I AM BACK!

I was so stuck on this chapter, and refused to do it poorly,

So I stopped writing this to my detriment. I missed this so badly.

I figured it out! I know what I want to do! To make this work.

Thanks to my therapist oddly enough and a specific quote from Varys about Robert's potentail death at Cersei's hand... I also realized that Arryn can't always change the outcomes, he has to roll with the punches... and that is what motivated me.


Blood, blood and the stench of death. Arryn would have gagged on the sight of it had he not been covered in it, still desperate to save the life of his father's life. His hands ached, his arm muscles sore from pressing harshly on his father's bleeding wound. Fingers pressing bandages around the arrow sticking out of his father's torso. Blood dripped everywhere, soaking into the soft leather of his handmade hunting clothes. Slippery and warm, a balm to his weary and cold skin despite everything.

A reminder of the horror that greeted their royal train as they returned to the castle...

When his father, the druken fool he was, high on pride and satisfied bloodlust, never noticed the archer until the arrow was buried into his chest, digging into his lungs...

His mother had let out a harsh shriek when she saw him first, his sister and Tommen doing the same. Joffrey, the most openly vulgar and loud of them, was oddly silent and just wept with the most horrified expression. Arryn wanted to comfort them all, but the shock, the fear and the feeling of blood cooling on his skin left him unable to muster the energy to help them. To hold them all, even Joffrey, to reassure himself they were safe.

The door to his father's chambers burst open, revealing a livid and afraid Ned Stark. "What happened?" He said, his voice commanding as only a Lord could manage.

Slowly, Arryn turned to the man and ignored his dislike entirely. "When we returned from the Hunt, Father... he was celebrating, excited for my first successful Hunt with him. We slew a boar, none of us noticed the archer... a man, who shot my father in the chest just as we passed the first gate." The words sounded dull to him, void of the weight of their conviction and purpose. The power they held, making Joffrey the soon to be king.

Grand Maester Pycelle all but barked, his mummers act entirely up as he cursed. "May the man rot for his crimes against out king. He committed suicide before he could be apprehended. A cowards way out." He sighed, looking at the barely conscious king, his skin pasty white except for the blood oozing from his wound. "I have done all I can, but I am afraid this is beyond my skill."

Ser Barristan Selmy nodded, devastation clear in his eyes as he looked at his king. The second king he has seen fall under his care... Arryn couldn't imagine his pain, the shame that came from his failure not matter the fact that there was no way he could have saved Robert's life.

Robert, barely able to see the room, turned to Joffrey and squeezed his hand. "I should have spent more time with you, shown you how to be a man. I was never meant to be a father." Somehow he managed to look up, seeing Ned through the blur of weakness. " Go on. You don't want to see this." He said the Joffrey, who reluctantly left.

Arryn nodded to his other siblings, and they too departed, going with Dagmir who stood just outside the doors waiting for them.

"My fault..."Robert laughed weakly, looking at Ned with joy. "If I was half the warrior I once was, I would have noticed the archer a mile away. I would be able to fight this. I failed myself, none of you are at fault. Especially not you Arryn." He turned to his false son, his face in rare contrition. "You shouldn't have had to do that, to fight to keep me alive." He quieted as Ned approached, lifting his blanket, where he saw the horrible wound. "It stinks. It stinks like death. Don't think I can't smell it. Now leave us, the lot of you. I need to talk to Ned."

Cersei, in a rare moment of empathy, all but whispered. " Robert, my sweet -"

"Out, all of you!" Robert bellowed, sapping him of the rest of his strength.

With obedience and sadness, the rest of them including Arryn left, leaving a big part of his life beyond for what he knew was the final time."

Ned

With great annoyance, and pain, Ned turned to chew out his friend. "You damned fool..."

"Paper and ink on the table, write down what I say." Ned obeyed his king, grabbing paper and ink and started to write. "In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, first of... you know how it goes. Fill in the damn titles. I hereby command Eddard of House Stark" - titles, titles - "to serve as Lord Regent and Protector of the Realm upon my death to rule in my stead, until my son Joffrey comes of age". The moment of truth, and Ned only hesitates for a moment, then writes "my rightful heir" instead. Give it over. Ned does so. Robert puts his signature down on the letter before handing it back. Give it to the council after I'm dead. At least they'll say I did this right, this one thing. You'll rule now. You'll hate it worse than I did, but you'll do it well."

