AN: Wow, I got this one out quicker than I expected. Hope you all enjoy!

AN: F.Y.I. Robert Baratheon is a tiny bit OC, but it's only on one particular detail. I wonder if anyone can spot it?

AN: As always please don't expect perfect editing and constructive criticism is welcome.

AN: Last editing job 1/6/14

Chapter 2

The fighting had been intense earlier in the day; the sounds of clashing steel, yelling, and death cries had been prevalent along with the smells of blood and burnt flesh. To many it was almost like it was still happening, even hours later. The air was still heavy with smoke from the burning of staked corpses as Alexander and his Wardens stepped forward into the throne room of the Red Keep. The, apparently, ex-Queen Rhaella Targaryen was standing to the side and slightly behind him as she clung to young Viserys' shoulders to keep him close as nearly all of the Wardens in the immediate area flanked and surrounded them. They would not easily risk their lord or a person that was seen as a great friend of the Wardens, and they would not regret cutting down any who tried to cross them.

"What in all the hells is this!?" the new King Robert Baratheon bellowed as soon as he laid eyes on the blonde hair of a Targaryen he'd specifically ordered executed. His soon to be Hand of the King Jon Arryn and his best friend Eddard Stark were standing near him as he rose from his seat on the throne while he spoke.

"This is me making sure you don't do anything stupid!" the Warden Lord shouted back, his gaze challenging as he got locked into a staring contest with the new King of the Seven Kingdoms. The crowd of people residing in the room shifted anxiously as the tension in the air mounted. People wanted an end to the days blood bath, not a repeat of said day's events. At the Warden Lord's words the broad chest of Robert Baratheon started to swell in indignation at being defied so soon after taking the Iron Throne for himself. Then he remembered who it was he was talking to and tried his best to reigned himself in.

While he wasn't there for the first hours of the Sack of King's Landing people close to him had seen what the Wardens were capable of that day and had told him of it. His companions had seen just how easily they cut through normal men, and he knew that it was the Warden Lord that had made them that way. But he had also heard that the Wardens never fooled around with politics, in fact they had been known to go to rather excessive lengths in order to keep their neutrality throughout his war. So why was their lord now stepping up in the defense of the family that had brought all of this misery upon the Kingdoms? Why was he defending those who stole Lyanna from him?

The friendship between the former Queen Rhaella and the Wardens had become a sort of quiet legend ever since Alexander had started to be shown in a more prevalent light. It was said that Rhaella had even stayed in the Capital so as to better assist them when she could have taken her children and fled when it started to look like Aerys might not win out against the rebels after all. By doing so she had done much good where the Wardens were concerned, and those in the court that had paid enough attention knew it. Obviously the Wardens knew it too.

"That woman and her spawn are Targaryens; they cannot be allowed to live!" Robert uttered after successfully reigning himself in enough not to shout. His hands fisted themselves at the effort of it as he wondered at the sheer gall of this man and his people, he was King, and they should be giving him what he wanted. And what he wanted was every last Targaryen dead.

But here he was being directly challenged by a man who many thought to be a sort of living fable. Alexander had shown in the past that even though he tried his best to respect the Iron Throne, if his mission was at risk of being interrupted he would disregard it quicker than a whore would spread her legs for coin. He had shown this tendency with the late Aerys and was now showing this to still be true with Robert. This was not a detail that was missed by anyone currently standing in the throne room, especially not the new King.

"They are innocent of Aerys' crimes. They are not to blame." Alexander responded in as calm a voice as he could manage. He knew that getting angry at this man would only end badly for everyone involved, but he would not allow the new King to have his way in this. He just hoped that Briant and those Xander had sent with him were quick enough to secure Princess Elia and her own children before anything happened to them. Unfortunately, he hadn't thought of them when he had sent a number of Wardens to protect his friend and ally from some more than predictable reprisals. He knew he should have, but he didn't and now he could only hope that they weren't too late. "The sins of Aerys Targaryen are his own. He is dead now, let the matter rest."

