hadrian raised his goblet. "For the prosperity of House Lannister."

"For the prosperity of House Lannister," Cersei answered and raised her own glass. The wine was rich and smooth, leaving a sweet taste.

"This is wine from Essos," Hadrian said in appreciation. "Myr, correct?"

"Yes," Cersei answered. "They do make the best red wine, if you cannot get the best Dornish that is. But sadly for every good barrel Dornish there are two bad ones. So imported wine is usually better."

"Must have cost a nice sum of gold," Hadrian said and took another sip. "Myr is a nice distance from King's Landing."

"Nothing I can't afford."

"You, or House Lannister?"

Cersei only smiled. "The same thing, no?"

Hadrian only raised his glass. "Perhaps," he said. "But enough of pleasantries."

"You did have some orders from Father, correct?" she said with a fair bit of scorn. Not surprising, Cersei enjoyed her freedom.

Hadrian nodded. "I do. And I am not even going to same say them until you've had a bit more wine."

That caught Cersei's attention. "Bad news then?"

"More like really unpleasant news."

"More unpleasant than with drawing House Lannister's backing of the Crown financially?"

So those news were out. "Fuck you Baelish". "It needed to be done."

"My son is to be King, do remember that. And if his mother's house will not support him, who will?"

Hadrian had to respond carefully. "I'm always supporting family, my queen. But with a growing debt House Lannister cannot risk going backwards forever. And it will be years before Joffrey ascends to the throne."

"So you have time to regain the money. And once Joffrey is King House Lannister will only reap more rewards if they are loyal," Cersei said with that small smirk of hers.

"Robert Baratheon is still King," Hadrian said. "and will be for some time. And his spending increases daily. Ten years ago the crown wasn't in debt. Five years ago they had less than a million dragons in debt. A year ago they were three million's in debt. He has doubled the debt in a year, as he keep wasting more and more money. How much in debt would the Crown be in another five years? Or even ten?"

Cersei, to her credit, actually looked shocked. She obviously didn't have any control or view of the financial state of the Crown. "It has increased that much?"

"It has," Hadrian replied. "And he is reaching out to more people for money. The Tyrells are starting to build up a nice hold on His Grace. And they have several daughters and sons that are unmarried."

The one thing you could trust Cersei on was her instinct to protect her children. And as she had no wish see them married to Tyrells, Hadrian knew he had her. "Joffrey is betrothed to the Stark girl."

Hadrian snorted. "Oh? The boy doesn't show it. From what I've heard he hasn't been in her presence since the incident at the Trident, and you know it. I also know Margaery Tyrell. A very pretty thing, with all the intelligence of her grandmother. Do you know the story of how Olenna Redwyne became Olenna Tyrell?"

"I can't say I do," Cersei said.

"Olenna was set to marry a Targaryen, while her sister was to marry Luthor Tyrell. But upon Luthor visiting the Arbor Olenna became lost and ended up in Luthor's room. After that Luthor wanted what Olenna gave him."

It didn't take a genius to understand. "Margaery might do the same thing."

"And Sansa Stark is from what I've gathered not good enough to even compete with the little rose."

"And the rose has probably some experience."

"Yes, though probably only with her mouth."

Cersei choked before she recovered. "And how do you know that?"

Hadrian shrugged. "She will not risk her maidenhood, but experience through the mouth cannot be proven and only help her in seducing men."

"How did you learn of the true nature the Queen of Thorns marriage to the Late Lord Tyrell?" Cersei asked interested.

Hadrian smirked. "I visited Highgarden not too long ago. Went for a walk and happened upon Olenna telling a minor Tyrell lady how she could seduce me. Wouldn't surprise me if Lady Margaery knew that story before. And even if she didn't, she is clever enough to come up with such a scheme."

"Have Lady Margaery tried her… powers of persuasion on you?" Cersei asked.

"She did. But I was ready and rejected her before anything happened. That might be the only reason she isn't my wife."

"Having Lord Tyrells daughter marrying you would secure their allegiance."

Hadrian chuckled. "True, but the Tyrells are tired of being seen as stewards," he said. "There is a reason they tried to have me marry a minor lady of the House, not their precious Rose."

Cersei lifted her head as she understood. "They want to be part of the Royal Family."

Hadrian frowned. "They want a powerful man marrying to their daughter. But especially they want a man Margaery can manipulate. I can resist her, but others cannot. And if the man happened to be in line for the Throne, the better. They want and actually do need Royal Blood. Other houses in the Reach are still wondering why stewards rule them. And Margaery can easily seduce young boys. "

Cersei's eyes flashed. "Are you calling my sons weak-willed?"

"As they are now? Oh yes," Hadrian thought. "They are young, and have never had a woman. Young minds are easily manipulated. I am not immune to manipulation either, but I've been trained for a long time by your father to resist just that. Have Tommen or Joffrey received such training?"

"They are my sons and will not fall easily, besides," Cersei said as her eyes got hungry. "Where has the Black Lion learned the ways of the women?"

A slip. It wasn't a big slip by any means, but the wine was addling his mind. Occlumency only protected you so far. "Uncle Tyrion got me drunk one night. Woke up with a nice whore in a bed in Lannisport."

"Plus married in my previous life, and I had children. That usually means that I did something right," Hadrian thought. It was the one thing that haunted his current and the later years of his previous. Had Ginny loved him or the Harry Potter? The reason for the suspicion was heartbreaking, but Hadrian was worried that at least one of his children had been sired by another man.

In his ignorant youth he didn't see the signs, but now later he saw them. It didn't help that Lily Luna Potter's eldest child had been born with blue eyes. And as neither Harry nor Ginny had that in their genes, and Lily's husband had brown eyes, it made Hadrian very suspicious indeed. And Lily had looked very little like him. James at least had his hair. Or his daughter had cheated. That could have happened.

Of course, he wasn't completely faithful either. He did have a few interests on the side when Ginny would spend months away on Quiditch. Fleur had the same problem with Bill. And one night with wine led to things.

Hadrian, and Harry, was well aware that made him a hypocrite. Blaming his wife for sleeping with other men when he himself slept with another woman. But he was only human, and he had married young. While he had been… content, he was plagued with doubts and thoughts of how life could have turned out. His affair with Fleur had proved that he did make a mistake marrying young. It was one of the things that made him warry of marriage. People changed a lot when they were young. Even in their twenties.

And even if he was wrong about his wife or daughter's affair, the fact that he had cheated, made him more cautious for such things and had an easier time seeing the signs. Hence why it took him thirty minutes of hard-thinking about Cersei's children to understand the truth. And of course that view in Casterly Rock years ago didn't hurt, on the contrary, it solidified his suspicions.

"Being unexperienced in any field makes you a target. I like to call it education. Besides, it was one time," Hadrian answered, his smile not wavering once.

Cersei, probably realizing that she didn't have a crack to use, changed the subject. "And the reason for me to fear the Tyrells?"

"There are three persons a Tyrell can marry from the Royal Family. Renly, Tommen and Myrcella. I want no kin of mine near them in that way. And while Renly is a likely option, Olenna isn't stupid. She will want Tommen or Myrcella, as they are easier to manipulate and more likely to have children."

"Olenna isn't Lord Tyrell, her son is."

Hadrian waved her argument of. "Mace Tyrell, also known as the Oaf of Highgarden, listens to his mother's counsel. She will not allow her granddaughter to marry Renly. She will still want your children, and they are excepted to marry."

Cersei didn't look thrilled by Hadrian's argument. "I have known of the risks of who my children would marry for a long time."

"But what is stopping the Tyrells from marrying Margaery to Tommen and then assassinate Joffrey? That way they get their wish of making Margaery a queen, something she wants to be."

Cersei looked down in their wine. "And Myrcella?"

"Myrcella would be the perfect bride for Loras, if you forget his bedpartner. And she is still in the age when knights are the perfect husbands."

"And an increasing debt-"

"May see your children married to a Tyrell."

Both took a sip of their wine. "Do you see," Hadrian began. "We are no longer the only players. The Tyrells and Martell's have been pushed aside since the fall of the Targaryen's, but they are coming back. This Lannister summer we've had is coming to an end. And Robert hates us."

"My children are his."

Hadrian stood up with the carafe and walked over to Cersei. "More wine?"

"Thank you," Cersei said and held forward her glass. As she did so Hadrian leaned closer and said. "Robert has no trueborn children," he said quietly and walked back to his chair. Cersei sat their stunned, her breath ragged and eyes wide.

"Ple-"

"Anything to say about the wine? I do have to get the name of the merchant, this stuff is good."

"Ho-"

"I have always envied your relationship with my father. I remember during the Tourney of Lannisport when I had a nightmare and sought out my father for safety. He was sadly enough busy, so I went back to sleep alone. Having a twin when you grew up must have been comforting, always having a friend."

Cersei, understanding now that Hadrian wasn't going to tattle, relaxed. "It was nice to always have someone to talk to."

Hadrian smiled and nodded. "I can only imagine. Now, the orders from grandfather are simple. Do not antagonize the Starks."

Cersei's face grew a bit red in anger. "It is they that attacked Joffrey!"

"I've heard the story. Now, I agree that you acted correctly nearly all the way. A butcher's boy, even if the rumors are false, striking a Prince and living to tell the tale? Cannot be allowed. But to twist the knife further and killing their direwolves? That was stupid."

