Eddard

This damned city is going to be the death of me.

It seemed there was no moment of respite. Just constant tension and a dark cloud of uncertainty that loomed over the day and muddled his dreams at night.

Jon Arryn's last actions while alive were suspicious and chilling. Reading a genealogy book and visiting the King's bastards were not normal activities for a man as busy as the King's Hand. Whenever there was time on his hands, Eddard dove into the genealogy book provided by Grand Maester Pycelle. If there was any relevance in that book it eluded him.

The tournament that no one wanted to pay for had gone on, due to the King's demand. The event had only lead to more uncertainty for Eddard. One man had died during the joust. The man had been a squire for Jon Aryan, and he was killed by Ser Gregor Clegane, a bannerman of House Lannister.

That was ominous enough, and Clegane proved himself a rabid dog. At the end of the tournament, when Clegane was unhorsed by Loras Tyrell, the 'Mountain that Rides' attacked the son of Lord Tyrell in full view of the audience. To say the least, it had caused an uproar. Lady Margery and her Grandmother, 'The Queen of Thorns', were in attendance. They were in the capital to prepare for the wedding of Margery and Gerrion Lannister. Under those circumstances, a Lannister bannerman's attempt to murder a Tyrell was scandalous to say the least. The Queen of Thorns had demanded retribution.

Lord Lucien did not attend the tournament, but when he learned about the near catastrophe involving his new ally, he was so wroth that he ordered his strongest military soldier to be executed. It took eight men to subdue and bind the beast of a man. Lannister had offered Sandor Clegane the chance to behead his brother. The animosity between the siblings was well known. But, Sandor Clegane demanded to kill his brother in open combat. Lord Lucien did not want to place a weapon in Gregor Clegane's hands, and the Lord ended up performing the execution personally since he did not have a headsman with him. It took three strikes to cut through Clegane's thick neck.

Lucien Lannister currently sat across from Eddard in the small council chambers. In the last week since the tournament and Clegane's execution, Lannister had been calm and composed to an unsettling degree. As if he were primed to lash out and murder the next person who vexed him.

It would not take long for that to come to pass. I cannot blame the man, he has a right to be furious. His family's gold is wasted, and Robert scorns him at every turn. If I did not doubt his intentions, I may pity him.

"I am afraid that recent expenses have exceeded our revenues beyond expectations this moon cycle. Lord Lannister, there simply is not enough gold for the thirty thousand dragon repayment." Littlefinger reported as if business were as usual.

Lannister's voice was calm, yet strained. "Does the King believe Lannister gold to be charity?"

"My brother does not understand finance. Counting coppers he calls it." Renly replied.

"Then perhaps he should waste his own House's coin." Lucien said dryly.

The marriage between Cersei and Robert is the only thing tying House Lannister to the crown. The debt gives the Lannisters some power in court, but they certainly are not content in their position.

"As Master of Coin, I have done all that is possible to generate sufficient revenues to repay the debt from your House." Littlefinger said smoothly.

"I grow tired of this mundane, repetitive dance. I suggest a tax on brothels, odd that they are largely exempt since you took your office." Lannister said sternly while staring Baelish down.

"House Lannister has heavily invested in the realm. That should not be ignored. If the agreed amount cannot be paid, a portion should still be provided as a sign of good faith." Eddard tried to negotiate.

Lucien waved him off "Much obliged Lord Stark, but I decline. Hold the repayment until three month's time from now. My son's wedding shall be held then. The crown will repay House Lannister one hundred thousand dragons at that time to cover the expense."

"My Lord, for such a lump sum our coffers may not be sufficient…" Littlefinger began to explain.

"I have given you time. You are a master of coin? Use that time to raise investments. Your repayments have failed one time to many. You will see it done, Baelish." Lannister said in an assured manner before rising and leaving the chambers. The rest of the small council followed him not long afterwards.

Eddard was prepared to depart to his office when Peter Baelish approached him. "Lord Stark, I bring news from your wife." From her? What are you talking about? Any message by raven would not go through you.

"My wife is at Winterfell."

"Is she?" Littlefinger flashed a smile before he walked past.


It was midday, yet he left the Red Keep and walked down the streets of Kings Landing. Discretion was difficult as he was Hand of The King. Even so, the people in the streets seemed to go about their business without incident. It still made Eddard nervous. So many eyes and ears. And too close to Catelyn, if Littlefinger is not pulling a jape.

Littlefinger finally turned around with a flourish as if giving a great presentation. "She is here. One of many fine establishments I own."

The building was clearly a brothel. You sniveling little worm. Eddard instinctively rammed Baelish against the wall of his establishment. Strong fingers wrapped around the Master of Coin's throat.

"You are a cleaver man." Ned said softly to Littlefinger "A funny cleaver man."