"I will."

"And my son...help him, Ned. Make him better than me. Help Arryn, you may disagree but you need him. He's wiser then his years, he had command over the council already, people respect him. He wants to help Joffrey and the people, he told me of all his plans during the Hunt. You need him... Please, don't be like me and

Ned hesitated, the mere notion of helping Arryn with anything turned his stomach. : I'll...I'll do everything I can to honor your memory.

"My memory?" He laughs feebly." Give me something for the pain and let me die."

With a heavy heart, Ned left the chambers, which is being guarded by two other Kingsguards. Barristan and the rest of the council bar Arryn were all waiting expectantly for him.

Ned turned to Pycelle. "Give him milk of the poppy." Pycelle and Renly moved into the room immediately afterward, ready to drug the king and ease his passage into death.

Barristan let out a shaking breathe. " He was happy, by the gods he was happy for the first time in almost two decades. I have never seen him like that, so much pride, so much pleasure beyond just whoring and hunting. Arryn brought out a better man in him, I know that to be true. The boy will need guidance, the death hit him hard. He fought harder then all of us to Keep his father alive. He tore his own clothes to make bandages, pressed onto the wound, fought with all he had and ordered us when we were too frazzled."

For the first time since the explosive council meeting, he felt a moment of care for the boy. Then, realizing he had a chance, he turned to Varys. "His Grace has had a change of heart concerning Daenerys Targaryen. Whatever arrangements you made, unmake them. At once."

Varys shook his head. "I'm afraid those birds have flown. The girl is likely dead already."

"""

Arryn

With shaking hands, Arryn tore off his clothes, not caring that his mother was behind him. He shed it all, tossing it to one side he hurried to his wardrobe desperate to no longer be covered in blood. As per usual, he had a bowl of water on the side of his room and quickly cleaned him self off while she spoke.

"My son... are you... how... how are you handling this?"

He didn't speak for a moment, desperately scrubbing to get the blood off, before turning to her with the coldest expression he could muster. "I know about the wine, and Lancel. He is an easy pawn to read, I picked that out in minutes. Swapped the wine for water, stopped Robert from drinking. Joff isn't ready for rulership, won't be for some time. What you were doing was foolish, but deserved. I heard, from Lancel, he hit you... your still bruised... I get your desires, I understand them on some level." He stopped talking before finally tossing on trousers and a light shirt. "You have doomed us to a moron, a tyrant, the second coming of the Mad king. A boy who skinned cats and beat children with sticks and bullies everyone he can. That is what you put in the throne. I know you had something to do with this, mother, I know the archer was your doing.

I cannot prove it, nor do I entirely want to, but I know it was you... but I will not hate you for this."

She almost jumped at his words. "Why?"

"He was a monster to you, cruel and capricious and methodical in his mistreatment. He was your enemy and you do not suffer enemies to live. That is who you are, I know that enough." Sighing, he turned all of the way and looked at her in her eyes. He could see the guilt, the shame, the pride but beyond all else the pleasure in knowing her husband was dead. "We must plan now, to ensure my brother is not the monster we know he can be. I will still be on the council, I will still have say. Robert's death will not rob me of that, nor will you as Queen Regent. We will help each other, but we must present a united front. Ned hates me, to counter him we will need to be together. Are you will me?"

Her smile was radiant as it was soft. "I have always been with you, my love." She reached out and pulled him into her chest. " Always and forever... and you are right." She whispered." I killed him, you were too clever for the wine to work so I had the archer do it. He has a bastard in my service, no one knows she is his. I promised to keep her in her place, where she thrives, so long as he does this service."

"Keep your word, Mother. In this at least... now, how shall we precede?"

As his mother spoke, whispering her words of deceit and falsehoods, Arryn made a vow of his own.

'Drink deep and despair mother, for I warned you. I will cut you off of all power and leave you with nothing. Your actions will doom us all, putting my moron of a brother on the throne... you will destroy us all for power, well too bad for you. I will stand against you, always and forever. I will control Joffrey myself, I cannot stop his rising but I can control our fall. We will land safely, for that is my vow.'

'''''

Ned Stark

With hesitation and greater strength then he thought he had, Ned Stark walked into the throne room with his head held high. He was ready to fight, to do what he needed to, to ensure all went as he planned. He had Petyr Baelish get the Gold Cloaks on his side, he had had Robert's note signed by his hand... he would prevail.

