Lucien

"My Lord, Lord Stark and his host has begun to arrive." The Lannister servant reported.

"Very well, dismissed." Lucien replied curtly. He placed his quill down and rose from the seat in his office.

"It will take time for Lord Stark to settle in, and you are not required until a meeting is called." Lysa replied.

"Stark is a soldier, he will want to settle business immediately. I will not be dictated by his command. I shall be there to meet him."

He was delighted that Lysa had traveled here to the Red Keep. It was partly selfish, he enjoyed having her around. It was mostly practical, as Principal Advisor to the King he concerned himself in all aspects of the realm and the workload was burdensome. There may be peace, but the crown was a mess, Stark had no idea what he had walked into. Lucien Lannister currently held the burden of being as knowledgeable as a King should be, but he was without the authority to make any decrees.

Lysa particularly aided him when analyzing the crown's finances. That was of paramount importance as he intended the Lannister loans to be paid back. Looking at the ridiculous expenses King Robert incurred was nearly enough for Lucien to wish to join his brother in being called 'Kingslayer'.

Of course having Lysa in Kings Landing was not strictly beneficial. The master of coin, Peter Baelish had grown up with Lysa as a ward of Lord Hoster. When Lucien first arrived in Kings Landing, his sister Cersei had snarkily informed him of a disgusting rumor regarding Baelish and his wife's virtue. One glare when he first met Baelsih sent a clear message. If he caught Baelish approaching Lysa he would see if the man's wit would protect him from a knife in the throat.

"My Lord, good fortune to you." Lysa replied before giving him a kiss as he departed.

"All will be well. Do not worry, your concern has been heard." He gave her a reassuring smile before leaving, when he entered the Hall his smile disappeared. His guards would think it queer if Lucien Lannister walked about with a smile.

He hated Kings Landing, hated the people that resided there. But what it represented made it almost worth it. The center of the realm lay on top of Aegon's Hill.

His reputation preceded him as his long strides sent him towards the throne room at a quick pace. Men and women alike hurriedly stepped aside for him. Lucien Lannister had been in Kings Landing for the better part of two years, and all intelligent residents, with the exception of a few bold ones, learned to stay out of his way.

That was fortunate, because he had a singular focus today.

Men at post opened the large door that led to the throne room, where the central focus of the room was nearly always the Iron Throne.

And yet, it was not today. Because his brother Ser Jaime Lannister was loitering in front of the metal monstrosity. To his irritation, he would have to pass his brother in order to enter the small council chamber. His son Gerrion squired for his brother, but he was not currently present. In fact, no one else was in the large room. The distance between the entrance and the throne was irritatingly long. His footsteps made sharp echoing noises as he slowly approached.

"Brother, so fortunate to catch sight of you before you slip away." Jaime casually remarked.

Jaime's arrogance was mitigated whenever in the presence of Tywin Lannister. But despite his best effort, Lucien could not inspire the same respect from Jaime.

"The King will actually attend?" Lucien replied sharply.

Jaime momentarily soured at the mention of the King. "Of course not, he never does. How many whores do you think he is having now? Why do you ask?"

"Then why are you here if not to guard the King?"

"Why greeting the ruling members as they arrive, offering them my sincere gratitude."

Gratitude. Since when have you been grateful for anything?

"Eager to jab at Lord Stark? Give him a warm welcome? You never could ignore a chance to gloat."

Jaime laughed. "A bit hypocritical of you. After all these years, are you still sour from your training yard beatings as a child, Lucien?"

Lucien Lannister was an excellent swordsman, but few could match Jaime Lannister in that regard. As children they had to be separated more than once for sparring that had gone too far.

"Those days are long gone, remember what happened when you become too cocky, Jaime."

Jaime's smile did not falter. "You almost bested me, but still not quite. And I recall a few punches to the face, you always did fight dirty when frustrated. I much prefer training your son, far better than his sire in every way."

Before he could respond their attention was taken to across the room as the large doors swung upon to reveal Lord Eddard Stark, who began to slowly approach. His gaze was straight forward towards the two Lannister brothers in front of the Iron Throne. The same spot where Jaime had been standing when Eddard saw the Mad King's corpse.

"Enjoy yourself." Lucien dryly remarked before heading towards the back of the room towards the interior room where the small council presided. He had no care for what Jaime and Eddard would say to one another.

He always thought this room looked drab and inelegant. Pomp was usually unnecessary, but for a location that went about business involving the entire realm, the room looked dull. The men inside may appear just as dull on the surface if not for the fact that they were all dangerous, except for the Kings' brother.