"Ned." The voice was above him. Only his family referred to him informally, and he could never forget the sound of that particular voice. He looked up with shock to see his wife Catelyn above him. For a moment he lost himself, before releasing Baelish and entering the building in haste.

Catelyn then told him her story. About the assassin with the Valyrian steel dagger. About the suspicions around Bran's fall. About the golden hair found in the tower above Bran's fallen body, and Baelish's claim of the assassin's dagger belonging to Tyrion Lannister.

The Lannisters, it always comes back to the Lannisters. The root of his suspicions regarding Jon Arryn, and now this.

"Our boy. Only ten years old, crippled for life. He saw something he was not meant to. Why else try to silence him? We must do something." Catelyn said with grief in her voice.

"Accusing the queen's brother of attempting to kill your boy would be considered treason." Littlefinger said seriously.

"We have proof. We have the blade." Catelyn said as she turned to face Baelish.

"That is not enough, we need more. Lord Lucien could cause turmoil in Kings Landing after such an accusation was made, and Lord Tywin has never let a slight go unanswered." Eddard interjected.

"The Imp will claim the blade was stolen from him. The only man who could say otherwise has no throat, thanks to your boy's wolf." Littlefinger remarked. The man who was usually quite glib was deadly serious in his tone.

"Petyr has promised to help us find the truth. He's like a little brother to me Ned, he would never betray my trust." Catelyn looked at Eddard imploringly. Littlefinger's persona caused automatic suspicion on his claims, but Catelyn vouched for the man. It was difficult to ignore Catelyn's intuition. Is the whoremaster playing a part? Can he truly be of help? Difficult circumstances create strange bedfellows.

"The Imp is safe behind the walls of Casterly Rock. Lord Tywin would defend his son and his House's reputation no matter the crimes committed, proven or otherwise." Eddard pointed out.

This is a dangerous game we are playing. A wrong move will spark disaster very quickly.

"I'll try to keep you alive Lord Stark, for Catelyn's sake. A fool's task admittedly, but I've never been able to refuse your wife anything." Littlefinger said with a bit of his haughty personality returning.

"I won't forget this. You are a true friend" Catelyn said sincerely as she referred to Baelish.

"You must take care Catelyn. For instance, your sister and her Lannister husband would be very interested if they learned that you were here." Littlefinger remarked.

Catelyn tensed at the mention of her sister. "Oh gods, Lysa." She said in despair.

"There is no indication of her involvement. She was many leagues away." Eddard said quickly to comfort her.

"She could not have any part of this. She could not." said Catelyn confidently, as if she were trying to convince herself. "There is no indication towards her husband either. Could Lord Lucien be involved in this?" Catelyn asked.

"That is unknown, but I know this, Lucien Lannister desires power and he is on the cusp of receiving it. There was no hesitation when he executed a valuable bannerman when there was a threat to a Tyrell alliance. He will not jeopardize such opportunities. Many men kill for what they want, and Lannister is most certainly a killer. Even if his brother has committed a crime, he is obligated to come to the Imp's defense using any means necessary." Littlefinger said grievously.


Lucien

Lucien snarled as he paced about the bedroom. Behind him, he head his wife shuffle uncomfortably behind him. A moment passed while he seethed in anger. He had summoned her to their chambers, the topics to be discussed were too important to be in his office. At last he approached his wife. Every word spoken would be soft and in close proximity to the recipient.

His mood was beyond foul. Kings Landing was aggravating at the best of times and these times were certainly not the best. Gregor Clegane had lost his life due to blood lust. Lucien needed to act, he did not arrange the union between Tyrell and Lannister only for it to be undone by one untamed brute. Lucien was given permission by Lord Tywin to act with a Lord's authority, and the decision to behead Clegane fell into that circumstance. If Clegane could not be controlled, it made Lucien and his authority look weak. His father made few mistakes, but Lucien believed that Gregor Clegane was one of them. He should have been executed the moment that he showed his true nature by defiling Elia Martell. His skill on the battlefield was not worth a dilemma of this magnitude.

And on top of this, these new circumstances he learned of this afternoon were intriguing, baffling, and infuriating.

His wife was soon by his side "Do not torture me with such suspense. Why summon me? What angers you?"

In Kings Landing there was nothing more valuable than a spy network and Lucien ensured he had one of the best. And it proved its worth today.

"The Council meeting was early in the morning. After it, Stark decided to walk the streets of the city."

Stark had taken a similar trip earlier. Lucien had demanded Stark be trailed, and that route had taken him to a blacksmith. That did not seem unusual, except Stark spoke for an ample length of time, purchased nothing, and upon inspection the blacksmith's apprentice looked very much like Robert Baratheon. Lucien marked the boy as a person of interest, no reason to move against the boy. But if there was a hint of political activity towards Gendry Waters, then the boy would lose his life.

