Chapter four

Defanging the cub

As Ned approached King's Landing it was not the smell that affected him, as it did his daughters, it was the memories that assaulted him. The last time he was here was to liberate the city only to find it already sacked by Tywin Lannister and his men. As the train of people edged closer, he saw corners where last time there were bodies piled higher than him. Alley ways where there were screams of women. Therefore, Ned startled as he heard shouting but this time it was more positive with the smallfolk praising the king and oddly even himself even though he hadn't done anything as hand of the king yet. As he heard these, he looked at Joffrey and raised an eyebrow as if to say look to be loved is better. Ned saw Joffrey looking around in deep thought so he pulled close and spoke.

"Look my prince the small folk love your father and a small folk who love the king don't cause a problem for the king." And with that he pulled away to leave his words to sink in to the pampered prince. Ned had tried each day to council him on the honourable way to behave but he still didn't believe that the prince listened to a single word he had said. Joffrey embodied all of the worse traits of both of his parents; he was spoiled, he was selfish, he was mean and he believed that he was above all overs. As the party arrived at the Red Keep, a place that Ned had believed he would never return to, all he wanted was to have a hot bath and a good sleep. Alas he was soon whisked into a small council meeting, that Robert walked off from telling him "You're the hand go manage my realm."

Ned walked slowly up to the small council chamber lost in his memories of this castle. He wondered if his brother and his father had walked these same halls before they had been brutally murdered. As always thoughts of his family led to Jon, he couldn't believe that the same man who had burned his father alive and forced his brother to strangle himself was related to the kind and thoughtful boy he had raised. Throughout Jon's life he had kept an eye on his behaviour waiting to see if the Targaryen madness was present in his sister's son. He breathed a sigh of relief when it had failed to materialise and his Stark blood was strong. Ned was aware that his upbringing and strict moral code had helped to mould Jon and hoped the same could be true for the crown prince or Ned knew the realm would suffer as they had under the mad king. As he reached the doors to the chamber Ned drew a large breath and pulled himself together, he knew he was in the snake pit and could not show any weakness in front of these people.

He pushed the doors open and observed the people within. Pycelle was balding but with a long grey beard and was feigning sleep, chin to his chest, although Ned could see him peaking from below his lashes. Varys was as he always was; perfumed, powdered and dressed in silk. He sat at the table arms crossed with a neutral expression although Ned could detect a slight note of interest on his face. Renly the current master of laws was sat in his chair like he couldn't wait to be anywhere else, just like his brother Ned thought. Little finger was there too as master of coin and Ned knew that this man once had an interest in his wife and even fought his brother for her when it was him betrothed to Cat. Baelish was sat forward hands clasped and a smirk on his face that immediately put Ned in a bad mood.

"Where is the rest of the council?" Ned asked.

"Stannis fled to Dragonstone when Jon Arryn became ill and no letter has stirred him yet Lord Hand." Varys supplied straight away. "And Sir Barristan has just arrived and is still with the king."

"What was so urgent that I was called here before I could visit my new chambers." Ned asked.

"The king wishes a tourney. In honour of his brother becoming his hand." Renly said with the scorn clear in his voice. "There is to be no expense spared and it is to be as soon as possible."

"A tourney? I don't need a tourney. I am here to do my job and manage the realm. I have also promised Robert that I will help Joffrey become a man worth being king." Ned said strongly.

Everyone scoffed, even the still pretending Pycelle, who quickly coughed to cover it and jolted awake. "Oh, My Lord you've arrived."

"Save it Pycelle." Renly said. "Lord Hand, we commend you for your commitment to the crown but you must be misinformed. Joffrey is a cruel child; he disembowelled a pregnant cat and showed the King the kittens as if he would be proud. He bullies his siblings something terribly and they are only the things that his lady mother hasn't been able to cover up."

Ned was shocked he knew the prince had some character flaws but he had no idea how bad the situation was. However, he had given his word and it was on him to fix the prince. He only hoped that having the Queen away for a year would be beneficial.