Lord Varys was uncomfortably effective as Master of Whisperers. So much so, that he guaranteed his safety by way of being incredibly useful. Littlefinger of course was unpleasant and cocky at the best of times. These men did not have castles and bannermen at their beck and call. Yet Lucien found them to be the most critical pieces in Kings Landing, and the most feared. Varys especially. The capital was ruled by information.

Pycelle was his father's loyal servant, and by extension served him. The old bastard was of more use then he had expected. It was odd how much information passed by the Grand Maester despite the show of incompetence that he put forth.

He swept past Lord Renly, whom he ignored. The man may be the Kings brother, but the man did not hold high esteem or importance. Renly was unofficially in charge of the meetings until Lord Stark took his position, and yet his existence was of little consequence and Lucien consistently ran over his supposed authority.

Seating himself, he waited for the new Hand. Minutes passed by, Jaime must be having his fun, and yet his gaze never wandered past the entrance. He would have himself be the first thing Eddard Stark saw in the council chambers.

Lord Stark entered and was immediately greeted by the other members. Lucien remained seated, his eyes never wavered.

"Lord Stark." Varys said in that graceful tone of his.

"Lord Varys." Stark replied.

The spider is not a Lord, though Lucien was surprised that Stark knew of the eunuch.

"I was grievously sorry to hear of you troubles on the King's road. We are all praying for Prince Joffrey's full recovery." Varys continued.

Lucien held back a snort, the future King was a spoiled brat. He would prance about like a peacock, but would shrivel when he was challenged. If he was to become King, some hardship would do him good. Cersei should have smacked the boy years ago. The prince was even too afraid to spar with Gerrion and risk embarrassment. For all Gerrion's faults, looking at Joffrey proved to him that Gerrion was indeed a man, no longer a boy.

"Shame you did not say a prayer for the butcher's son." Stark replied a bit sharply before moving past Varys.

Well, well. Conflict already. Sounds like an intriguing story.

"Renly" Stark said when moving forward and embracing said man. "You are looking well."

Lord Renly always does his best to look pretty while having no depth at all.

"And you look tired from the road. I told them this meeting could wait another day but…"

"But we have a kingdom to look after" Littlefinger interjected.

I would not entrust you to look after a whore Baelish, let alone a kingdom. People under your charge do not fare well.

Littlefinger had presumed to spy on him when Lucien first came to Kings Landing. Lucien had uncovered the spy, got Baelish's name out of her, cut off her two little fingers, and presented them to the brothel owner. Lucien was certain that Littlefinger still had eyes and ears on him quite frequently.

Regarding Stark, Littlefinger was bold enough to make his acquaintance with Catelyn Stark known.

Perhaps we can find common cause after all Lord Stark. It could be an effective bonding moment when we kill this man together.

Lucien would love to have an excuse to kill Baelish, but spying was no grounds for execution. Everyone in Kings Landing spied on everyone else.

Make one mistake Lord Baelish, and you will suffer.

"Lord Stark" Lucien announced. He wanted to end this pointless conversation. "A pleasure to see a man of your esteem as the Hand. We should begin immediately."

Stark stared into his eyes before looking around at the other members. "Without the King?"

I told you he does not attend these meetings two years ago. Nothing has changed.

Before the other members could give a rubbish excuse for the Kings absence, Lucien replied,

"As the Hand you should know not to expect the King's attendance. The burden of the realm lies here, and now upon you."

"His grace has many cares. He entrust us to some small matters so that we might lighten the load." Varys interjected and Lucien simply continued to gaze coldly.

Many cares. Like laying with a multitude of whores. Shaming my sister. Out of all his siblings, he had the best relationship with his sister, not that that was saying much. Cersei would always be jealous that Lucien would inherit Casterly Rock, but at this moment there was no cause for conflict. The mutual hatred of the King was helpful in evening out the relationship. The disrespect towards House Lannister that King Robert showed by shaming Cersei was unconscionable.

Stark began to undo the first scroll. It was a declaration to host a tournament honoring Stark's appointment at hand. As Stark read the corresponding prize money aloud, the crown's debts were pounding in Lucien's head.

"Can the treasury bear such expense?" Pycelle said with convincing inquisition. Of course he knew it could not.

"I'll have to borrow it. Lord Lannister, would you be willing to contact your father? The crown already owes Lord Tywin three million, what is another eighty thousand?" Baelish had the gall to ask.

"I will not bother with such pointlessness. Lannister loans will be used to better the realm. Not fund unnecessary tourneys. Find another donor or better yet convince the King to kill this ridiculous proposal. And do not borrow from the Iron Bank for an expense so frivolous." Lucien said formally but coldly, staring at Littlefinger the entire time.