"That beast scarred my boy!"

Hadrian slammed his goblet down. "You killed the wrong wolf!" he hissed. "And made the Stark's hate you! Be thankful that Sansa Stark has the attention span of an insect or no Stark would be on our side! You went too far, and you know it!"

"So what?" Cersei spat. "I was supposed to let all of that slide? No true punishment for the Stark's?"

"Yes!" Hadrian said. "If you had the right wolf even Ned Stark couldn't argue about executing it. But you took from what all I've heard was a kind and calm wolf, your sons betrothed's wolf, and had it put to the sword for the action of another."

"They were dangerous. Why the Starks even allowed their children to have direwolves as pets I will never understand."

Hadrian growled. "Then you could have it sent back north. Another thing Stark could have understood after the attack. But you went full on and had it killed. That single act has made people more sympatric for the Starks since the Mad King murdered Rickard and Brandon Stark! It was a mistake!"

Cersei and Hadrian were both red in the face, their eyes filled with fire. "I don't have to listen to you. I am the queen," Cersei said.

Hadrian simply held up his hands. "True, you don't have to listen to me. But you are alienating the Stark's. So many families are circling us like vultures that we cannot afford more mistakes, or there will be war."

Cersei waved him of. "Robert is my husband. He will always support us."

"Even if everything was brought to light?"

Cersei froze. "How dar-"

"If me and Tyrion can figure it out so can others. Jon Arryn knew. I have heard about the old Hands last words. An idiot with only a small knowledge of the Royal Family can figure that one out. Varys, Baelish and more probably knows. What if the Tyrells, Martells or the Starks hears about it? What if they told Robert? Say what you want about His Grace, the man is a tactical genius. If anybody can crack the Rock, it's Robert Baratheon."

"They will never know."

"Renly most likely suspects," Hadrian said.

Cersei paled. If one Baratheon knew… "So why hasn't he told Robert?"

"Robert would never believe his brothers. No, Renly is being more subtle. I've heard this from a servant, so I might be wrong, but apparently Robert was shown a portrait of Margaery with Renly standing nearby and saying doesn't she look like Lyanna?"

Cersei's eyes flashed with so much hate that it actually got Hadrian of guard. "How dare he? I am the Queen!"

Hadrian was glaring at his aunt. "And the Queen's first job is to give the King Heirs. You and Jaime just had to fuck. Why couldn't you have sired a single Baratheon you hag?" he thought. "There was nothing stopping him. He knows we aren't in a position of great power until Joffrey takes the throne. There are houses we cannot touch."

"The Lannister's are the strongest House in Westeros, and we are the richest."

"We are, but we cannot fight all of the combined Westeros alone. Can we beat the Starks, yes. Stark and Tully? Yes. Stark, Tully, Arryn? Maybe if we go on the defensive. Stark, Tully, Arryn and Baratheon? Not a chance. As long as Robert Baratheon lives the Stark's have the support of the King."

"If the rumors don't reach Robert he will-"

"I said this to grandfather. Do not underestimate Robert Baratheon's love for the Stark's. If he is forced to pick side he will always chose Stark. It doesn't help that your son is a Prince that is mistreating a Stark girl."

Cersei lost all color in her face. Her eyes widened and she gaped a little bit. "Didn't think of that, did you?" Hadrian said and sipped his wine very pleased that he had stunned Cersei into silence.

Cersei mutely nodded. "I did not," she whispered.

"You know that Robert doesn't truly care too much for his children. He doesn't know about how Joffrey treats his wife-to-be. But others do, and whispers will start," Hadrian said taking a sip of his wine.

Hadrian set down his goblet. "We don't like each other," he began. "but we are family. That single fact binds us together. We fall or rise together. And I do love Myrcella and Tommen. They are sweet and innocent and my cousins. But I cannot heal our relations to the Stark's alone. I need your help."

That seemed to get Cersei out of her stupor. "Why ask me?"

"Because you aren't stupid. Father couldn't play politics even if his life depended on it, Joffrey is still too young and so is the rest of your children. I do not want a war. You don't want one either. That makes us allies."

"Allegiances are usually mutual beneficial," Cersei replied. "What do I get out of it?" she said with a more playful tone.

"No wars not enough?" Hadrian japed. Cersei didn't move a single muscle. "What is going to happen with Tommen once he comes of age?"

Cersei frowned. "He is Joffrey's Heir. His place will be here, with his brother."

"Tommen is after Joffrey in the line of succession until Joffrey has a son. In a few years he will marry the Stark girl and a year after that we'll most likely have a new heir to the Throne. And yet Tommen has no place to go to."

"Dragonstone."

"Will be ruled by Stannis's heirs. Now, I do not know about you, but marrying Tommen to Shireen is a bad idea. On multiple fronts." Hadrian said. He could see the disgust Cersei felt for Shireen fill her eyes. Hadrian personally pitied Shireen Baratheon, and knew that she could become important. But while he wasn't blinded by the Gray-Scale, others were."

"That girl will never marry my son, or anyone else."

"Probably," Hadrian agreed. "But Dragonstone then falls to the Joffrey's Heir, or second son. Still no Tommen."

"Then he will be Lord of Storm's End," Cersei said.

"Storm's End belongs to Renly Baratheon. And while his chances of having children are small, they do exist. Tommen won't see Storm's End for a long time, if ever."

Cersei actually looked worried for her son. She clearly hadn't thought this over. "But were will he go?"

"Castamere," Hadrian said as he smirked.

Cersei's head snapped up so fast you hear her neck crack. "Castamere? But it is a ruin."

"I'll admit it's a bit wet," Hadrian said smirking. "But given enough years it can be fixed. And I will need a new lord of it. And Tarbeck Hall. I can actually allow Tommen to choose, both places have positive and negative side."

"Once Joffrey is King he can give Castamere or Tarbeck Hall to Tommen by Royal Decree."

"He can, but that will cost money," Hadrian said. "If you aid me in bringing back the Stark's to our neutral or good side I will stand for the cost of rebuilding one of the castles and give Tommen a million gold dragons as an economic base. He will need it. The lands are disarray, and while Tarbeck Hall could easily be rebuilt as a naval for trade, it will take time. Same thing with getting the mines around Castamere back up running. Not to mention the cost to maintain a household and a guard."

For the first time in her life Cersei gave Hadrian a thankful look. "Thank you," she even actually said.

Hadrian gave her a soft smile. "He is family. I will do my best to take care of it. But there is one demand for both castles if he chose's it."

Cersei frowned. "What?"

"No lion banner or any combination of white, red and blue. You can understand why. Oh, and he will have to rename Tarbeck Hall. Castamere can still work."

Cersei gave a small laugh. "That is manageable," she said with a smile.

"And, if you can get Joffrey in line I'll add a bonus. I will fight for that Myrcella will not only marry one worthy of her, but somebody she likes. Love I cannot guarantee, but she will have a good husband."

Both knew it was a shaky promise at best. But Hadrian was going to try. He would do that for her even if Cersei didn't rein Joffrey in. But his aunt didn't need to know that…

"If I rein Joffrey in?" Cersei said.

"He doesn't have to love the Stark girl," Hadrian said softly. "He only needs to pretend. That will be enough."

Cersei seemed to actually be happy for his proposal. "And how will we accomplish this?"

Hadrian shrugged. "We start simple. And no time like the present, right?"

Cersei only nodded, so Hadrian continued. "The best way for this to start is to heal the wound between Sansa Stark and Joffrey. Have the boy approach her, don't mention the fucking Trident, and have him give Sansa something. Then he invites her family to dinner with his family."

"Family dinner? Really?" Cersei said.

"It's a simple excuse to get everybody in the same room. And I mean all the family, Robert and Renly included. They are Baratheon's after all."

Cersei didn't even bat an eyelash. "Of course. And I suspect as the Crown Prince's cousin you will be joining?"

"Yes, and I'll not be bringing Lucion and Damon Lannister with me. They are a bit to… wild for that. But if you can get Father to be the guard for the dinner that would be appreciated."

Cersei smiled. "That will be nice." Then Cersei only raised her glass. "To House Lannister," she said.

Hadrian in return raised his. "To House Lannister." He finished his glass before setting it down on the table and standing up. "With your permission to leave, my queen."

Cersei simply waved him off, and Hadrian turned around and left. He saw Trant standing a few feet from the door, and the man took an involuntary step backwards as Hadrian swept past him.

That had gone better than excepted, but it had only been so because Hadrian had dropped so many bombs. He had forced Cersei's mind to evaluate on so many different things that she had simply agreed too many things she otherwise never would have done.

He had in a simple way blackmailed her. Damn that felt good. Of course he now didn't have to much new dirt on her, so he would be forced to get some for the next confrontation.

Of course, having spent that much time with his aunt he had needed to let some steam lose. And that's the reason he had sent his guards to fetch Clegane. Hadrian was in desperate need for a good fight.

The corridors of the Red Keep were full of life once you left the more private area that was the Royal Apartments. While servants and the like still walked those corridors, it was nothing to the beehive that was the rest of the Keep. Servants, guards, knights and nobles all walked around. The nobles gossiped and plotted, the knights bragged trying to impress ladies, and the servants went around doing their job and spying for whoever paid them.

Of course, Hadrian's conversation with the queen had been completely private. Two days with nothing to do had allowed him use his personal spies to… remove the spies located around the queen during their conversation.