As he walked in, his eyes were cast to see Joffrey arrogantly sitting on the throne, With his Mother, Arryn and the Hound on either side of him. Arryn and the Hound were armed. Five members of the Kingsguard, led by Barristan Selmy, were standing before the throne.

The Royal Steward, with all the pomp and circumstance he was able, proclaimed. "All hail His Grace, Joffrey of Houses Baratheon and Lannister, the First of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.

Finally, after walking for what felt like an hour, Ned and his guard made their way to the Throne.

Looking down at him, Joffrey the Bastard, spoke. "I command the council to make all necessary arrangements for my coronation. I wish to be crowned within the fortnight. Today I shall accept oaths of fealty from my loyal councilors."

Ned's eyes met with Cersei, their earlier confrontation clear in each other's mind. "Ser Barristan, I believe no man here could ever question your honor." he handed the man the scroll, written by his hand and signed by Robert Baratheon

Ser Barristan turned to Cersei. "King Robert's seal. Unbroken." He broke the seal, looking up periodically towards Cersei." Lord Eddard Stark is herein named Protector of the Realm, to rule as Regent until the heir come of age".

It was clear that Joffrey was confused, but Arryn only sighed, a tiny smirk on his face as if he had foreseen this. That did not bode well for Ned, and he tightened his grip.

Cersei reached forth. "May I see that letter, Ser Barristan?" Ser Barristan did as the Queen commanded, handing her the letter. "Protector of the Realm. Is this meant to be your shield, Lord Stark? A piece of paper?" Then she tore the paper into pieces, a victorious look on her face.

Barristan looked on with horror. "Those were the King's words."

The Queen sneered, looking at Barristan. " We have a new king now. Lord Eddard, when we last spoke you offered me some counsel. Allow me to return the courtesy: bend the knee, My Lord. Bend the knee and swear loyalty to my son and we shall allow you to live out your days in the gray waste you call home."

"Your son has no claim to the throne." The damning words were uttered, and Ned turned to Arryn seeing him cringe. 'So he knows, not too surprising... but does he care? Does he have the honor to see his position for what it is?' Ned doubted it.

Cersei scoffed, looking disgusted.

Joffrey just screamed. " Liar!"

"You condemn yourself with your own mouth, Lord Stark." Cersei turned to Ser Barristan. " Ser Barristan, seize this traitor."

With confusion, the Kingsgaurd did as they were told and began their advance. Ned was prepared for this, drawing his own sword along side his guard and the Gold Cloaks he had managed to get control of.

"Ser Barristan is a good man, a loyal man. Do him no harm."

Cersei almost laughed as she spoke. "You think he stands alone?"

The Hound and Arryn drew their blades, moving forward with expert movements.

The screams of the false king echoed in the long hall. " Kill him! Kill all of them, I command it!" The other Lannister guards all took out their blades.

Ned turned to Janos Slynt. Commander! Take the Queen and her children into custody. Escort them back to the royal apartments and keep them there, under guard.

Janos called out. "Men of the Watch"

The Gold Cloaks all draw their swords and point their spears up at Cersei and Joffrey. Barristan looked forlorn, but THE HOUND still looks ready to fight.]

Ned spoke to his men. " I want no bloodshed." The he turned to Cersei. " Tell your men to lay down their swords. No one needs to die."

Janos' voice ripped out. "Now!"

Before Ned could react, The Gold Cloaks suddenly start attacking and killing Ned's guards. Ned, shocked, realized he's been betrayed. Turning to defend his men, he quickly found his blade on the floor and the blade of Arryn Lannister stark against his throat.

"You expose yourself with your treachery, Lord Stark. You will suffer for that. "

A droplet of blood trickled down the blade, and Eddard Stark was defeated.

Arryn

'Do not worry, Lord Stark.' Your daughters will survive this, that I swear...

The droplet of blood reached his hands, and once again he was reminded of just how horrible this situation had become and he finally understood a lesson.

He would never always be able to stop his mother or brother's evil, but he could profit off of it... as long as he was not like Lord Stark, naïve enough to trust Littlefinger and those like him, he would succeed...

Or die...

He just had to play the role sometimes and roll with the waves of their stupidity… especially stupidity as planned and desired as this...

For in this Game of Thrones, there was no middle ground.


Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was so much fun, I missed this.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.