Lucien continued "Petyr Baelish accompanied him. An odd choice for a companion. At the end of their journey, they both entered one of Baelish's brothels."

Lysa's face grew red, her voice remained low but it came out in a hiss. "Fucking hypocrite. The honorable Eddard Stark. He walks into a brothel in broad fucking daylight. Publicly shaming my sister. That…"

She stopped abruptly and glared at him in confusion before asking. "Why do you care? Why are you angry?"

"Because my spy informed me that Lord Stark had a scuffle with Littlefinger. That is until a women poked her head out of a window to stop him. Catelyn Stark. Your sister is in the capital. In a brothel owned by Petyr Baelish. In secret."

Lysa's eyes grew wide and her fingers began to twitch. Long moments passed.

"You are certain?"

"My information is accurate."

"To travel all the way from Winterfell. What would prompt such a journey?" She wondered aloud. She paused in deep thought.

"I will speak to Philippa." Lysa said calmly, she was shaken, but she adopted a calm presence. "She will bring up family while speaking with the Stark daughters on the morrow and days afterwards. Our Philippa is perceptive, if there is not a noticeable reaction from the Stark children…"

"If Lady Catelyn attempts to leave the capital without meeting with her daughters after coming all this way…" He stopped speaking and stared hard into his wife's eyes before continuing, "That would stink of a conspiracy."

"A conspiracy of what, we would need more information." Lysa said.

"Something to share with her husband that was worth the travel. Enough to leave her children behind in Winterfell and not trust the contents in a letter."

They stared silently at one another in thought.

"Cat told me the most important thing in her life was her children, she was attached to Lord Stark as well. A threat to their safety could have been sufficient to entice her to travel in secret." Lysa said slowly.

"She left a son who was crippled and to my knowledge, comatose. She would have thought that threat to be credible in order to make such a decision….or she has lost her mind with grief."

"My sister is not a fool." Lysa said sternly causing Lucien to raise his eyebrows in surprise.

"I did not say foolish, but perhaps grieving and irrational." After he spoke he could feel the anger from earlier leaving his voice, and his customary cold confidence began to return.

"This may very well not involve us at all, but this cannot be ignored. Such extreme circumstances are usually followed by extreme actions." Lucien said coldly. He noted that his tone was making Lysa uncomfortable.

"Would Lord Stark really cause disruption in the realm?" Lysa asked.

"Many men and women would cause disruption to get what they want. Myself included, and Lord Stark is no exception. If it were twisted in his mind that it would be the honorable thing, then yes he would."

Lysa reached out to him, "I shall be vigilant my Lord, I shall not sit on my hands and prattle on like a simple minded harlot, let me aid you in any way I can."

"It may be prudent to return you to Casterly Rock."

Lysa looked initially offended and then turned resolute. "No my Lord. If ill will is to be done here I shall face it with you in strength, and if it is irrelevant I shall aid you in any way all the same. I long to be elsewhere, but my place is here."

She spoke with fervor. Lucien could not help but be drawn towards her after her words.

His voice began with a tone of admiration towards his wife. "Seventeen years ago, I would not have predicted you to be so fierce. In the face of uncertainty it is imperative to strengthen our position. Gerrion is to be married at once. To hell with an extravagant wedding, I will have it done now. To ensure the Reach is firmly at our beck and call."

He paused his declaration to briefly consider if he should bother to tell Lysa about his anger towards Petyr Baelish. Ultimately he decided too.

"Littlefinger's connection to these circumstances troubles me. If a plot of any significant effect was conducted under his roof, then my patience with Lord Baelish is at an end. You grew up with the man, would you disapprove of his end?" He studied her face for any reaction, any indication that the rumors regarding her were true. Her face was a blank mask.

"Those years are long gone. A different girl, a different life. The brothel owner is nothing to me. If you declare that he deserves death, then he dies." Lysa said in a serious tone that nearly put a smile on Lucien's face.

She kept the serious tone "And if this plot…assuming it is a plot and assuming it involves House Lannister…comes to fruition…who else would suffer the consequences?"

He approached even closer and embraced her while whispering in her ear. "You have heard the 'Reins of Castamere' many times. I am my father's son. I will defend my name, my blood, the realm, and I will defend you. All who oppose these things will be punished accordingly. Nothing will touch our legacy, I swear this to you."

She looked at him solemnly, "Do what must be done, no matter the action, I shall stand by your side."

Lucien ran his fingers through her hair and whispered so softly that Lysa would have had to concentrate to hear clearly. "I have been stymied by a fat fool for too long. No more. It is time to take the first true step towards power. Our influence will last for generations. All of House Lannister's grievances with the crown will soon be at a end. That I can promise."


A/N

Next Chapter will be a Sansa POV, as a large change will impact Kings Landing.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Have a Happy Holiday Season!