Lord Stark was already taken aback by the admission of such steep debt.

"Are you telling me the crown is three million in debt?"

"I am telling you the crown is six million in debt." Baelish responded.

Now you know how foolish your King really is Lord Stark.

"Six point forty-two to be exact as of the last report, no doubt with the lag between reports it is higher." Lucien added. He was annoyed that Baelish had rounded down.

"How can this happen." Stark said with a mixture of anger and shock. Stark had been warned about the debt two years ago, but the problem had only compounded with time.

"I have done all I can over the past years to lower this waste, but only so much can be done when the King does not listen." Lucien replied.

There was small back and forth before Stark declared that the tournament was a waste that could not be afforded.

If we agree as often as we do now there will be no issue at all.

"There is no benefit from such an arrangement. Funds should be directed elsewhere." Lucien all but snapped. At last the ridiculous demands of the King were being challenged by someone other than himself.

When Littlefinger tried to continue to make preparations, Eddard shut him down sharply, but later backtracked on his tone.

"Forgive me, my Lords…I had a long ride." Stark did look extremely tired. He may latter interject against Lucien's wishes, but for now Stark was promising to give King Robert what he needed. Common sense.

"You are the King's Hand. Your dictations carry weight. I fully support Lord Stark in this endeavor. An appeal should be made to the King." Lucien supported.

The rest of the meeting was long and boring. Small council meetings were beyond tedious. Lucien yearned to lead the meetings himself rather than having to interject at every point. At long last it was over. He joined with Stark as the group departed.

"Lord Stark, a moment of your time." They walked side by side out of the antechamber into the throne room.

"That went rather well." Lucien remarked.

"That was well?"

"Other meetings were far more frustrating, the debt raises by the day."

"Does no one challenge Robert?"

"Few can challenge a King. Fewer can change a King's mind. Perhaps you can. He may listen to you. You do not want the King's money wasted. I want our loans repaid. There is common cause there. Together we could mold this realm back into proper shape. Perhaps I was hasty in my warnings, a mixture of Northern and Southern leadership could inspire tough but fair governance."

Lord Stark replied, "I desire no strife with you Lord Lannister, as long as the best interest of the King and the realm is addressed."

"I assure you a stable realm is my concern. Only the evil desire chaos and war over peace and stability. When I wage war it is out of duty rather than desire."

Lucien made an effort to soften his face. Stark looked tired and beaten down. He stopped and the look on his face compelled Eddard to stop as well. The two of them faced each other in the middle of the throne room, the Iron Throne was looming in the distance.

"I offer you my sincere sympathies Lord Stark. I lost an infant in the cradle, I pray your Brandon makes a recovery in haste. A kind young lad." Eddard studied Lannister's face intently, but it was sincere.

"My sympathies for your child. If the Gods will it, Brandon will wake again."

"The gods can find it in themselves to show mercy to you and keep an innocent boy in this world a while longer. But we shouldn't linger on such thoughts, there is enough death in this city."

"The realm is at peace. Who is dying?"

"You would be surprised at the number of corpses that are thrown into Blackwater Bay during peace time." Lucien responded seriously.

They were now alone in the throne room, and Lucien extended his hand towards the Iron Throne looming above them. "Welcome to Kings Landing my Lord Hand, may your gods be with you".

Stark looked very serious. "A change of culture is in order. At its current state the realm will not be stable much longer."

Could he actually be an unwitting ally? Most likely not, common causes rarely last. In the most plausible positive scenario for Stark's vision, how detrimental to House Lannister would that vision be? How much influence could be gained? How much influence would be lost?

Lucien gave Eddard the smallest hint of a bow before walking away. "I wish you the best Lord Hand. Kings Landing is a difficult beast to wrangle. Very unpredictable. There are no friends. Previous allies are paid off. Schemers plot in the shadows. A single day can change everything. You can certainly try."

Lysa

"'The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms' that is what Lord Stark asked for and what I provided for him." The Grand Maester reported in his feeble tone. "The same book the Lord Jon Arryan asked for shortly before his passing."

"A genealogy? Why would John Arryan be interested in history, and why would that interest be significant enough to gain Lord Stark's attention?" Lysa inquired.

"A queer inquiry, why use it unless to place a claim to a title of land. Arryn and Stark do not strike me as men who would do such a thing." Lucien said intently. He had an intentionally sharp voice and his impatience was growing.

It had been two weeks since Eddard Stark had arrived. In that time no noticeable changes had occurred. The animosity that Lysa had feared was not present. Lannister and Stark were both frustrated, but not at each other. But this book was strange.