"Thank you for the information my lord. I gave the King my word and I mean to keep it. The Queen has been sent back to Casterly Rock for a year and I believe being the only role model for the prince may help him. Now about this tourney, I am aware of the debt the crown is in and I will be talking to you about that Lord Baelish, but I also know when Robert has set his mind to something it is not to be changed so I will leave it in your capable hands my lords. I only ask that it does not cost too much as the realm cannot afford it. If that is all I will be going to my daughters and we can convene tomorrow to discuss the ways we can fix Robert's kingdom." With this he got up and walked out. 'Bloody southerners and their games.' He thought bitterly.


The next morning Ned woke up with the sun and readied himself for the day after breaking his fast with his daughters he headed towards the royal chambers. He stopped when he saw Jamie Lannister at one of the doors.

"Kingslayer, I am looking for Prince Joffrey which room is his?" Ned disliked the kingslayer immensely as he believed not only had he broken his vows but also if he had done his duty properly, he could have protected Elia, Rhaenys and Aegon and Jon wouldn't be alone in Westeros. Jamie didn't look at Ned as he just pointed down the corridor and Ned continued. When he came across Ser Boros Blount and repeated his question.

"These are the prince's room. He is not to be disturbed." Blount said looking nervous at denying the hand of the king.

"Ser, Prince Joffrey is now my ward by order of the king. I start my day early and so shall he. Now move aside please and I shall wake the prince." Ned waited as he could see the conflict on the knight's face before he must have decided it was not worth angering both him and King Robert and stepped aside. Ned stepped forward and opened the doors and was shocked at the level of wealth that was on display; the bed looked to be solid gold and the tapestries hanging on the walls seemed to be silk only found in Essos and beyond. Ned knew right then that the task on his hands would be bigger than he thought. He walked over to the bed and spoke. "Your Grace, it's time to awaken." But Joffrey didn't move. "Your Grace, the sun is up. It is time to begin the day." He raised his voice and that caused Joffrey to slowly open his eyes.

"What are you doing in my chambers?! Ser Blount, why did you let him in my chambers? I specifically said I wasn't to be disturbed; you wait until I tell my mother!" Joffrey screamed.

"With all due respect your mother isn't here. I am your foster father now, your grace, and your day begins when my own does. When you are King, you'll have many duties and won't be able to sleep in past sun rise so best not get into the habit now." Ned paused as he saw the realisation hit the prince that his mother wasn't there to back him up. "You will get out of bed, break your fast and then meet me in the training grounds. If you are not there in one hour I will come and fetch you myself." With this Ned walked back to his tower and up to his solar. He sat down heavily in his chair and set to thinking what was the most important to teach the young prince before he was irredeemable. Ned decided Joffrey's entitlement was a major character flaw, along with a lack of honour and duty he hoped he could curb them before there was another mad king on the throne.

An hour passed and Ned was waiting in the training yard and with no sign of the prince he set off back into the castle and towards the rooms he was at in the morn. As he walked closer Ned could hear the sounds of laughter and plates being moved. He walked in without knocking and found the prince lay on plush pillows feasting on plates full of bacon, jars of honey and two loaves of bread. In front of his was a fool trying his best to stand on a foot and balance a pitcher of wine upon his head, startled by the door the fool fell and the wine spilled over himself and some splashed on the pillows on which the prince was lay.

"You fool! Look what you have done to my pillows. I will have your head for this! Mother got these from Meereen specifically for me!" Joffrey was red in the face before Ned could step in.

"You may go." He addressed the fool and waited until he had fled before he turned to the prince. Deciding to ignore the outburst for now he instead said. "You were expected at the training yard. Come."

"I don't have to go anywhere with you. I'm the crown prince, you're the hand. You're a servant of my fathers. I'm a Lannister." Again, Ned didn't rise to the prince's anger.

