Seventh Month of 285 A.C. King's Landing

Lady Lyarra Stark

King's Landing was a different place to Winterfell that much she had always known, especially from the tales her father had told her. The Red Keep was alive with gossip and intrigue, someone was always plotting something and observing who was plotting and who was trying to keep themselves out of the working of the intrigues. She and her husband did both thoroughly enjoy the game and being a part of it, that they were players now and not pawns was something of a relief to her, after all the chaos that had come from the She Wolves of Winterfell and their aftermath. House Stark was growing stronger and with winter here, they could only grow more powerful.

That was good, as far as she was concerned for it meant her grandson would not have to grow up in fear. Sometimes she looked at her grandson the king and wondered what madness had driven her daughter to run away with the prince. Her daughter had always been fierce and proud a true she wolf, someone who had not really ever given way to songs or such romantic fantasies as other girls her age would have done. But according to Benjen that had change at Harrenhal, where that silver haired idiot had sung some song or the other and had led her daughter to cry. Letters had been exchange and what had come to be had come to be, but sometimes Lyarra often wondered how things could have been different had her daughter tried to come to her about the betrothal rather than to her father. But then she would look at her grandson and try to shake such thoughts from her head.

Her grandson was a delightful child, he was two name days old now and was quite the sight tottering around the Red Keep giggling in that way children do about whatever took his fancy. He could talk now and would often say phrases that made no sense to anyone but him, but he was just adorable. His curls, where had they come from? Where something that made him look even more adorable. Yes he would grow up to be a fine young man with none of the insecurities his mother had had, Lyarra was determined to see to that. Just as she was determined to ensure that there were no threats externally to her babe. Her husband had his ways and she had hers.

Her ladies in waiting were some of the biggest people prone to gossiping that she had ever met. Especially Lady Mina Tyrell wife of Paxter Redwyne. Whom right now was speaking about something or the other her husband had come and complained to her of. "But of course Paxter has this way about him as most men do, that whenever he is confronted with a problem that he knows not how to solve with his fists, he wants to swat it away. And of course this problem cannot go away because it is a fixture here at court."

"And what problem is that my lady?" Lyarra asks intrigued.

"He is nervous about the presence of Lord Velaryon and the supposed threat that this man might well bring about to his own position." Lady Mina says.

Interest is piqued by this and Lyarra asks. "And why does Lord Paxter feel that Lord Monford is a threat? The man is his understudy I would give you that, but there is nothing to suggest the man is a threat."

Lady Mina looks as if she has said too much but she seems to realise that she cannot go anywhere else and so she continues. "He fears the closeness between Lord Velaryon and the Lord Regent, and the fact that he was merely appointed to appease my own brother. Mace has not been quite content with the hand he has been dealt and my husband feels he will suffer for it."

Interesting way to look at it, Lyarra thinks. "Well your husband need not worry, there is nothing that will stop him from serving as master of ships for a long time to come. Velaryon is a green boy at this point in time and even when he gets experience there will be no chance for him to advance unless gods forbid Lord Redwyne dies."

Lady Mina nods and says. "Thank you my lady, I shall remind Paxter of that."

Lyarra nods and then turns to Cersei Lannister who has remained here as her husband Ser Tybolt Lannister the Lord of Castamere is serving as a member of the treasury. She asks the lady. "So my lady, how are you finding married life? Is Ser Tybolt as good as Robert Baratheon was?"

An inflammatory question if ever there was one, but one asked to provoke a reaction. The Lannister girl's lip curves up somewhat but her voice is perfectly normal when she says. "Oh he is much better my lady. He knows where to put it sober as well as drunk, though he is nowhere near the drunkard my late husband was. The conversation we have is much better as well. Less grunting and more talking about things that count."

There is some laughter then, and Lyarra asks. "And when should we expect to see some little Lannisters walking about?"

The girl smiles then and says. "Very soon my lady, very soon indeed."

Lyarra nods and then asks. "You must be very happy for your brother. His betrothal to Mariah Banefort is something that will definitely help bring about stability and peace to the Westerlands. Though I must admit I find it curious, the Baneforts did little during the rebellion and yet your father deems them worthy of the hand of the heir to the Rock. And not the lady Ashara whom Ser Jaime clearly favours."

She knows she has hit a nerve when the girl's eyes narrow and her voice becomes somewhat curt. "Jaime and Lady Ashara are but friends, they were both here during Aerys reign and as such it makes sense that they would be friends. The Baneforts are powerful bannermen and my father merely wishes to see them happy and for peace to return."

