THE TOURNEY

CERSEI

The journey back to King's Landing was very awkward and then Joffrey heard the Stark children talking about how he is to be stripped of the crown and his brother Tommen named the heir in his place. "Mother!" Cersei is in her room at the cross roads inn, where the King's Party had stopped to rest.

"Joffrey what is it?"

"I heard those filthy Stark children talking. Father is going name Tommen his heir." He says crying.

"Hush my son. Remember what I taught you?"

"That I was born into a legacy that will last a thousand years."

She smiles, "Yes and Lannisters always pay their debts." She says hugging him. Cersei confronts Robert when they reach the Capital. "How could you? He's your son!"

"He hit Sansa Stark and called her a bitch…Do you think Ned would allow Joffrey to stay betrothed to his daughter. Do you know the hell Catelyn Stark would put her husband through had the betrothal stayed in place?"

"He's a boy!"

"A Prince who hit a Lady of the realm! Tommen will be King after me and that is all to it!"

"And what of the tournament? This tourney is to celebrate Joffrey's betrothal to the Stark girl. How would it look if during the feasts, the two of them avoided one another?"

"Since when do you care about what others think?" Eventually Cersei storms out and as she does a plan forms in her mind and she goes to see her brother.

"You want me to do what?" He asks after she tells him her plan.

"Drop out of the Tourney. I am going to pay each Knight Joffrey faces to take a fall."

"He's only thirteen!"

"But he has trained to joust. And he has enough skill to knock men on their asses."

"The draws are random."

"Do they have to be?"

JOFFREY

Joffrey is in his room getting ready for the Tourney. Then his mother comes in, "Leave us!"

"Mother…How do I look?"
"Handsome as always…the future of Houses Lannister and Baratheon. Now listen to me…Your Uncle Jaime is withdrawing from the tourney and you will ride in the tourney and win."

"Why? How?"

"I have arranged to pay the overseer to fix the draw. Every man you will face will take a fall. All you have to do is make a good showing."

"But the minimum age to participate in the tourney is sixteen."

"Unless you can prove that you can stay your horse in an exhibition joust. Which will be fixed as well. Now when you win…the tourney crown Sansa Stark the Queen of beauty."

"Yes mother."

When Joffrey shows up for the exhibition joust, Jon Stark is present along with several other young men under the age of sixteen. "What are you doing here bastard?"

"I am going to joust."

There are eleven boys under the age of sixteen including Joffrey and Jon. The first boy up is of House Valeryon. He is fifteen and his name is Aurane. In order to qualify one must take a lance to the chest, shoulder, and head, without falling off their horse. Aurane rides the line and is struck in the head. The strikes are in random order. They check to see if Aurane is alright to continue and he is. Next he is hit in the shoulder and then the chest. In all three hits he remains on his horse.

Joffrey takes his turn after the fourth boy who fell from his horse. Joffrey mounts his horse and as he does Robert, Cersei, Jaime, Ser Barristan, and Jon Arryn show up to watch. The first hit is to the head and he remains on his horse, the second to his chest and the last to his shoulder. "Did you see father!"

He smiles, "Yes I saw…I was seventeen at the Tourney of Harrenhal…You do me proud boy."

"Jon Stark!"

"Bastard! Come lets go." Cersei grumbles.

"No I want to see mother."

"So do I." Robert says

JON

The first hit is to his shoulder, the second to his chest, and the last his head. Jon stays his horse and qualifies. The boys that qualify are Joffrey, Aurane, Jon, Lucas of House Darry, Brion of House Tarth, Edgar Marbrand, and Vincent a Noble youth of Volantis age fourteen. Jon is in his tent using his warging abilities to see through the eyes of a ferret he bought upon arriving in King's Landing. He watches as Cersei talks to Lord Ian Lorch. "I am going to arrange for you to face the Stark boy…Hurt him and hurt him badly."

"Can't I just kill him? Accidents happen all the time."

"No injure him!"

He commands the ferret to return to him and after it does, Jon gets ready. The Knights parade before King Robert and the nobles, receiving cheers, as banners are waved by people from the regions they support. First up is the archery contest, which lasts one day and is won by Theon Greyjoy. The sword contest is won by Jaime Lannister which took three days. "My Lords and Ladies…I give the Joust!" The Herald announces. "First up is Ser Loras of House Tyrell will face Ser Wallyn of House Frey. Wallyn is unhorsed in one lance.

