Chapter 7
"How we have managed to be late again I do not know." Helena signed as she walked down the corridor carrying Oliver towards the kings breakfast room. Sam walked beside her carrying Michael.
"Don't worry, chances are the King is still in bed and we will have to come back later. I was surprised when he asked us to break our fast in his private quarters, I was under the impression he rarely got up before noon."
"Hush, we're here.
They rounded the corner and found themselves facing the door to the kings private, Stationed outside the door was Sir Jamie Lannister. He started them down as they approached, when they were only a few feet away he finally spoke.
"The king was starting to think you were not coming, it seems you like running late."
Helena could see Sam bristle beside her "Sir Jamie would you delay us even further then, surely you would not want to keep your king waiting." Helena replied trying to keep a relaxed tone.
Jamie begrudgingly admitted them into the room where the king and her father were sat.
Helena curtsied, "Sire may I introduced my sons to you, here I have Oliver our eldest and my husband is holding Michael."
Robert rose and came over to her, much to Helena's surprise he reached for Oliver and held him for a moment.
"He will make a fine lord he is already a strong lad, a looked to I would imagine looking at the pair of you."
He handed back Oliver and Helena passed both of the children back to two of their own men who carried them back to their quarters.
"Now let's eat" boomed Robert "I am famished I could eat a horse."
The food was delicious and they all tucked in to bacon, bread, eggs, fruits and a whole host of other foods. After a while Ned stood up, "You will have to excuse me but I have a small council meeting to attend." He looked at Robert as he said this.
"At a boy Ned see this is why I made you hand."
Her father left the room with a small shake of his head.
Helen and Sam stayed a little longer but then there was a knock at the door and Jamie Lannister entered.
"My King your next appointment is here." Jamie kept a calm face but you could see the burning hate in his eyes as he look at the drunk king.
"We should both be heading off now anyway your majesty I have some important letters that won't write themselves."
"Important letters ha"
"Never underestimate the power of some carefully chosen words." With that they took their leave as they left the room they saw 2 young women waiting to enter the king's quarters.
"You know the more I see the more I am starting to feel sorry for Cersei" Helena whispered as she wrapped her arm around Sam's.
They headed back up to their rooms, "I have a few things to do Helena, so I should be back in a few hours. Are you going to be ok?"
"Yes of course, don't worry you don't need to worry about me."
"Yes I do it's my job."
Sam gave her arm one final squeeze then turned back and headed outside.
Helena stood in the corridor for a moment then turned around and walked in the opposite direction, in a few minutes she was stood in the corridor outside the chamber of the small council. Just as she arrived the door opened and little finger walked out.
"My Lady Helena for what do we owe the pleasure?"
"Lord Baelish, I was looking for my father is he still inside?"
"No I am afraid he left a few moments ago on an urgent errand, can I be of assistance."
"Oh, no matter I will catch him later."
"Would you care to take a walk with me, it is after all a beautiful day." He offered Helena his arm and she accepted it.
Their walk took them outside into one of the Red keeps many gardens.
"How are you fining your time in King's landing my lady."
"Different" Helena laughed "Back home I know where I stand and where everyone else stands whereas here everything is an unknown. But you would know all about that wouldn't you, you after all make it your business to find out exactly that."
"Just so lady Helena." Little finger said with a smirk on his face.
"What is your impression of me then so far my lord?"
"I haven't made my mind up yet", Little finger stopped and looked at her "You are an unknown quantity as of yet but like you said I will make it my business to work you out."
"Be my guest, while we are being so honest with each other I would like to discuss my father. H seems to think that you are on his side however I have difficulty in believing that."
"May I ask why?
"I don't believe you are on anybody's side apart from your own, although you never know I have been wrong before."
"You are very forward with your opinion and in Kings Lading that is not always a healthy habit." Little finger said moving a step closer to her. Helena held her ground and smiled.
"Unfortunately I inherited that from my father although I like to think I am not quite as trusting as him however you are right honest and honourable men have a habit of dying."
They walked a little further and it was several minutes before either of them spoke again.
"Out of curiosity Lord Baelish how many of the people we have passed work for you? They all seem to be very interested in us but there are too many to suppose that they all work for the same person.
"You are observant and smart for that matter, too answer your question a few of them are mine, the rest belong to Varys and the queen for the most part. I will give you one piece of advice for your stay here don't trust anyone."
"I can assure you Lord Baelish that it one piece of advice I will not be ignoring."
Together they made their way back to the Red Keep.
"I will leave you now my lady but we must do that again some time."
"Yes you will have to let me know when you have made up your mind about me."
With that he bowed and walked away humming.
Helena made her way to her father's quarters.
"Is my lord father in?" she asked one of the guards on the door
"No my lady he has not yet returned."
"Do you know where he went?"
"Into King's landing something about seeing a blacksmith."
"Thank you, when he returns can you please let him know that I have been looking for him."
Helena looked in on her sons who were both fast asleep, she closed the door quietly and entered her own rooms. There she settled herself down by the table in the living room to write her letters. Helena wrote a great many letters to a large number of people, she had done for the past few years. Among her recipients were Stannis Baratheon and until quite recently a young women by the name of Daenerys Targaryen. It had taken Helena's men a while to track her down but once they had Helena had started sending her letters, the first had begun with from one noble Lady to another. The letters had come to an end when she married as her khalasar was constantly on the move however she had romanced to write when she could. They had developed a kind of friendship both sharing experiences of families and towards the end Helena shared her experience of marriage to try and help her. Helena's letters had started from the perspective of trying to limit the number of enemy's her and her husband had however it ended with a secret friendship, for Helena had not told anybody about the letters. If anyone found out it would be classed as treason and would surly cost her, her life.
Her letters to Stannis were far simpler and were normally concerning military problems, questions of strategy or advice. Helena also ensured she still kept strong ties with the north by writing to some of her childhood friends to reminisce about the North and to talk about their times together.
She knew she was playing a dangerous game but one she hoped would pay off especially with hr worries about the future growing, Helena knew that the less enemies she had to worry about the better. Also the more people to watch your back the less chance of dying an early death. Her father still weighed heavily on her mind he was never destined for politics he was born and raised to be a soldier. His life as Lord of Winterfell had been thrust upon him and sometimes this lack of political savviness looked as though it could be his downfall.