Baelish, Varys and indeed Cersei would need to recruit some more.

As for Hadrian's own spies, if they weren't long timers that he owned through some means, he had them sent into a nice room were Gregor was waiting deep in the secret parts of the Red Keep.

As said, the Mountain had his uses and he was legendary loyal to House Lannister. The bodies would be dumped into the Blackwater.

The Game of Thrones was not won by the weak hearted. Could you win being noble? Perhaps, if you had a lot of luck. Most people didn't have that luck. Harry Potter had that luck, but Hadrian Lannister wouldn't dare challenge Lady Fate like that again, so he wasn't taking any chances.

Not to mention his memories as Harry Potter. That boy had showed mercy, and what had it gained him? Voldemort's resurrection, that's what. Sparing Pettigrew had been a mistake. It had led to so much death.

Harry won the war, but he lost it as well. His memories of Delphi Riddle proved that. He had been a hardworking Auror, had indeed changed his World for the better, and what was his reward? The same wounds, the same anger that had teared the Wizarding World apart still existed. Leaving a single block unturned, a single factor unchecked, and that could later kill you and all you hold dear.

Solution? You did not allow loose ends.

The sparring yard was filled with knights and competitors, getting some last minute training before tomorrow. Hadrian could see several people he recognized. Yohn Royce in his bronze armor instructing his sons. The Redwyne twins were sparring with Loras Tyrell. And so many more.

Hadrian had only taken a quick tour to his chambers and changed into his sparing armor before going down here. It was simple, didn't really allow that much protection but it kept him light and quick, as well as allowing more movements then his formal attire. He scanned the yard before grinning, seeing his cousins sparing against a very good opponent.

"Damon! Close that gap!" Hadrian roared as he walked closer to where Damon and Lucion were fighting against the Strongboar. "Ser Lyle! If he doesn't close that gap you are allowed to hit him as hard as possible!"

Many people stopped their activates as Hadrian stepped onto the yard and immediately started directing his cousin's technique. "And Lucion! If you are using a shield you bloody well use it! Don't stand there and block with your sword!"

Damon simply huffed while Lucion took his time and gave Hadrian a dirty glare before they started a renewed attack on the Strongboar. People didn't call him that as a taunt, that man was strong as a boar. Wielding a huge greatsword the man was arguably the third strongest knight in the Lannister Arsenal, only after the Clegane brothers.

Lyle Crakehall was also damned quick and the Lannister cousins had to use every trick they knew to stop the knight from beating them. Lucion stood there using his shield to block Lyle's attacks, while Damon circled around trying to find an opening. When Lyle was forced to lash out to stop Damon, Lucion would strike, but Lyle would somehow slip away.

Finally it came to an end when Lyle struck so hard that Lucion's shield war ripped away, and Lyle hit him in the stomach, but Damon swopped in from behind and placed his blunted sword near Lyle's neck. All three stood there taking in the situation before they started laughing.

Some people nearby clapped their hands. "Good job lads," Lyle said. "You nearly got me several times."

Lucion and Damon were both breathing heavily, nearly laying on the ground from exhaustion. "We got him?" Lucion asked.

Damon weakly nodded. "I did. You died."

"Were you not fast enough?"

"He is faster than me."

"Not an excuse," Lucion said.

Hadrian smiled at their banter. "So none of you want to go up against me?"

Both groaned while the Strongboar laughed. "Don't torture them, Ser Hadrian. They fought well and have earned their rest."

Lucion and Damon gave confirming sounds from the ground. "How long have you been at it?" Hadrian asked.

Lyle looked up to the sky. "One maybe two hours? I've lost count."

Hadrian nodded, impressed at how long they had sparred. "I'm impressed. Didn't know they had the stamina."

Lyle grinned. "They must impress the ladies somehow."

"I didn't even know they could impress ladies," Hadrian said grinning back. On the ground Damon and Lucion were trying to get back up on their feet.

"Shu-shut-up," Lucion said trying to stammer words out.

Damon was only a little better off. "Lucion has no need to impress the ladies."

Hadrian simply waved him off. "Don't do another joke on Lucion's manliness. We've all heard that one before."

Lucion smiled gratefully at Hadrian. Damon only chuckled drily. "Point."

"Lannister!" a rough voice barked then through the yard. If Hadrian had felt like Moses crossing the Red Sea when he arrived at the yard, Sandor was the God that made the sea split. People close to him jumped into the air and away from him, giving the scarred man a lot of leeway. And no wonder. The man's helmet rested in his arms, leaving his burnt face open for the world.

Hadrian didn't find any pity or disgust for the man. Pity wasn't there because Sandor hated it and the scars were very useful for scarring enemies. And no disgust because Sandor had no choice about his looks. No, Hadrian only felt respect for the man. He knew what he was, what he was in the eyes of House Lannister's different members, and accepted it.

That man was strong.

"Clegane, Prince Joffrey allowed you to leave?" Hadrian asked. He didn't actually think Clegane would be allowed to come here. Joffrey wasn't very fond of Hadrian.

"He didn't at first. But then his mother summoned him, and told me to leave."

Hadrian pressed down the smile. So Cersei was following his advice… good. "Lucky me."

Clegane scoffed. "I wouldn't call it lucky."

Hadrian only grinned. "So are we going to spar?"

Clegane grunted as he unsheathed his heavy greatsword. Hadrian only grinned harder. "Our personal weapons? No blunted blades?"

"Blunted weapons are for cunts," Clegane said.

Hadrian walked closer to Clegane. "My blade is a bit shaper than yours."

Clegane only smirked. "Then I have to be a bit more careful when I pound you into the ground."

Hadrian chuckled. "Never change, Sandor. Never change," he said as walked into the arena, Clegane following.

"You going to use your helmet?" Hadrian asked.

Clegane looked down at the helmet, then back at Hadrian, then back again at his helmet before tossing it to a nearby squire. "Damage it and I will kill you," he growled at the terrified squire. "Draw your blade, Lannister."

Hadrian did just that in a simple and quick move, revealing Brightroar to the crowd. He twirled around in a circle, feeling the balance of the sword.

"Valyrian Steel?" Clegane asked.

"Yep, sharp enough?" Hadrian challenged.

Clegane smirked as his eyes grew harder. "This will be good," he said before he stepped forward and struck. Hard.

Hadrian didn't dare to block any attacks head on. No, Clegane's brute strength would pummel him into the ground if he tried that. Instead he allowed Brightroar to slide on Clegane's sword as he dodged the attack.

This cat versus dog style where Clegane kept pushing and Hadrian avoided continued for what felt like hours. This was two men that were stubborn, tough and very good with the sword. Over and over again Clegane struck, using brute strength with a surprising amount of technique and speed to force Hadrian back. In the meantime Hadrian danced around Clegane, using speed and agility to avoid and re-direct the blows.

Around them knights and nobles of all ages and genders were staring at the fight. No one yelled, as they didn't want to interrupt the fighters, even if Hadrian could hear whispers in the back of his head.

But as with all things, an end came. And as with most, it was quick and deceive. Hadrian, drowning in his own sweat and nearly dehydrated, stumbled for a second while dodging another blow. Clegane saw this and capitalized on it, placing his sword down low behind Hadrian's legs, felling him.

It hurt falling that quickly on sand. It hurt a lot. It didn't help that every muscle in his body was screaming, his bones aching and he could barely think straight. One thing he and Harry Potter did have in common was their catch the Snitch or die attitude. They never gave up.

"Wa-wat-water," Hadrian forced out while laying on his back, starring into the sky.

Since when was it that blue?

He could feel a small pain in his legs, but was too tired to look at it. He trusted… who was it he trusted again? Dam something? Right?

"Hadrian!" he heard people call out.

Can they stop calling out! Can't they see I am trying to sleep? Stupid House-Elves.

"Drink this Ser!" a female voice said and poured the best liquid in the world down his throat. Hadrian greedily gulped down the water, feeling his mind snap back into place.

"Hadrian, how many fingers am I holding up?" Damon asked.

Hadrian very elegantly gave him the finger.

"He's fine," Lucion said and helped him up from the ground.

"How long?" Hadrian asked as his eyes adjusted to standing up. And the light. Curse that sun.

"Nearly an hour, we thought you two were trying to kill each other," Damon said.

"We didn't even reach an hour?" Hadrian said. All that adrenaline had really fucked with his sense of time.

He could hear Daven scoff in the background. The Strongboar laughed. "He sounds disappointed."

"You surprised?"

"The Black Lion never gives up. I'm of the belief he doesn't understand the word."

"Of course I don't," Hadrian called towards them. "Giving up ain't fun!"

People in the yard laughed. Hadrian then turned to his competition. "Fine move there, Clegane. You ok?"

Clegane looked better than Hadrian, but not by much. He too was sweaty, and seemed a bit unstable on his feet. "I'm fine. Takes more than your little dancing around too beat me."

Hadrian laughed hollowly. "Good. Are you entering the tourney, Clegane?"

"Only the joust."

Hadrian lifted an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? Thought you were going to join the melee, not the joust."

Clegane shrugged. "Don't have the time for both, chose the joust this time."

Hadrian decided to not push the matter any further and let the matter rest. "So when can we do this again?"

The grin on the Hounds face was feral. "How long are you staying?"