"My Lord, my Lady…I could not…I could not discern…the nature of…"

"Grand Maester." Lucien interjected, he was clearly annoyed. "We are alone, if my wife were not to be trusted then she would not be here. Speak plain."

The old man responded by straightening his back and practically transforming before Lysa's eyes.

"Thank you my Lord Lannister. The act can be tiresome." Pycelle replied with astute confidence and diction.

"No motive for the book is clear, despite its strange circumstances. I will have a look at this book when Stark is finished. Though without a notion of its importance I doubt I will be able to discover anything." Lucien said with a hint of anger seeping into his voice.

"I live to serve My Lord, My Lady. Strange actions are always worth investigating. I have seen developments from strange matters numerous times over the years."

The Grand Maester regained his slumped, feeble look before departing.

Lysa looked over to her husband. He was patient, but the cracks were beginning to show. He despised this city as much as she did, despite his talent for politics.

On top of it all, the King was getting on his nerves. The tournament of the Hand would commence despite the opposition. King Robert had also taken to calling Lucien 'The ugly Lannister' and slapping him on the back whenever they crossed paths. It would irritate anyone.

The real ugly Lannister had returned to Casterly Rock. It seemed Tyrion had seen enough of the Wall on his first trip and had departed with the King's Host before deviating towards the seat of House Lannister. It was for the best perhaps that Tyrion did not return to the capital. The dwarf's presence always put Lucien into a foul mood.

"It may be nothing, but this action from Lord Stark is too strange to ignore." Lysa said.

"It is bloody strange. I will not ignore it. A strange circumstance to be sure, but there is nothing that can be done regarding it, other than continuing to monitor Stark's actions."

"Men do not read genealogies for pleasure. There was something at work, Stark himself may not even know. He may be just as curious." Lysa stated before slowly sipping her wine. The days were long and they mostly found themselves shut up in Lucien's office, even taking meals there.

"All the more reason to be cautious." Lucien ground out. "Stark is not hostile, but his actions are moderately interesting. For example, I've learned of a man from Bravos that is new to the Red Keep. He happens to arrive in the same area of the Keep that young Arya Stark is for periods of time. I had asked her what she does to pass her time. Dancing instruction she told me."

"Dancing. Her, Oh please."

"Indeed, a very different sort of dancing." Lucien gave a humorless laugh before continuing. "That is what my spies have told me about Stark. Next to nothing, meaningless information. Next I will learn he reads genealogies as a past time."

"My Lord, you need time to yourself, to clear your head."

Years of such frustrating work would infuriate anyone. Especially when keeping up a strong public appearance.

Lucien looked over to her and seemed about to resist before rising to his feet and relenting "You are right. I am in need of recreation. My son should be eager for a sparring match. Nothing I do here now will be half as useful."

Lucien Lannister had been blessed with many things, but perfect eyesight was not one of them. Lysa noticed that in the ledgers provided by Peter Baelish, the markings over time became smaller and smaller to the point of bordering on illegible.

"Find some time for yourself, and then we shall find time together when the night arrives." He remarked before placing a kiss on her brow and leaving to the training yard to find his son. At this time, Gerrion had grown enough to give many a grown men a true challenge.

She sighed. She could leave and mingle with the other noblewomen, but her husband was clearly overworked and she had come to Kings Landing to aid him. The clearer his mind, the less work he had, the better chance that he would stay atop the political hierarchy of Kings Landing and all would be well.

Lysa could not wait for the pair of them to depart the city. To see her other children. They wrote her and all was well thus far. Soon Gerrion would marry Margery Tyrell and return to Casterly Rock. Philippa would either find a husband or return to the Rock as well.

Kings Landing was horrid. The people were horrid. It spoke volumes that the hours of pouring over ledgers were usually the highlights of her day. Occasionally she found time to speak with her children Philippa and Gerrion. But on a whole, time in Kings Landing was apprehensive. Like an eruption waiting to burst, peace never lasted forever.

On top of all of this, if Lysa had known that Peter Baelish had been Master of Coin, she would have feared this trip even more. The last thing she needed was to pay for mistakes she made when she was young and stupid. Lucien had not noticed she was not a virgin on their wedding night. That the fruit of that mistake had been aborted by her father. Baelish was ancient history and she needed to ensure it stayed that way.

A/N

In this story, Tyrion has already been to the Wall and has no reason to return there. Therefore, he will have left the North earlier and will not be at the Inn at the Crossroads.

Some of the Small Council dialogue is taken from the show. Pycelle's demenour is based on a Season 3 deleted scene.

The next chapter is planned to have a Eddard and Lucien POV.

A confrontation is not far away.

The peace will soon be over.