"Let it rest! After what he and is retched children did!?" Robert bellowed as he lost what little patience he had left. This was to be his greatest victory to date and this nobody was denying him!

"Yes, let it rest and leave it alone. Aerys is dead and so is Rhaegar, they are now and forever out of your reach and there is nothing you can do about it. Punishing those few left will gain you nothing. Killing them would not be justice, would not be absolution, but murder." Alexander tried to reason even though his own anger was reaching its boiling point. The two men once again squared off with their eyes as several murmurs were heard in the throng of nobles and knights that surrounded them. However, he was pleased to see that the new Lord Stark seemed to agree with his assessment of the situation.

"They are Targaryens, dragon spawn; they will try to take the throne for their own sooner or later." Robert said with conviction.

"No, they won't." Alexander said without hesitation. He knew that Robert may be right in his belief that his reign would eventually be threatened by the remaining Targaryens one day. But that day was not today, and that day would never come at the hands of the Wardens.

"How do you know?" Jon Arryn spoke up for the first time since the beginning of this confrontation. Alexander could see that Lord Arryn wished to try and ease the tensions everyone present could feel. It would not due to have the King and the Lord of the Wardens at each other's throats. They had both become important to the realm after all.

"It's simple really. Wardens don't mess around with politics and don't care for thrones." Alexander said as he felt his anger subsiding with the new voice of reason entering the conversation. It was still there, but at least now it wasn't threatening to spill over with every new syllable that Robert uttered. "And I think that with all the aid she's given to us over the course of this war she might as well be a Warden in her own right."

"You would have them kept at Harrenhal?" Eddard asked as what Alexander was trying to say sank in; his interest definitely peaked at this new and, at least for him, much more palatable alternative to cold blooded murder.

"Yes, as either Wardens or Apprentice Wardens. As such they will be forfeiting all claims to the throne and therefore any danger they could politically pose in the future." Alexander said as a few more of the knots in his stomach undid themselves in relief. But Robert didn't seem convinced, even though this different approach would keep him from killing children. In fact Xander didn't think he saw that most of the remaining Targaryens were indeed just children, only a hated enemy that needed to be crushed without mercy. As it was the King would probably never be able to let his hatred of them go, but even he had to admit that letting these few live would keep the Wardens out of his hair and leave him to rule in what he hoped would be relative peace. Hopefully, this sacrifice of one of his personal goals would be enough to keep the Wardens from interfering any more than necessary.

"And they would swear off their heritage entirely?" Jon Arryn asked with a slight twinge of hope in his voice. He did not want to be involved with the murder of those who didn't actually have anything to do with the war that had torn apart the Kingdoms. The fighting wasn't over yet, but at least for today he would like there to be no more needless death.

"Yes, we would my lords. If it meant that the few of us that still exist can continue to live, then I will gladly swear off the throne." Rhaella said as she spoke out for the first time. At this Robert shot her a venomous glare, but after a moment's further thought he gave a small nod of his head to signify his reluctant approval. Again, at least this way he wouldn't have to risk putting himself at odds with the Wardens.

While all these things were being discussed and agreements were being made, those talking didn't notice how young Viserys' hands fisted in anger and frustration. The only one who was paying attention to the young boy was Varys who began to adjust his plans to better fit this little development almost instantly.

The argument between King Robert and the Warden Lord Alexander was so intense that neither man, nor their immediate companions, noticed the entrance of Tywin Lannister and his daughter along with a small cadre of their sworn knights. And the first thing that entered Cersei's mind was that Alexander did not bow to Kings. In fact it almost seemed like he didn't care for them one way or another at all. This, this she could use.

"Robert Baratheon is not where the power currently lies." Cersei Lannister said as she lounged in her father's private quarters after everything had settled down some time earlier in the day and the deal had been struck for the lives of the remaining Targaryens.