"A week or so after the Tourney. Say we make this a daily routine once the tourney is over?" Hadrian asked. Say what you want, but that sparr had been bloody excellent for his skills. Hadrian had no illusions about the fact that there still existed better fighters in Westeros than him. The Mountain, his father, the Hound and a few more were still better then him.

And might always be. You cannot be perfect.

"Deal. Now I need to get some bloody wine before I report back to the Prince," Clegane said and left. The crowd parted at his approach. If they only did for that right reasons Hadrian would ask how Clegane did it. It looked so bloody cool.

"You are crazy."

Hadrian turned to Lucion. "Why? Because I want to get better?"

"No," Lucion said and waved his arms. "Because we thought you two were trying to kill each other. You went all out."

Hadrian simply shook his head. "We didn't. If we had this fight would have ended much sooner. I'm good, but the Clegane's are better. We merely didn't hold any punches back, but still didn't go all out. There is a nice then difference there."

He bent down and grabbed Brightroar. He twirled easily around before sheathing it again. "Now, who was the kind lady that gave me the water?" he asked with a charming smile and a happy mood.

Then it almost instantly died, and he was barely able to keep the smile on his face. "I did," a young lady said. "My name is Desmera Redwyne, Ser Hadrian."

Desmera had the same hair and appearance as her twin brothers. Red hair, freckled face and brown eyes. Hadrian hadn't fully realized that importance earlier. He hadn't thought that other souls survived death. Then the uncomfortable reminder hit him.

Unless you spilt your soul, it could never die. Only reborn in another body, in another dimension or world. One of the reasons Tom Riddle's actions were so disgusting was because he ironically actually died, while the others continued.

Death was a bitch, but Fate was the mother of bitches. This was just another little twist from that particular bitch.

Hadrian Lannister had just found his old wife.

"To death do us apart… bullshit. Oh that old fucker and old smelly lady must be laughing in hell." For Desmera Redwyne was a fucking copy of Ginerva "Ginny" Weasley.

Fate truly fuckin hated him. Then Hadrian remembered the silver lining, Ginny wasn't a Master of Death. Or a more appropriate term would be Marked by Death. Unless activated she couldn't remember him.

"Ser Hadrian?" Desmera said.

Hadrian shook his head. "Sorry, got a bad headache. I just wanted to thank you, my lady. While all the other baboons just stood here you did something."

Desmera blushed. No wonder at that, she was only fourteen.

Oh fucking hell. "I do not need another red-haired stalker! One life was enough!" Hadrian however kept his smile on.

"It was no problem, Ser Hadrian. You fought well and long. I know that my own brothers often forget to drink when they train in the sun."

"The sun is much stronger on the Arbor, isn't it?"

Desmera smiled. "It is. This honestly is a bit cool on our skin."

Hadrian glanced at the sky. The sun was starting to fall. He needed to get ready for the evening. "I hope to one day visit the Arbor. I heard Aegon the Conqueror went hunting on the Arbor before his invasion. Must be a wonderful island to bring a man like him there."

Desmera literally beamed with pride. "He did. Most people think he first touched Westerosi soil the day he invaded, but that is a lie."

"I would like to hear more about it, but sadly I am invited to dine with my aunt later. I bid you farewell my lady," Hadrian said and inclined his head.

"Have a good evening, good Ser," Desmera said before leaving, walking towards her brothers.

Her Twin brothers.

Hadrian's mind screamed. Was he followed by three Weasleys? And the twins at that!

Ginny. George… Fred. What did that mean? Were there others in Westeros from his world? But who? Where? So many questions had been borne, but Hadrian had no way to deal with them. Then another realization hit him. If he ever found a way George and Fred would meet again.

George had been a great friend, and Hadrian/Harry owed him that much. A Lannister pays his debts.

"Hadrian? You still there?" Damon asked.

Hadrian to his shame realized he had been starring at Desmera. "Sorry, spaced out."

Damon and Lucion looked between their cousin and Desmera. "I can understand that."

"Yeah, just never thought you favored red-hairs. Always imagined you as brunette lover."

The face of Hermione Granger, his sister in all but blood, jumped up in his mind. "No, not brunettes either."

Damon blanched. "So blonde's then?"

Hadrian chuckled at their antics. "No. I really don't have a type. As long as they are independent and intelligent I will not care for their looks."

Damon and Lucion, mature as they were, looked utterly confused. "Huh?"

Hadrian patted their shoulders. "Go and enjoy the evening. I'm dinning with the Queen, her family and the Stark's. Go have fun, but if you embarrass me or the Lannister I will hang you outside your sister's rooms, so you can listen to their gossip for hours."

As most of Cerenna's, Myrielle's and Lanna's gossip included shagging Hadrian the two Lannister's really didn't want that. They really didn't want that.

Both of them raised their backs and nearly saluted as they said goodbye and walked as fast as courtesy allowed to their rooms.

Ah, the power of persuasion and blackmail. Hadrian regretted that Harry wasn't sorted into Slytherin. That would have been way funnier. He then said his goodbyes to Lyle before too leaving the yard.

Finally his mind could return to the Souls of his old world. How would he handle Ginny? While the part that was Harry Potter really wanted the Weasley Twins, and Hadrian too wanted them, Ginny was another matter. They had been lovers, than there was the troubled twenties, then their children came and they sort of just stayed together.

Was there any love in the end? Hadrian knew his former life was far from blameless or innocent for that, but the fact remained. How would she react? Would she love him? Hate him? Want to marry him?

Say what you want about Ginny, but she had her moments of brilliance that could be useful. His former ties with the twins would ensure Redwyne loyalty, and having Desmera/Ginny in on that allegiance could go a long way. And that was without marrying the girl. One time was enough, and personality didn't change that easily. Hadrian was the exception, but that was more because he remembered so much and was more mature because of it.

Having Tywin Lannister beat out attributes like mercy, kindness and naivety did help.

But even if he decided now, it wouldn't matter. While he had the knowledge to unlock their memories, he lacked the power. Manipulating souls on that level was magic that only one Marked by Death could even hope to achieve.

But Westeros's magic was dead. Perhaps if he could get them to the Isle of Faces he could work his magic, but the doubted that.

And upon that was the thing that if three Weasleys followed him here, others must have followed. Would Hermione exist here? Ron? His children? Or the Stranger forbid Draco Malfoy. But such thoughts were useless. Even if they existed what were the odds of Hadrian meeting them? The chances for them being noble wasn't exactly high.

The chances of them living in Westeros weren't that high. For all he knew they could live in Asshai, Qarth or even further east.

Not to mention the jungles of Sothyros and the lands beyond.

Hadrian forced his mind back to the present. He had like an imperiused victim redressed, cleaned himself with a basin in the face and already redressed in a new attire. They were the ones he wore to court today. He grabbed the sheathed Brightroar from his bed, and stood there staring at the sword.

It wasn't exactly a good idea to attend this dinner with a sword, but Hadrian really didn't want to leave the sword. It made him feel safer, and stronger. It was ridiculous how fast he had grown so used to that sword, but that was human nature. They adapted quickly to new situations and things.

He sighed as he left it at his desk and quickly left the room, not daring to stay as he the temptation to keep the sword was a bit too big.

He navigated the labyrinth that was the Red Keep but quickly entered the Queen's Ballroom. It was half the size of the Small Hall, and could hold roughly a hundred people in it. Of course there wouldn't be that many, but any private dinner rooms were too small for all the Baratheon's, Lannister's and Stark with a few people most likely coming from their households.

You were always on ceremony in King's Landing.

The room was rather open. The southern part had large arched windows, allowing the evening breeze to fill the air, while the mirrors adorning the rest of walls reflected the light, making it very bright.

Some of the walls had doors that most likely led to the kitchen and the cellars, and there was indeed a few servants walking around. In the middle stood the massive table that would soon be the center piece for politics.

Hadrian did smile as he realized that a few people were already here. Robert seemed to have wanted have been here for some time, most likely because of Lord Stark's attendance, and had brought Renly here. But the reason for Hadrian's smile was that Tommen and Myrcella were already here too.

"Harry!" Tommen called out, and Hadrian smiled even harder as the young boy jumped out of his seat and rushed towards him. Myrcella seemed to have heard the commotion, and Hadrian saw that she too smiled.

As for Tommen calling him Harry, that had some old roots. Most people Hadrian didn't allow to use the shorter version of his name, as that was a show of weakness that people would use. Hadrian didn't even allow his father or his friends to use that name. One day he would be Lord Lannister, and having them call him Harry in a formal function could go bad.

But Tommen was young and nearly friendless. But as Hadrian had betted in his mind that Joffrey wouldn't last a decade on the throne, having Tommen admire him was a good thing.

That Tommen resembled Albus Severus Potter in his unsecure and happy ways didn't hurt.

"Hey cousin," Hadrian said as Tommen hugged him. Poor thing, always forgotten. Robert didn't care, Cersei only had eyes for Joffrey and everybody else thought him to be a spare.

Tommen looked up at him. "Why haven't you visited me?"

Hadrian ruffled Tommen's hair. "I've been busy. But I am here now."

Tommen smiled. "Are you entering the tourney?"

"Of course I am. It isn't often I can test myself against the Realms best fighters," Hadrian answered confidently. He could hear Robert huff.