"A Baratheon. Otherwise, you wouldn't be a prince. You are correct I am a servant of your father's, but him not you. He told me to make you into a decent fighter and a future king. I am going to do my duty so get up and come down to the training yard or I shall take it up with him." He saw a brief look of fear before a mask of ambivalence shut down onto Joffrey's face and he got up to follow Ned. They didn't share a word on the way down.

Ned handed the prince a wooden sword and stepped back. "I know your preference for live steel, your grace, but I wish to test your skills without a risk of injury. You have had the very best teach you including the kingsguard and your father. I remember when we were boys your father could disarm anyone his age although he also had to train for hours. Now begin."

Only half an hour passed before Ned called a halt to the training and sat beside the prince who was red in the face and sweat was pouring down his face. He handed him a rag and spoke. "I'm not going to lie my prince; you are not where you should be in terms of skill." He raised a hand as the prince began to protest. "But I see promise within you and I promise I will help you nurture it each day."

"Every day? You won't be too busy?" Joffrey asked surprised. "Father never has time to train as he has to be king and you're doing the work for him so shouldn't you be too busy as well?"

"This is the reason I get up so early. One of your titles will be protector of the realm. How will you do this if you cannot swing a sword? The Lords wont respect you if you hide behind your walls." Ned wasn't surprised that Robert hadn't been teaching him, it showed in the prince's attempts. Although he wasn't lying that there was some talent there.

"I don't need them to respect me. I will be King and Mother and Grandfather will fight wars for me anyway." Joffrey scoffed.

"Your Grandfather and Mother won't live forever, and who is heir, your uncle Tyrion? Is he going to fight your wars for you? The lords didn't respect the mad king and look where he is. Respect means loyalty which means you staying on your throne. Please think about this and meet me back here a hour after sunrise tomorrow, we will continue your lesson then."

Ned spent the rest of the day looking at the finances of the kingdom and it was worse than he thought. The crown was drowning in debt and the majority of it was to Tywin Lannister with some to the iron bank and smaller amounts to various different kingdoms. Ned knew that the treasury was full when Robert became king with Aerys raising taxes and not spending the money collected on improving the kingdom. He wondered how Robert had spent all of the money since Kings Landing also didn't look to be improved since Ned had last been there. So, he called for Littlefinger to come to his solar and explain.

Ned was still looking over the accounts when Baelish arrived and was jolted when there was a knock at his door. "Lord Baelish for you, my lord." Ned sat up straight and observed the smaller lord as he entered. He had noticed that he always wore high necked clothes, most likely to hide the scar left by his brother, and that he had a permeant smirk on his face that Ned would like to punch off. However, as hand of the king he had certain duties and that included dealing with the master of coin.

"Lord Baelish come in and have a seat." Ned paused as Littlefinger sat not missing how his eyes darted around taking in all the details of his solar. "I have been looking into the accounts of the realm and noticed we are deeply in debt. As someone who was privy to the accounts after the rebellion, I am surprised at the level we are at and at the fact there is little to show for it. Explain how the crown has gone through millions of gold dragons and then needed more from the Lannister's."

"My lord, King Robert has a hearty appetite for food, wine and whores. This all does not come cheap. Then there is the moon tea for the whores so there is not another Aegon the unworthy situation. The Queen has extravagant taste as you can see around you. As brought up a Lannister she has never been one to look at budgets. Plus, with the size of the court it is a juggling game to keep them all fed. The King has, since I've taken on the role of master of coin at least, had a tourney each moon with multiple feasts and large prizes. I am not going to lie Lord Hand it is only through my skill at negotiating low interest rates that the crown isn't completely bankrupt."

"Or is it your fault they are in debt? You should have told Robert about the state of the treasury and advised him to curb the spending." Ned sat forward as Lord Baelish scoffed. "That is your job as master of coin. If you are unable, I will appoint somebody who can. Now I will speak to Robert about reducing his budget and the queen is away for the year so her budget will be forfeit. I will also reduce the amount of people here at court in order to take some pressure off. Lord Baelish I will pay for the expenditure of my people. I expect to see the debt reduced in the next month or I will be looking for someone who can. That is all." Ned looked down at the papers lining his desk in clear dismissal.