The next riders are Lyn Cobray and Kanon Pile of the Crownlands. He was recently knighted by Lord Stokeworth. Kanon loses after two Lances. Then Prince Joffrey takes the field riding his White Horse. Coins had been passed around to the smallfolk to cheer when his name is called. Joffrey waves to the people as his opponent appears on the other end of the field riding a grey horse.

"Prince Joffrey of House Baratheon! Ser Raynold of House Rosby!"

The flag is dropped and Joffrey kicks his horse into a gallop. Joffrey is hit in the shoulder, but he catches Raynold in the chest unhorsing him in one lance. Anyone with a good eye can see that Raynold threw the match, but Robert was drinking and did not see it. He stood and clapped for his son to the cheers and claps of the crowd.

After nine more matches it was Jon's turn and he rides against Lord Patrek Mallister of Seagard. Jon lands a blow to the head and leans away to avoid his own blow to the head. The next ride is hits to the chest from both. On the third Lance Jon hits him in the head again unhorsing him. Jon wears chainmail made of Valyrion steel and over that he wears leather armor; and over that is a tunic with a heart tree on it to honor his mother, who was the Knight of the laughing tree. The Valyrian chainmail was given to him by Lord Velaryon.

At sunset the last match is between Garlan Tyrell and the Strong Boar Ser Lyle Crakehall. Jon watches from sidelines as the two men break lance after lance against one another. In the fifth lance The Strong Boar unhorses Ser Garlan Tyrell. At sunrise the next day Jon is first to tilt against Ian Lorch. As they take positions Jon Wargs Ian's horse and makes the horse run before the flag is dropped, an automatic Lance for Jon' who urges his horse into a run. Jon makes his horse jump when they reach one another. Everyone stands up as Jon points his Lance down striking Ian Lorch in the head and knocking him unconscious.

"By the gods did you see that?" Robert bellows standing up.

"JON STARK! JON STARK! JON STARK!" Both nobles and Smallfolk chant. As he rides by the King's stand Jon raises his Lance and winks at the Queen. The joust lasts four days and the finalists are Prince Joffrey, Jon Stark, Aurane Velaryon, Ser Loras Tyrell, Lyn Cobray, Ser Willard Frey, Ser James Cord Knight of Lannisport, and Ser Brion of Tarth. The first two are Brion of Tarth and James Cord. Cord is unseated after three lances. Then Lyn Cobray and Loras Tyrell who uses a female Horse that is in heat to get the advantage over his opponent. After the match Cobray walks up to Loras and pulls him off his horse. Then he slaps him with his glove.

"You Ser are a cheat! You have no honor and I demand a duel!" He pulls off his glove, slaps Loras and throws it down.

Before Loras can respond his brother joins him, "If it's blood you want! You will face me Ser!"

"I can fight my own battles brother!" Loras looks at Lyn Cobray, "Tomorrow at Dawn…You will die!"

"Agreed."

After everything settles down, Jon has his match with Aurane Velaryon. Aurane is the same age as Jon ten and five. Jon sits his horse and as soon as the flag drops his horse breaks into a run. Jon hits Aurane in the chest and he is hit on the shoulder. They ride over and over again evenly matched in skill and strength. "This match will be settled with the sword!" The Herald announces. Jon stands on one side of the jousting divide and Aurane stands on the other side, both have their swords drawn. The first to score a blow wins. After seven moves, Jon strikes a blow on the upper left arm.

"Well fought." Jon says.

"Well fought."

BRION

Brion is actually Brienne of Tarth, daughter of Lord Selwyn Tarth; she in his tent changing. Someone enters her tent causing her to turn around, "Father!"

"I am proud of you my daughter so proud."

She smiles and they hug, "Thank you father." As Joffrey and Ser Willard face off, Brion is summoned by the Queen to her tent.

She enters and bows, "My Queen."

"Ser Brion or should I say Lady Brienne."

Brienne is wearing a helm to hide the features of her face. She removes her helm, "How did you know?"

"Anyone with good eyes can see you are female. How old are you?"

"Ten and eight. I guess you want me to throw the match if I face your son…Anyone with good eyes can tell that all his opponents threw their matches against the Prince."