"Best fighters in the Realm, most of them are so green they fucking piss it too!" he said rather loudly. "Unless you have killed a man face to face you are a green boy. And that reminds me, Renly! When are you going to deal justice personally? Seven knows you are too green for your own good!"

Say what you want, but Robert Baratheon had a way to hit the nail. Renly was so used to comfort and luxury that he was rather incompetent when it came to military issues. Renly, to his credit, did hold up his mask.

"I believe one great warrior per generation is enough, brother," the Lord of Storm's End said.

"Nonsense! You are a Baratheon! We are warriors, not bloody gossiping nobles!" Robert boomed out.

"Will I be a great warrior, Father?" Tommen quietly asked.

Robert gave Tommen a fond smile. "Of course you will! You are my son! Once you get of age I'll have a warhammer made for you!"

Robert seemed to get lost in the idea of teaching his sons the ways of war, but Hadrian saw Tommen wince. He was a sweet boy, but Hadrian knew that he needed to be hardened. Perhaps Robert might actually do something good.

"I don't know Your Grace, Tommen doesn't have the build for a warhammer," Hadrian said.

Robert's eyes snapped back into reality. "Then a big sword or axe it shall be!" he said jovially. Once Robert got in a good mood only one person could end it.

Hadrian nodded. "Most likely. He will need to be fostered as well."

"If you think for a second that-" Robert began, his voice angry.

Hadrian raised his hand. "Not in Casterly Rock, but perhaps the Vale? While the Arryn's might not be the… best suited family to do that since the Old Hands death, the Royce's would welcome fostering a Prince. Not to mention that any lord in the Stormlands would jump at the opportunity."

Robert nodded, clearly thinking about it. "Renly?"

The younger Baratheon brother driven out of his daydream. "Yes?"

"You wouldn't happen to know a lord in the Stormlands that could foster Tommen?"

"There are a few, Dondarrion, Estermont and Caron both would be good ideas."

Hadrian mentally thought about it. "Doesn't Lord Dondarrion already have a fosterling?"

"He does, Lord Edric Dayne."

That explains why Hadrian remember that. The Dayne's were quite famous, and for them to foster their Lord at a Marcher Lords castle was a big thing. "Then he might be busy. But Estermont would perhaps be the wisest. They are your relatives."

Renly smiled, but Robert shook his head. "I don't need to reinforce that bond, but the Caron's are in need of some recognition. They are steadfast defenders of the March, and if Dorne was to rebel they would be the first to know it."

Hadrian nodded. "The Caron's are a good choice, in the speculation at least. But I need Tommen to learn about trade and economics."

Robert frowned. "Why every Prince should know how to count coppers," he said mockingly, making Hadrian sigh. Robert didn't understand any economics at all, "I don't see why you need Tommen to learn about trade and money."

Hadrian placed his hands on Tommen's shoulders. "I intend to offer him Castamere or Tarbeck Hall as his castle once he comes of age."

Robert's eyes betrayed his surprise, and Renly looked a bit jealous. And no wonder, the fairy-tale boy would take any castle as long as it looked more like a Reach castle than the cold and unforgiving castle of Storm's End. "You would do that? Is it even yours to give?"

"Lord Tywin won't object. A Lannister look after his family, even family that doesn't carry the name."

"Both those places are rather ruined."

"It will be years before Tommen comes of age, I got plenty of time to reconstruct those castles."

"Do you want that son? It's a lot of responsibility," Robert asked Tommen.

"I-I don-"

"You don't have to decide now," Hadrian said. "It's an offer, not a demand. And even if you decline it won't matter. I need those ruins cleared out and rebuilt. Bandits are terrorizing the people, there is no real lord to help the peasants there, and the lands are a bit too lawless for my taste."

Tommen gave a thankful smile. "I have to ask mother about it."

"That is a good idea. An angry woman is a very frightening thing."

"Cheers to that," Robert said and raised his glass of wine.

Renly chuckled and followed. "There is a reason I am not married," he japed. Robert laughed.

"Don't I know it! Regret my marriage every day!" he said. Myrcella and Tommen flinched and Hadrian cursed in his mind. "That is not the reason you aren't married," Hadrian thought about Renly. "But it is a good point to not get married. And even if I hate her, that's my aunt you are speaking about Your Grace."

There was another person in the room that wasn't amused. "Frightening, am I?" Myrcella said, trying to look intimating. Sadly, the ten year old girl didn't pull it off. She instead looked rather cute.

Hadrian raised his hands in mock surrender. "I do apologize, oh terrifying princess!"

Tommen still at Hadrian's side giggled as Myrcella nodded. "Good, never get on my bad side again. Do remember that, Ser Hadrian."

Hadrian chuckled. "Of course, Princess." He said and bowed. Myrcella giggled.

"Good, now come. The rest should arrive shortly," she said and gestured to the table.

A single rather broad and long table had been moved here, it could probably sit thirty people or so. Hadrian smiled at Myrcella before sitting down to her left, to Robert's left. Lord Stark would most likely be given the seat to the King's right, with Renly sitting left of Stark. Cersei would, undoubtedly, be furious, but Hadrian had her where he could control her.

For now at least. And she would sit much closer to her children, for Tommen sat to Myrcella's right, and two empty seats followed. Joffrey would never sit close to Hadrian. His mother had poisoned his opinion of the Black Lion the moment he was born.

"Are there any catches to Tommen be given one of the castle's, Ser Hadrian?" Renly asked.

"Only two."

"Oh? Giving away demands to the Prince, are we Lannister?" Robert humoredly asked.

Hadrian grinned. "Not anything he can understand. No color combination of red, white and blue and no lion symbol. Just to make sure no ideas are born."

Robert laughed. "Good! Tommen, you keep the Stag as your sigil!"

Tommen, clearly confused and overwhelmed, only nodded. Myrcella seemed to be whispering things in his ear.

"Lannister," Robert said.

"Your Grace?"

"I have to admit, I approve of your actions," Robert said. Hadrian could see Renly looking very confused.

Hadrian gave a slight smile. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Robert huffed. "This dinner, you trying to repair this realm, it's all good and I thank you for it. I cannot have House Stark and Lannister at each other's throats. I'm not stupid."

"Never said you were."

"But the court does. Oh don't look surprised Renly! I know the rumors, and I know I was never meant to rule the Seven Kingdoms. Give me a war and I'll win it, but this ruling business, all this back-door politics and all that shit is not me."

As said, when Robert Baratheon wasn't drunk you could see the man that won the Rebellion. That man wasn't so bad, as long as you didn't push him. "The Stormlands have a history of having honest and direct rulers. Not like the courts of the Reach and the Westerlands," Hadrian mused.

Renly looked very uncomfortable, but Robert only laughed. "True! We never had time for it! There was always a war going on!"

Point. The Stormlands were nearly always at war. Like the Riverlands they had a lot of neighbors. The Reach and Dorne were more direct, but the Stormlands were plagued by slavers from Essos, as the Stormlands were the richest and easiest region to raid if you came from the Narrow Sea. The Vale was protected by mountains, the North by the cold, Dorne by the sands, but the Stormlands and what would become the Crownlands didn't have that luxury. And that was without mentioning the time when the Stormlands fought over the Riverlands.

"You are a hard people, with many enemies. Ours is the Fury are words that you needed to show to protect your lands."

"And Hear us Roar aren't?" Renly quipped.

Hadrian smirked. "Fury can be felt in only a few ways, but a roar can reach far and wide, leaving traces and effects in a much more… permanent way. Hearing us Roar can involve hearing our trade, our riches, and so much more."

"And your swords," Renly said.

"They can be added to," Hadrian admits.

"Ha! That's is why you are my favorite Lannister! You twist words so I can understand them and aren't a blonde-shit!" Robert exclaimed.

"Your own children are blonde you brute," Hadrian spits in his head. While Myrcella and Tommen hid it well, they were wounded by their father's words. Not that Robert gives them much attention to begin with. "Why be sly and slimy if it won't get you anywhere? A direct approach can be more useful."

Renly simply shakes his head as if he is mocking Hadrian in his head, while Robert nods. "There is a time for every strategy," he says.

Hadrian simply shrugs and taste the wine. "So are anybody else joining us but the Stark's?"

Renly's face sours. "Sadly Loras was busy, but sends his regards."

Hadrian barely contains his grin, Robert didn't even try. "That's because I said he wasn't welcome."

"The Tyrells are Lord Paramount's of the Reach, we need good relations with them," Renly protests.

"They supported the Targaryen's," Robert growls. "As long as I live they will never have a place of honor in my court. Or have you forgotten the Siege that Stannis keeps reminding me of!"

Hadrian watches this with great amusement. Renly cowers before Robert, and with good reason. Anything Targaryen related was more than enough to make Robert's temper soar.

"It was ages ago, they can't be held for that!"

Robert growled. "They kept Ned busy from riding south to Dorne during the war. Had they fought for us my Lyanna might have lived."

Ah, the great mystery. What happened at the Tower of Joy? Two dead Kingsguards, and a dead Stark Lady. Said to have died of a fever. Was that the truth? Hadrian and the rest of the Kingdom had no reason to deny that, Ned Stark was a man of honor.

And yet, how had Lord Stark killed Arthur Dayne? A Knight that was many times better than Hadrian's own father. So many questions, but no answer. Stark never spoke of those events. But even more important was the fact that two out of the three best Kingsguard during the Rebellion were at the Tower. What had Rhaegar Targaryen deemed so worthy? Was it love?