The next two weeks passed quickly for Ned with him setting into a routine. Joffrey after that first day was up on time each day and was improving his skills with a sword, his behaviour on the other hand changed very little. Ned was dejected and the night he had been in the capital for two weeks he came up with an idea on how to show the prince why he needed to change.

The next morning as Ned waited in the courtyard for the prince, he didn't pick the swords as usual. Right on time Joffrey wandered in. "Why don't you have the swords ready? And what's in that bag by your feet?"

"Your training is coming on well. You will soon be moved to steel in order to learn the effects the moves I have taught you will." Ned smiled slightly as he saw the prince puff up. "However, your behaviour is not as a future king should be. You are overly arrogant and need to improve your relationship with the people."

"Why? I am the crown prince. They will serve me." Joffrey sulked.

"You will rule them yes. But they will be the ones who will set you into history as either a great king or a cruel one. Today we are going undercover in order to see what the small folk really think about you. We will not be reacting but will work on it up here. My job Joffrey, is to mould you into a fine king, one who will go down in history as being the best King in generations. You are very capable with weapons and you need to learn to be with words. Let me help you."

Joffrey thought hard for several seconds and then nodded.

As they changed into plain clothes and got on the horses Ned couldn't help but hope that his words had got through to the prince. He was surprised when Joffrey pulled his horse next to him and spoke. "My Lord, you are the first person other than my mother who has believed I will be a great king. My mother has said it was because I am a Lannister but I'm not, am I? I'm a Baratheon and as much as my father is loved by the people he isn't loved by the people in court or really in his family." Ned thought to interject and refute this but before he could Joffrey kept talking.

"Mother and he do not talk unless it is to argue. He thinks Tommen is weak which he is but he is also a child. Myrcella he barely even notices and me. Well, he only talks to me to berate me for not being enough. I'm not tall enough, I'm not strong enough, I'm not smart enough and I'm not black of hair. I'm not going to be like him. I see you with your children and I see how you love them. Mother loves me, I know she does but her love is giving me everything and not sitting with me talking about what I enjoy as you have these past weeks." With this Joffrey got some of Ned's sympathy but he was still weary.

They reached the city edges and dismounted and walked through the city slowly listening to the people talk. "The king pretends to be kind but what has he really done?" "Another tourney?! More money thrown to the highborn." "I see them Lannister's have shit gold again." "Their gowns could feed our family for a year; my son is starving." "The King beat the Queen and sent her away. Basically, the mad king again." "That prince is just as bad I heard." "I wish the Targaryen's would come back at least they helped the small folk."

At the end of the hour walking around Joffrey's face was ashen, he had seen small children starving in the streets and had heard the crown wasn't as stable as it seemed up in the red keep. "The small folk are unhappy but the high lords are. They are the ones who keep a king on his throne so why would we care about the small folk?" Joffrey asked Ned.

Ned sighed and was about to snap at the boy before he saw the earnest face on him, Ned realised this was a genuine question rather than arrogance. "Who fights the wars my prince."

"The lords."

"But who is in the fields fighting?"

"The soldiers?"

"Who are?"

"Small folk. So, they do as the high lords say anyway." Joffrey said confused.

"A man who doesn't believe in a cause will not fight to his potential. If a man loves his lord, if his lord has provided for him and his family, he will fight for that lord with everything he has. This city has not forgotten the sack that your grandfather ordered and by not punishing them your father condoned. They pay the taxes that keep you fed. I will not lie my prince; they will love you but it will be hard work. I will be here to help you each step but you need to want it. Do you want it?"

"I want it. Do you promise you will help me?" Joffrey actually looked vulnerable his insecurities about being alone showing.

"I promise."


This chapter is quite long sorry! I actually cut it in half with the next two weeks leading to Robert's illness coming next week. I actually always felt a bit sorry for Joffrey since he was basically abused in different ways by his parents and abandoned by Robert. I think if someone took him under their wing he could have been a different person. Don't agree? That's ok!

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