"What are you talking about?" Tywin asked his daughter as he looked over some documents that needed his attention, his gaze never leaving the paper in front of him as he spoke. He and Cersei were the only two of the direct line of Lannisters in King's Landing at the moment seeing as Jaime was now dead and Tyrion was still back at Casterly Rock.

"You know of what I speak father, the new King Robert is not where the power currently resides. I've recently started to believe that just because you are royalty does not mean that you can do whatever you want." Cersei responded. She was still in a comfortable position, but if her father had bothered to look in her direction he would see her tense slightly in anticipation of his reaction to her words. There was no way he would not be able to gather her meaning after all.

"I take it that you are speaking of the Wardens?" her father asked rhetorically as he turned to face her. Oh yes, his interest was definitely peaked. Just what was his daughter up to now?

"Yes father, specifically Alexander…" Cersei replied as she met her father's eyes.

"What of him? You are right of course, he does not answer to Kings, no Warden does. But do not be fooled, he works quite hard so as to step on as few toes as he possibly can." Tywin said, hoping to correct the assumption that he felt Cersei was making. The Wardens may have had more autonomy than any other house or organization in recent history aside from the Night's Watch; that didn't mean that they didn't answer to anyone. If they angered the lords and ladies of the areas they operated in their lives and mission could become far more difficult than they had to be.

"Of course father," Cersei started cautiously. She wasn't quite sure how her father was going to respond to her next proposal but she knew she at least had to make an effort. "Regardless, what I mean to say, to ask, is are there any plans regarding Alexander's house? You've had extensive dealings with him in the past, is there anyone currently making an attempt at placing a Lady of Wardens?"

At these words she saw her father freeze for a moment before turning back to his work. The scratching of his quill could be heard before he spoke again.

"You will be Queen soon enough. There is no need to worry over whom Alexander chooses to help him perpetuate his line. Besides, with the tensions found in the Kingdom right now we need to worry about creating a strong alliance on the throne so as to better bring the different splits closer together." Tywin said. He understood where is daughter was coming from, he wasn't stupid, but she would be queen and what peace they would be able to forge in the next few months as the last of the Targaryen supporters were subdued would be stronger with her beside the Iron Throne. Yes, she missed her brother, as he missed his son, and they both wanted vengeance, but without a great deal more in the way of a persuasive argument he would not be convinced.

Tywin Lannister was just glad Clegane and Lorch had not succeeded in totally wiping out Rhaegar's line on his orders. As it was though Lord Clegane had already bashed in the head of young Aegon, and was just about to mount the babe's mother when the two that had sent to prove his loyalty to the new King heard the sounds of continued fighting in the hall. By all reports The Mountain had then been ripped from his position atop Princess Elia and bashed in the head hard enough to knock him unceremoniously unconscious. Considering the size of the man this was quite a feat.

Lord Lorch had not been so lucky. He had been just about to plunge his blade into Princess Rhaenys' small form when the hand holding said blade was swiftly removed by one of the female Wardens. It was said that the woman responsible had taken a great deal of pleasure in the act, and Lord Lannister doubted the Amory Lorch would ever forget the face, or the smile, of the one who maimed him. It would most likely haunt him for years to come, if not the rest of his life.

"But Alexander has shown that thrones are transitory things today. And Robert's Rebellion showed that Kings can be replaced, that they come and go. With the remaining Targaryens being claimed by the Warden and therefore under their protection Robert Baratheon's rule will remain unsteady for years to come. And ours with them…" Cersei said as calmly as she could manage in another effort to make her point. This made her father stop again and think on it further. What she had said made sense. With Alexander challenging him so openly, so soon after he had claimed the throne, Robert's position had been made noticeably weaker, even more so when people realized that there wasn't too terribly much the new King could do except let the issue go and attempt to reaffirm his station later, especially with the Rhaella Targaryen swearing off any claims on the throne what so ever. This had been good enough for most as it made it so that they wouldn't have to be inadvertent parties to the killing of children. He knew that some who had been present wouldn't have minded, and might even have cheered as the last of the Targaryens died, but most would have been troubled by the sight.