Hadrian's was brought out of his musings as Renly said something very stupid. "You cannot hate every Targaryen? We are related to them! Our own grandmother was one!"

Robert's fist hit the table so hard it nearly cracked. His eyes were like a storm, and Hadrian would admit that right now Robert frightened him. "Never. Ever. Speak of that again, you hear me? The Targaryen's were mad men that burned people alive and raped women. You hear me!"

You could mention Rhaegar, you could mention Aerys, but mentioning Rhaelle Targaryen was a death sentence. Robert wanted to forget that he actually was related to the Targaryen's rather closely. Rhaegar had been his cousin twice removed.

Renly seemed to forget that rule. Why was he so… oh.

He didn't want Hadrian to repair relations with House Stark. A war between House Lannister and Stark would be very good for the Tyrells.

That little Bambi like fool! He was trying to ruin the dinner!

"Your Grace," Hadrian interrupted Renly before he could open his mouth again. "Why ruin a perfectly fine evening with this subject. It is a dead one. The Targaryen's will never return, the last two are from what I hear an abused little girl and a mad teenager. Not even the loyalists wants them back. Don't waste time on things that are dead."

Robert eyes got… was that conflicted? What did he know that Hadrian did not. Renly too seemed to know. Something was happening…

Hadrian remembered being in the dark as Harry.

Never again.

"What news from the East?" he asks.

Robert's face sours. "We'll talk tomorrow, Lannister. Your family deserves a voice in this."

What in Merlin's name was going on? But sadly, before Hadrian could continue to probe for information the doors to the Hall opened, with the Stark's entering.

"Ned!" Robert exclaimed with all previous anger leaving him.

"Is Renly the only one in the Baratheon family attracted to other men?" Hadrian mused quietly, but only in joke. Robert's… appetite for women was well known.

Lord Stark looked a bit haggard, still clad in those simple leather clothes. It made many of the poor Houses in the South look rich if you only compared clothes. That was complete bullshit of course. The Starks were the Paramount's of the North, and were a very rich family.

"Your Grace," Lord Stark said in his strong accent.

"None of that Ned! It's only family here and I don't have the patience to stand on ceremony with family!" Robert boomed out.

Lord Stark merely smiled before walking up to the table and sitting down next to a waving Robert. "Ser Hadrian, feeling better?"

"Much better, must have ate something bad on the journey."

Stark didn't show any more response than a quick nod before turning to Robert. This gave Hadrian time to inspect the next Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Sansa Stark was a pretty thing, and might become a true beauty in a few years, but her blue wide eyes betrayed her. She was naïve, and manipulating her right now would be too easy.

Then again she might learn with time.

Her sister couldn't either keep her mask, but it was a face of scorn, not naivety. Arya Stark had none of her sister's beauty, but Hadrian wasn't fooled. He remembered Hermione Granger, who had not been pretty at the age of eleven, growing to be a bombshell with time. Never judge a book by its cover, and never judge a child. You never know what the child might become.

But that amount of hate the girl directed towards him were unsettling. Time to play.

"Is there something on my face, Lady Arya?" Hadrian asked.

Robert and Stark were busy talking, but Renly heard the question. The older Stark girl gasped in horror, for what Hadrian didn't know, while the little girl glared hatefully at Hadrian.

"Except those Lannister eyes?"

"Arya!" the older girl horrified exclaimed.

"Now that's a first," Renly said. "A girl insulting the enchanting eyes of Hadrian Lannister?"

The elder girl's face went so red you couldn't see where the hair began, while the little one placed her arms around her stomach and kept on glaring. "All Lannister's are idiots and evil. They killed my friend."

Ah, the Inn of the Crossing. "While every family has bad eggs, I had nothing to do with that."

"Would you have done anything to stop it?"

Now that was a sharp question. But as said, Hadrian condoned Cersei's action on killing the butcher boy. Even the rumor that a peasant could harm a Prince and get away with it was dangerous. "Sadly, I don't know enough of what happened."

"My sister didn-"

"Yes I did!"

"Arya Stark," Lord Stark interrupted with a pained expression, finally hearing the argument, "Apologize to Ser Hadrian this instant."

"There is no need Lord Stark," Hadrian said. "It is refreshing talking to somebody in this city that doesn't lie or don't mean what they say. I believe it's only His Grace and this young lady that does so."

The reaction was priceless. Elder Stark girl looked like a goldfish, Robert laughed, Renly looked gob smacked with the rest of the table. Except the little Stark girl. She grinned like a wolf. "You are better than most Lannister's."

"One quick conversation tells you that much?"

"You are the only Lannister that hasn't lied. That makes you better than most," she shot back.

Hadrian smiled. "You are a brave one. Not really lady like."

"I am no lady," she spat out with venom. "Ladies are stupid girls that believes in fairy tales."

Everybody was following the conversation with much interest. Hadrian had to admit, the little St- no Arya, was intriguing. "Yet you are born of a noble father and a noble mother. That makes you a lady."

Arya looked like she wanted to say more, but didn't. Maybe she didn't want to reveal too many things. Just this one conversation had revealed so much about the Stark Family. Hadrian seeing that his window had closed, for now, turned to Lord Stark. "I must say, your daughter reminds me of my cousin Joy. Both very intelligent and both with a very sharp mouth. Good skills, that I do hope you allow to grow."

Lord Stark looked so puzzled you wondered if he had lost his mind. Arya looked positively delighted, but then the eldest girl spoke up. "It's not a lady's place to interfere with the men. We are there to aid and give them support."

This was a Lord Paramount's daughter? Really? Usually daughters of the great houses received education on manipulation as well as ruling. More times than once had a Great House nearly faced extinction only for a woman of said House to bring it back. If Hadrian didn't know better he would say Sansa acted like a lady from a minor house of the Vale or Riverlands, not the Great House of the North.

He knew for a fact that every Lannister girl would rip her apart.

"I don't know that much of Northern history, but even I have read about the events called The She-Wolves of Winterfell. Not to mention a few of my own ancestors that was horrid at ruling, but their wives were not," Hadrian said.

Once again, Arya looked absolutely delighted, she even interfered quickly again. "Don't forget about Nymeria, Rhaenys and Visenya."

Hadrian grinned. "See? History is filled with strong women, and they have shaped Westeros for the better."

It was a gamble. But as Sansa Stark would be queen, she would be the first person that should know how to rein Joffrey in. This was what Hadrian was trying to do. If Sansa was strong enough, maybe everything wouldn't go sideways in a colossal way.

"They overextended their rights. Ladies are supposed to care for the children and be a pillar for their husbands, not rule. That's the men's right."

Sweet Merlin's soggy balls what was this? Once again, really? And they handed this girl the keys to the Kingdom? This was the realms first line of defense against Joffrey?

Winter is Coming. Oh what a load bullshit. In worst case she would bring a slightly cold wind. But a headache is certainly coming. Hadrian simply smirked. "Well, then it might just be me that wants a partner rather than a subject."

Both Lord Stark and Robert nodded, both clearly thinking about the women they loved. Arya looked shock beyond reckoning and Sansa looked horrified. Naïve, spoiled and just plain dumb. Renly looked amused. "And yet you aren't married or betrothed," he pointed out.

Hadrian waved that off. "If I were to find a girl I like of a somewhat high position Lord Tywin would most likely agree. Sadly, most girls aren't… discreet or independent enough for my taste."

"Your taste," Renly mocked. "We both know that if Lord Tywin found a bride he wouldn't care for your opinion."

"A good point, as a member of House Lannister I do have to obey the will of the Lord of the House. And if Lord Tywin finds someone, I will marry her."

"And who would like to marry a bastard," a sniveling voice called out.

Hadrian smiled liked the sun. "Prince Joffrey, it's been too long," he said.

Joffrey Baratheon was the one person Hadrian really, really hated. He hated him more than Cersei, but only by a thin thread. The Prince was spoiled rotten, sadistic in ways that Bellatrix Lestrange would have made her love him, and had the intelligence and bravery of an ant. Cersei at least could somewhat play politics and could portray intelligence. Joffrey lacked that.

"Ser Hadrian," Joffrey said, his sneer somewhat disappearing upon seeing no negative reaction from Hadrian. Best way to stop a bully was to give him no reaction. "I hear the Hound beat you into the dirt earlier today."

"Sandor Clegane is one of the best fighters in Westeros. I'm proud that I lasted as long as I did."

Joffrey huffed as his only response. It was his aunt that continued the conversation. "As is befitting anyone named Lannister."

Hadrian could barely contain his surprise at Cersei's rather kind words. Robert and Renly didn't try to hide it. "Thank you my Queen."

Cersei only smiled before sitting down amongst her children. Why she didn't fight the table position, Hadrian did not know.

"I would have lasted longer," Joffrey boasted.

"I am certain that you would, my Prince," elder Stark girl said, soothing the Crown Prince's ego. Not that he needed that.

"Hadrian is my son, I would be surprised if he didn't have some skill," a new voice said.

"Father," Hadrian said and stood up from the table, actually smiling for real.

Jaime walked closer to the table. "If you listen to the gossip around the Keep you two fought like gods reincarnated."

"Don't tell me you believe in court gossip," Hadrian scoffed.

"Of course I don't," Jaime said. "But there is always some truth to rumors."

"True," was all Hadrian said.