"Be careful Lady Brienne. I asked you here to order you to drop out of the tourney. That way Jon Stark faces off against two opponents."

"And if I do not?"

"I will tell everyone that you are a woman…Both you and your father will be disgraced."

"And what is to stop you from speaking, once I do as you ask."

"My word as your Queen."

"I will give you my answer at my next match." Brienne bows and leaves. When she returns to her tent Jon Stark is waiting. "Can I help you Lord Stark?"

"Lady Brienne…I have something to tell you."

Even as she mounts her horse to face Loras Tyrell, Brienne's mind is reeling from what she learned. She was going to face Ser Loras no matter what, but after speaking to Aegon Targaryen and the offer he made she changed her mind. When the flag is dropped Brienne lowers her lance and raises her hand.

"Why?" Her father asks in private, "You could have won it all."

She sighs, "I found another way to get what I want father."

JON

He promised her a Knighthood and a place in his King's Guard to drop out of the Joust. Now Jon faces Ser Loras Tyrell. Since Loras cheated, Jon feels justified in warging his horse, not that he needed to. He unhorses Loras in one lance. After an hour of rest Jon is to face Prince Joffrey. Most of the Nobles cheer for Joffrey when his name is called. The commoners despite being paid, cheer for Jon Stark.

Jon smiles and charges down the field after the flag is dropped. Joffrey hit Jon on the shoulder, but Jon hits him in the head and unhorses Prince Joffrey. "Joffrey!" Cersei screams running down to his side. They carry his unconscious body off the tourney grounds on a shield. As they do Cersei looks at Jon with hot burning hatred.

Jon takes the crown of flowers and gives it to Lady Margaery Tyrell, naming her the Queen of beauty and love. But in his heart he wished he could give it to his betrothed Daenarys. The next morning Jon boards a ship with fifty Stark guards to sail to Dorne.

LORAS/LYN

That morning Loras meets Lyn Cobray on the Tourney grounds for their duel. King Robert, along with many Nobles and commoners come to watch as well. Loras' brother stands as his second and Lyn's Squire stands as his. "Ser Cobray…If you let this go I will pay you five thousand gold Dragons." Mace Tyrell says.

"The boy made his bed and now he must lie in it or die in it."
Randyl Tarly of Hornhill walks up to Loras. He and Loras' Grandmother, Olenna Tyrell were friends as children. "Take my sword Ser Loras…It is Valyrian steel…I hope it serves you well as it has me."

The two step into the circle, "Heartsbane…" Lyn says drawing his sword, "Behold Lady Forlorn…She has caused the weeping of many mothers, sisters, and wives. Fitting that you should wield a sword of Valyrian steel…Perhaps this will be a worthy challenge."

Both men strike at the same time. Their swords making a distinctive sound, almost music like when they hit. Garlan shakes his head as he can tell that Cobray is toying with his brother. But when Loras draws first blood, Lyn steps back, wipes the blood with his hand, licks it with his tongue and spits. "I'm going to enjoy taking you piece by piece."

Lyn attacks moving faster than he had been. He had truly been holding back. His blade catches Loras above his hip. Then he slashes Loras on the cheek and hits him so hard in the head that Loras loses his helmet and falls to the ground after being stabbed in the leg. Cobray twists the blade, before yanking it out. He raises his sword to finish Loras off.

Loras' mother Alerie Tyrell screams, "Loras!"

"The fight is over Ser Cobray…Mercy!" Garlan says running up to his brother, kneeling down at his side and waving a white cloth.

"Mercy will be shown if he confesses his foolishness."

"Loras confess…Please." Garlan begs.

"Never!"

"As you wish."

Garlan snatches Heartsbane off the ground and swings, but Lyn blocks and slashes Garlan's throat. "NO!" Alerie yells feinting.

Later Loras is in a healing tent being attended by a Maester. "Because of your arrogance, pride, and desire to win at all costs. Your brother is dead!" Alerie yells.

"Alerie that is enough!" Mace says and looks at the Maester. "Will he walk again?"

He sighs, "He will need a cane to walk...His leg is ruined. The bone was split when he twisted the sword. I am sorry my Lord."

"I will write mother! She will know what to do." Alerie says.

Lyn sheaths his sword, "My honor is restored." He says walking away, as the Tyrells rush to the two Tyrell brothers. One dead and the other badly wounded.