But one very large flaw in his daughter's plan was the fact that he, her own father, had ordered the killing of defenseless children and their mother. And if the look that Alexander had given him not an hour after their rescue was anything to go by the Lord of Wardens was not pleased with him. He most likely understood why such an action was ordered, but Tywin felt that he might very well have jeopardized his position with the younger man with that single decision. If there was anything that was standing in the way of his daughter's idea it was that.

On the other side of the issue though there was the fact that without major backing from an important house when King Robert did finally finish consolidating his power… Well, he would not have forgotten the slight against him that Alexander had given out earlier that day. He would be looking to deal the Wardens a big enough blow so as to bring the remainder of them under his rule. If there was one thing that Tywin Lannister agreed with the Warden Lord on despite himself, it was that the Wardens required their freedom in order to operate with any sort of real effect. This hadn't exactly been the case earlier on when they'd first emerged, but with the death of his favored son Tywin didn't really mind the fact that the Wardens had the ability to do what they had to in order to keep the Dark at bay. And with the further aid and an alliance of sorts with the Wardens they could better avenge Jaime's death. Yes, this new idea might just do, but Tywin had to be sure. Then he had to think of a way to appeal to the young lord in question in such a manner that he might be listened to and actually considered.

"Are you sure that this is what you want? You would not instead prefer to be a Queen?" Tywin asked, and Cersei knew that she had won her argument. She hadn't been sure that her father would even give her the option, but she knew that he now saw the potential in her idea. "This will be an unpopular decision with many, and will put us at odds with the throne. Especially because such an action will be seen as us siding with the few remnants of the Targaryens, despite the fact that it was because of us and the Wardens that King's Landing was taken with such relative ease."

"I know father, but this way King Robert will most likely never get the get the leverage to move against the Wardens in any real fashion. Besides it has already been shown that the realm requires the Wardens unless they want to be throwing legions of their own men at the vampire problem. King Robert has yet to prove that he knows how to do anything else besides swing a hammer, drink, and whoremonger." Cersei said, a small smile playing along his lips as she finished giving voice to her thoughts. This actually resulted in her ever stoic father barking out a quick laugh before he regained control of himself, which was especially surprising because it was aid that he never laughed.

"Too true I suppose. Very well, the arrangement I have been thinking on hasn't even been proposed to the King yet, so I will instead approach Alexander on the topic. But what makes you think he will accept the offer?" Tywin asked. Yes, he had dealings with Alexander in the past and those dealings had resulted in his lands having one of the lowest undead populations in the Seven Kingdoms, but he could not say that he knew the younger man so well as to know his opinions on the thought of having a wife.

"I spoke to him briefly today and he struck me as one who can be made to see sense." Cersei replied simply with a shrug of her shoulders. "Your attempt on the lives of Rhaegar's family will not have helped our efforts though." The look her father sent her way was nothing if not scathing. He happened to know this little fact very well.

"So be it. I will speak to him in the morning. For now though you should go to your rest." Tywin Lannister said with an almost negligent gesture of his hand to signal that she was dismissed.

"Yes, father." Cersei said as she stood up and headed for the door leading from her father's quarters to the rest of the Keep. Yes, she would indeed need her rest, for tomorrow was promising to prove busy if nothing else.

AN: So what did you all think? Please let me know. Also, I'm sure my plan for Cersei is pretty obvious by now so who do you all think should be queen instead? I'm kind of stuck on this part so any good ideas would be appreciated. Please note however that the Tully sisters are firmly out of this one, I think I've changed enough for one day =^.^=. Until next time, ~Relim

AN: And a quick update to add some section separators. Whoopsy ;).