"But we aren't talking about your fighting prowess," Jaime said. "We are discoing your status as the most attractive bachelor in the realm since Prince Joffrey got betrothed."

"Well," Hadrian said. "What about we don't talk more about that?" Hadrian's response only made Jaime smirk harder.

"Why, have you finally found a girl you like?"

"No, I am a bit too busy to look for a bride, and know that in the end Lord Tywin will decide, no matter my opinion on the matter." Honestly, Hadrian really didn't want to marry now. He enjoyed being free, as he had very early in his previous life gotten married. It was a curse and a blessing to be the Heir of Casterly Rock. While Hadrian had so much power, he also lacked freedom.

"There are several girls here at court, Ser Hadrian, that I think would be good enough for the next Lord Lannister," Cersei suddenly interrupted. "I heard you talked to Lady Desmera Redwyne, for an example."

"She was kind enough to get me some water after I lost to Sandor Clegane, and while I do think she is kind, she is a bit young for my taste," Hadrian said trying to stop that line of thought in its grave early on.

"She is only four years younger," Renly said. "That isn't too young."

"There are more ways than one to count age," Hadrian said. "Experience can make even the youngest look wiser than old men."

"To true," Lord Stark said. "There is a reason why I allow my sons to follow me to an execution once they are eight. Showing them what it means to take a man's life gives perspective and respect for every life. Something a Lord should have."

That was actually a pretty good idea. "Doesn't the Northern Lords do their own executions? There is a saying I know His Grace used, but I cannot remember it," Hadrian said interested.

"The man that passes the sentence should swing the sword," Lord Stark said.

"If only more of the Lords in the South did that," Hadrian sadly said. "Too many have never killed a man, and doesn't therefore understand the value of life."

Lord Stark's eyes actually showed respect. "See! I told ya Ned, this man here isn't to bad!" Robert exclaimed. "Better than the bloody Tarth boy this morning."

Hadrian laughed. "That was excellent done Your Grace, didn't think you had it in you."

Robert grinned. "I've been King here for nearly sixteen years. I have picked up a few things."

"When did you kill someone?" Arya suddenly spoke up again. Brash little thing.

"Arya, that is not something we should discuss here, or ever," Lord Stark said harshly.

But Arya's eyes suddenly shone. "I remember! You killed Theon's brother!"

Theon who- oh. Greyjoy. Even after all these years, the report of how his mother had died at the hands of Euron Greyjoy made Hadrian's eyes sharpen to slits and his hands clutched his goblet so had it cracked. "I did forget you took the last boy to Winterfell," Hadrian said.

Lord Stark, to his credit, did look sheepish. "I did. Theon is a friend of my son, Robb."

"He's an asshole to Jon though," Arya spoke up again. "I don't understand why Robb likes him so much."

"He hasn't returned to Pyke yet?" Hadrian asked. "Isn't he as old as me?"

"Theon is eighteen, yes," Lord Stark said. "But he will only return to Pyke once his father dies. It is too dangerous either wise."

"And he understands the Ironborn ways?" Hadrian asked alarmed. Do not tell me that you raised him to be honorable in a cutthroat society.

"He will do his duty, and be a good Lord of Pyke," Stark said.

During this conversation Hadrian could see the slight alarm in Jaime's eyes. He wasn't the only that saw the catastrophe in making. But if Hadrian was honest, the chance for the Ironborn to slip up again was not something that was unwelcome. Hadrian would gladly end that people. The Westerlands were always the Kingdom that first felt the Ironborn's ways.

Thankfully, Renly decided to change the conversation. "Your son isn't betrothed if I remember correctly, Lord Stark?" he asked.

"No, Robb is not. Me and my lady wife wants to give him a chance to find love," Stark replied.

While Hadrian could understand and sympathise with that, the truth was that the young Heir of Winterfell didn't have the problem Hadrian had. A bastard background. The Heir of Winterfell still not betrothed? What the fuck was going on in the North? A naive girl and an unbetrothed Heir?

"Are you planning to marry him to somebody in the North?" Renly asked.

Stark nodded. "That would be the best. As I married from the South my bannermen would not enjoy a second Lord of Winterfell having a southern bride. It is unheard off."

At least he was that smart. And Renly was apparently smart enough to know that proposing that Robb Stark marrying a reach girl, more than likely a minor Tyrell, was a bad idea.

Then Robert, off all people, harked. "Speaking of marriage, I might as well ask this now. I have gotten an offer for you, Myrcella. An offer that is good. But I will not allow it if you do not want it."

That had to be one of the few times Robert showed much love for his children. Myrcella, having received proposals her entire life, the Frey's asked the day they heard of her birth, looked intrigued. "Who is it? Who are you thinking about marrying me too?"

"Hadrian Lannister."

Hadrian, who had been drinking wine, nearly choked and had to use every bit of his Occlumency not to gape and protest loudly. For first cousin marriage wasn't unheard of. Indeed, if a House was to be inherited by a bastard son or a son from a second or third son thanks to the Lord only having daughters, cousin marriage was a good idea to legitimize what could be a challenged rule.

Having Hadrian, who was a bastard by birth, marrying his cousin, who had the Lannister blood and was the Princess, would make sure nobody could ever challenge Hadrian's rule over Casterly Rock.

But there was that little detail about Myrcella being his half-sister! Of course, neither Robert nor Tywin knew that, but Hadrian did! He was not going to marry his own sister! He would run away to Essos before that happened!

Just looking around the table quickly showed that Jaime's eyes had widened a bit, Cersei had frozen and Renly looked a bit sick. Hadrian himself felt a little bit sick too.

Myrcella turned to her cousin. "Sorry, Ser Hadrian. But I see you more as a brother than a cousin. I am going to decline."

Robert frowned. "It is a good match. There are hardly better men worthy of you out there. Even if he is a Lannister."

Myrcella, bless her soul, was still shaking her head. "I do not want that, Father. You said you would respect my decision."

"That I did," Robert said. "Then I will write to Lord Tywin tomorrow declining his offer."

"It's probably for the best," Hadrian said trying to lighten the mood. "It is a bit to Targaryen to my taste."

And there any chance of Hadrian marrying Myrcella vanished. Robert simply gravely nodded at Hadrian's jape. "Good point. But now I want some food! Servants!" Robert boomed out.

Soon a sea of food appeared, and small talk once again resumed as some people ignored other. Cersei and Joffrey seemed a bit lost in their own world, but so was Renly, Robert and Stark. That left Hadrian talking with his cousins. "So was Winterfell interesting?"

Both Myrcella and Tommen happily nodded. "It was so old looking, but also intimidating," Myrcella said.

"It snowed!" Tommen exclaimed. "It snowed as we traveled there, and as we left!"

"We call it summer snow," Arya said. "Happens all the time."

"I remember the last winter, if it was hard in the warm West I cannot imagine a Northern winter if it snows now," Hadrian said.

"Uncle Tyrion said the same," Tommen said.

"Speaking of Uncle, where is he?" Hadrian asked. "Did the snow bury him?"

Myrcella giggled, knowing that Hadrian meant no true ill. "No, he wanted the visit the Wall."

"Not to join the Night's Watch I hope," Hadrian said.

"Nah, he said rather crude words about that," Myrcella said. Tyrion did have a rather…. Direct mouth and sharp tongue. "Well, Uncle Tyrion has always wanted to visit the Wall. Don't see why, we got a better view at Casterly Rock."

"The Wall is seven hundred-feet high," Arya said. "Isn't that the tallest building in the world?"

"Tallest building, yes. But Casterly Rock I fourteen hundred feet high."

Arya's eyes widened to plates. "Woah. Jon went to the wrong building."

Hadrian frowned. "Who is Jon?"

"My brother," Arya said. That seemed to get Sansa out of her quietness.

"Our bastard brother," she said.

Arya glared at her sister, and Hadrian knew that he needed to disarm this now. "I'm the last person in this room that will berate anybody for their birth," he said with a smirk. "My father, just like yours, had problems keeping everything in his trousers."

Jaime laughed. "I was young and stupid, and completely bewitched. It happens."

"You still meet your mother?" Arya asked. "We don't even know who Jon's mother is."

Was the honorable Lord Stark so embarrassed? But then why even take his son in? Did the mother die in childbirth? "Well, he must have one. But more than once at least one parent wants nothing to do with their bastards. I was lucky."

"Your mother loved you, Hadrian," Jaime said solemnly. He wasn't without sympathy for his son's loss, Hadrian knew. For even if Jaime never truly loved Alyssa, he did respect and like her.

"I know that. But it was years ago, and this is a happy dinner, let's leave this dreary subject," Hadrian said. Alyssa Redwater had died nearly eight years ago, and bringing it up again wouldn't change that.

"But there are rumors at Winterfell that Ashar-" Arya began before Sansa gave her a scathing look.

"Those are only rumors. Our father loves our mother," she said firmly.

Most people would never had gained that much information from even a single name, but Hadrian did instantly. Not only be personal reasons, but because his father spent years talking about that family. "Ashara Dayne?" he asked.

The way Sansa blushed and Arya smiled he knew he hit home. And Hadrian could see Jaime frown. He had known the Dornish Lady after all. "I thought it was only rumors."

Arya shrugged, as her sister seemed shocked enough to have lost the ability to speak. "Father won't allow anybody in Winterfell to speak her name."