Lyarra nods clearly seeing the lie for what it was. She turns to another lady who is part of her little court, Lady Daella Staunton wife to Simon Staunton and asks her. "My lady, you have been awfully quiet. How are things between you and Lord Simon?"

A harmless question. The lady Daella is silent a moment and then says. "Well, we are both well my lady thank you for asking. There is some interesting news and tidings that I think we might all find interesting. Prince Lewyn's old paramour has been found in the Street of Silk plying her trade and working to keep her bastard son going. It is said Prince Oberyn visits her often to ensure something or the other."

"Prince Lewyn had a bastard son and a paramour?" Lady Mina asks. "But I had thought the Kingsguard were not allowed to sleep with anyone."

"Some men are less likely to stick to all their vows than others my lady." Lyarra says. "But Prince Lewyn was a good man and it is good to know his family is looking out for his own. What more have you learnt from this?"

"It appears that there are several clients who have been visiting the woman. One of them is said to have blonde hair and green eyes. And for a time was mistaken as a Lannister but confessed to being a bastard. It seems he is using the establishment where Prince Lewyn's paramour lives to conduct business and illegal dealings. Simon has been looking into it." Daella replies.

They are all silent as they consider this latest piece of gossip, is it possible? Are the bastards who tried to kill Jonothor back here in King's Landing? That would be suicide. Lady Daella looks at her then as if knowing her own thoughts and says softly. "The man it seems comes and goes, but often asks after someone known as Cella."

Lyarra looks at Cersei Lannister then and by the way her movements have stopped and her eyes are wide, that name means something to her. What it is Lyarra knows not and she won't find out for at that moment, Ser Mark Ryswell of the Kingsguard enters the room and says. "My lady, Lord Regent Rickard Stark has requested your presence in his solar." Lyarra stands and nods to her ladies promising to see them later.

As she and Ser Mark walk along to her husband's solar she asks him. "How much of that did you hear Mark?"

"Enough to know that sooner or later the Lannisters will be done for." The knight known as the black stallion replied.

Lyarra laughed then and said. "Oh, definitely. They have become careless if they think we do not know what is to happen now."

Further conversation between the two of them stops when they arrive at her husband's solar Mark bows and then stands guard outside, when she enters she finds her husband sat in the great chair that resembles the winter throne, Ser Gerold stands by his side. Lyarra sits down and then says. "Did you know that the Lannister bastard is back in King's Landing?"

Her husband nods. "Aye I did. I have asked Oberyn to look into the matter. Whomever this man is, we shall find out and deal with him accordingly."

Lyarra nods and then says. "Redwyne is worried about his position on the small council. He suspects Velaryon is going to try and remove him from the position."

Her husband seems surprised by this. "And he told his wife all of this and she told you? By the gods, the woman knows how to talk."

Lyarra laughs slightly. "Aye but she is the daughter of the queen of thorns so I would definitely be careful with what we take as truth from her. I told her to reassure her husband that Monford would not come close to his position. But that might mean our plans will need to move forward somewhat."

Rickard nods. "The Stepstones are causing more and more problems for us, trade is beginning to lessen as a result of the damn tolls these Tyroshi are imposing on the ships. We must remove them soon. Paxter could be perfect for the job, and if he were to be removed from the equation whilst serving there is not much one could do about it."

"Has Rodrik not been able to sort out the issue?" she asks surprised.

"No. it seems he is too busy wenching to be of service to the family anymore. We must find a new agent there and someone who can rival the eunuch if he still lives as well." Her husband replies.

"So when will you send Paxter out to deal with the Tyroshi?" she asks.

"I need to wait for Bartimus Celtigar to return from Lys first and once he is back that is when I shall send Paxter. Should something go wrong that would give us the chance to replace one Tyrell man with one of our own. It would also mean that Tyrosh and Lys would be cowering at the thought of an attack by the Iron Throne." Her husband responds.

Lyarra smiles at her husband then and says. "A perfect plan my love. But we must convince Paxter to volunteer for the mission when it comes. I shall speak to his wife about it, suggesting that if he wants to prove his worth he should do something like this. She would be too eager to go for it as well."

Her husband nods and then they both look at Ser Gerold who says. "I shall speak with my great nephew and get him to work on Redwyne as well."

They both nod and as the man leaves the room Lyarra comes and sits in her husband's lap and whispers to him. "Soon we shall need to welcome Benjen and talk with him. For the town is going well is it not my love?"

Her husband nods and in between kisses says. "Aye, when he comes we shall talk about his future."