"Why the secrecy?" Hadrian furiously thought. Why the caution. Eh, what did it matter? The son had gone to the Night's Watch.

Jaime seemed to have arrived at the same conclusion. "Shame, met him in Winterfell. Stark through and through. Brown eyes though... but I think Ashara's mother had that. Had I known I would have been kinder, owe Arthur that much."

Arya seemed entirely shocked. "Why would you owe Lady Dayne anything?"

"I was Ser Arthur's squire. Most of what I know I learned from him," Jaime said with respect.

Arya nodded, probably understanding. Sansa, however, still looked scandalized that hey even talked about it. "We mean no ill, Lady Sansa. We are just discussing certain things, not judging. There are plenty of bastards in Westeros, most never know who their father is. Not knowing the mother is rarer, just not impossible."

She was in desperate need to learn to keep her face. Her angry little sister did a better job, but Sansa was to be queen. All this fairy-tale nonsense needed to be crushed now. First step was to show her that judging people directly upon their birth, and looking as she did, would not help her.

The young girl only nodded before she changed the subject. "So are you competing tomorrow?"

"I am, both in the melee and the joust. Somebody needs to beat my old father," Hadrian said. Renly and Jaime chuckled.

"Last time I bested you."

"That was last time, this is now," Hadrian said and waved his father's argument of.

"You still have both Clegane's and Ser Loras to beat," Jaime said. "Plus me. Competition is top notch. Many of the better knights have all come here."

Hadrian grinned. "The more the better."

"Have you won the joust before, Ser Hadrian?" Sansa asked, clearly lost in fairy-tales. Hadrian knew he was being harsh, she was only thirteen, but that sadly didn't excuse her. He had hoped he would meet a woman that was independent and strong enough to keep Joffrey in line, or at least minimize the damage. Joffrey would eat this girl alive, however.

"I haven't, but I have won the melee a few times," Hadrian said. "I'm much more interested in fighting for real than the controlled joust. The melee reminds me of my time patrolling the Westerlands borders."

"Didn't you catch up to one of the larger bandit holes a few months ago?" Jaime asked.

"I did. We found their hideout when they were out pillaging, so we just waited there for them to get back. It was a very quick, but brutal, fight."

Arya seemed to get alive again upon hearing of real blood, and Hadrian's opinion on the joust. "See, the tourney is stupid! Real fights aren't like that!"

"And what do you know of real fights," Sansa scolded her. "You don't even know how to wield a sword."

Interestingly, the little Stark girl looked very guilty. Was she sneaking around learning to actually fight? Possible, but still unlikely. "Lady Arya is right, real battles are much messier than a tourney usually is."

"Usually?" Arya said in a wondering tone. "Does people die?"

Hadrian, Renly and Jaime winced. "It happens, rarely, but it does happen."

"Well," Sansa said and started speaking again, "I am sure nothing will happen this time. This is the Tourney of the Hand, and as the Crown Prince and many high lords will participate I cannot fathom anything bad happen."

Hadrian smirked. "Prince Joffrey isn't in the tourney, Lady Sansa. Didn't you know that?"

Sansa looked horrified, and turned to her betrothed. "My Prince?"

"Yes, Lady Sansa," a very irritated Joffrey said upon being interrupted from the conversation he had with his mother. "What is it?"

"Are you not participating in my father's tourney?" Sansa asked.

If there was one thing Joffrey did not like it was being called out for not being brave. For him to not participate was in many nobles eyes, Joffrey being a coward. Most people weren't fooled by his boasts. Sansa didn't know she not only wounded Joffrey's confidence with her question, but also she didn't see the direct and bad lie Joffrey answered with. "I am the Crown Prince. I have no time for simple tourney, for I would win it easily if I tried."

Sansa, stupid young girl she was, swallowed that bullshit without hesitation. "Of course, a Prince has better and more important things to do."

Joffrey gave her a rather forced smile before turning back to his mother, and was soon again trapped in their own world. Dinner continued like this for hours, with small group talking and Hadrian repairing the relations between Lannister, Baratheon and Stark.

It went so-so. While none of the Starks, except Sansa, really liked the Lannister's, he made sure that they at least didn't completely despise them all. Sadly, there seemed to be something in Eddard Stark's eyes that was fueled with anger every time he looked at Jaime.

Something was moving, and Hadrian didn't know what. Why legillimency would have worked, it would also have given Lord Stark a slight headache, something Hadrian at the moment deemed unnecessary. Better wait for a better moment.

"Well," Hadrian said and stood up. "I need have tourney to win tomorrow, and do need my sleep. Have a good evening," he said deep into the night, with all the children, including Joffrey, having already left. Cersei had vacated half an hour or so.

"Need all the help you can get, Lannister?" Renly asked with a confident voice.

"Nah," Hadrian said and stoop up from the table, "I can still beat you with my eyes closed. It's the Mountain and The Hound I've got to worry about."

Robert's booming laugh followed Hadrian out as he left after saying a quick goodbye to his father.

He had learned a lot from this night, and he needed to think.

One, Lord Stark was overly suspicious of the Lannister's, Jaime in particular. Why? What did he know, or had been lied to, to make him be so careful? Not that he hid it well. Did he suspect the real father of Cersei's' children? But how could he?

Two, little Arya hated the Lannister's, and while she could be handled, her hatred was justified. Even if Hadrian would still have killed her wolf and the butcher's boy, that didn't mean he understood her view on things. Taken from her home to go to a place she hated with people she hated.

Three, if Sansa Stark didn't learn fast Hadrian feared for her life. He had privately hoped for a Stark girl that fitted how people described Lyanna, when Robert wasn't near. Strong willed, stubborn and wild. Somebody that could hold Joffrey in. Arya fitted that description better than Sansa.

Then again, Arya might kill Joffrey if they ever had a wedding night, Sansa really didn't have that in her. But who knows, she is only thirteen.

Four, Renly was deep in the Tyrells pockets that he might as well sleep on a bed of roses and bathe in their petals. "Which might be true," Hadrian thought with a smile.

Five, Theon Greyjoy could become a problem. It might be Hadrian's personal hatred against anything Ironborn, but he wasn't stupid. An honorable man could not rule the Iron Islands. If that happened Civil War might be sparked, and the Westerlands would feel that firstly. That might be a problem. Didn't help that Greyjoy more than likely hated Hadrian for killing his brother.

Talk about a success turning into catastrophe.

Six, the Heir of Winterfell wasn't engaged. A stupid thing, as said. Robb Stark didn't have the excuse and problem Hadrian did. Not being betrothed could really be manipulated, if used right.

Seven, Souls from his old world. Hadrian could really use them. The Arbor's loyalty could be a great boon, escpacially if he could get it without marrying Desmera Redwyne/Ginny Weasley. If he ever awoke that part of the soul, Hadrian would be honest with her.

Sometimes honesty got you the farthest. Sometimes lies. It was all about reading the situation. That he never suspected that others might have followed proved his folly. From now, he would be more alert.

Lannister, Baratheon, Stark and Tyrell. All were playing the game. The Martell's, the Geryjoy, the Tully's and Arryn's were on the side for now. But for how long? The three standbys didn't really like the Lannister's. In so many ways, House Lannister had the weakest situation. No great allies, only lots of enemies.

Hadrian needed to turn that around. He knew that you could not win alone.

The board was set. Now all that remains is to play the Game.

As said, a lot of things happened. So let some things clear before a reviews flame goes up in the air.

Both Ginny and Harry cheated. They didn't have any other children then without each other, but Lily Luna did have a child that wasn't her husbands. That's just me throwing a stick in the perfect potter Family. I do believe they married to young, and this was my way of ruining the picture we have of the family.

I used Delphi Riddle in the text, no I haven't seen the play or read it. I read the reviews, and honestly it sounds like mediocre fanfiction. But she is a perfect example that if you do not end things completely, but allow lose ends, they can turn things really nasty. Hadrian remembers that.

Many old Harry Potter characters will be reincarnated. Sadly, that does not include Tonks, because how on earth would Osha and Hadrian Lannister meet? And do not say Hadrian could Sack Winterfell instead of the Boltons. That also do not include Mance Rayder, as his actor portrayed Abeforth Dumbledore. How would they, once again, meet when Hadrian will be busy in the South? But a certain Professor is possible…

As for my bold statement about trying to keep book elements out, I am going to break that. The overall storyline will be GOT, but a few characters from books will be in. I actually know do not understand how they could have cut so much out!

And do not for fucks sake get me started on Dorne.

And magic will return heavily! No points for guessing when…

Cersei and Hadrian's relationship is a… complicated one. Cersei hates him. Do not get that wrong, but she does fear him as well. She isn't completely mad yet,and can see rivals still.

Joffrey despises Hadrian because of his mother's teachings. As for Myrcella and Tommen being bolder, that's Hadrian influence on their courage. Hoped you liked my take on Robert. Didn't want the old drunk fool.

As for Margaery, come on. That is something she could have tried out. She even hints at it in the show.

I have decided on romance, but it will not happen any time soon. As for the Reviewer saying Alys Karstark… Man you read my mind. But no, it will not be her. Though a part of me wanted that!

I am using all the books, show, and a World of Ice and Fire as source material.

Next update will come when it comes. If I quit the story I will go out and say so. But I don't want to quit!

Read and Review!

Light-In-Oblivion.