No one bothers to help Joffrey, I wonder how great he could have been with a decent influence... even Tyrion was just abusive, though reasonably.
Cersei felt uncomfortable as she walked into the Small Council, the eyes of the various Lords and Masters looking at her expectantly weighed heavily on her. That Joffrey of all people was actually sitting at the head of the Table, looking at her with almost bored eyes did little to end her discomfort. However it was her second eldest, her beloved Arryn's eyes that kept her from reaching any level of calm. There was a persuasive power in his gaze, a warning to be on her best behavior that threw her deeply. She knew he was not there to listen to any garbage, or reaching for power. He held great power now, both as the Master of Laws and the Advisor to the Crown, even as the Queen Regent she had little choice but to at least hear him out.
She didn't like that much.
"Why were called here, I do not remember a Council meeting being set for today?" She reached her seat, opposite her son, where she sat taller and stronger then the rest. The feeling of power that filled her at the sight of the others shifted, and her hesitation faded away.
Naturally, it was Arryn who spoke up. "I called the meeting, for a few reasons. Mainly, what to do with Ned Stark with and without the possibilities of execution. I for one would like to avoid a war and as we all know Robb Stark is ready and willing to start one. There have already been several battles. With winter coming we cannot tolerate this, we must be working to prepare the realm and for that we need collective action. A large part of that will involve the fate of Ned Stark. I for one motion to have him sent to the Wall with his bastard, after proclaiming his treason. That will keep his family satiated while also properly acquiring adequate justice for Our King."
Cersei nodded. " I agree, that is my wish as well. I have no desire to have a war started, or brought to our doorsteps. I have seen war, it is an ugly thing. I'd rather not endure it again."
On the far left of the table, opposite the Grand Maester, Varys spoke up. "I second that motion, and suggest that once we find Arya Stark we use her and her sister Sansa as tools to prevent the betrayal of the North. They may still move against us so having a few bargaining chips may be what we need to stem the tides of war."
"Any news on that front?" Joffrey asked, startling Cersei entirely. "On the location of the Youngest Stark Daughter?"
Varys shook his head. " She's a clever girl, trained by a First Sword of Bravos, she will not be easy to find. Speed and careful observation is their bread and butter, it is what fuels them. She will not be an easy capture, especially as she was last seen in trousers and a riding top. She is not going to be identified through clothing or appearance."
"She was loyal to her father, I will have some men searching for her during the trial and public denouncing of Ned Stark." Arryn's voice was cold, rigid and powerful. "They know what she looks like and they will be ready to find her when the time comes. I cannot imagine she would avoid his trial, she is clever but still naïve." The pain in her son's tone was clear to Cersei, but only to her. She knew how much he cared for the Stark children, to use them like this was a painful action for him. She could see it etched onto his face. "As it is several of my men are looking for her in the various districts, it is my hope to find her before unsavory characters do in an attempt to take advantage of her."
Pride washed through Cersei, as did a familiar sense of wariness. She too feared such actions against Arya, no one deserved to suffer like that. "I hope you find her. Now, is there anything else that needs discussing?"
"Three things. First, I will be taking my father's bastards and training them to become a group of protective soldiers, second is that I wish to push forward funding to create glass gardens all over the Castle Town to prepare for winter and Third I wish to create a newly trained group of medically inclined women to help stem the damage if this war is in fact becoming a reality." Everyone, Cersei included, gasped at Arryn's declaration, but the boy remained as calm as he usually did. "I know you are wondering why, the answer is simple. The Kings Gaurd is a joke, a mummers act of the past. We need a better guard for those in power. They will appreciate the power, prestige and position that this will give them, making them the perfect guards. As for the Gardens, the answer is simple as well. We will need more everything to survive and thrive in the winter. We can grow fruits, vegetables, healing herbs and so on during the winter through the glass houses as they do in the north. This will help mitigate the damage the winter will cause. It was actually my sister's idea.
The last part is simple, I wish to have local maesters train various women in the basics of healing so that when and if battles come, we can stem the damage and mitigate the deaths and other life long injuries. This will keep our people ready for the war and help our kingdom flourish. That is all I wish to offer for the time being."
Silence, heavy and unbearably hot filled the room, leaving Cersei almost unable to breathe.
Grand Maester Pycelle coughed lightly before he was the first to break the silence. "That is a great deal of change, my Lord. You will be stepping on many toes, that of the Maester for one. Are you willing to do this knowing that you will be possibly angering such individuals?"
"I have sent a letter to you fellow Maesters, to recruit many in the great education reforms I am planning. I do not plan on replacing your order, merely creating a way to lessen the strain and resentment within and towards your people for and from those who cannot afford your aid. As for the Gardens, we will employee many commoners to watch over and grow our gardens creating jobs and a sense of unity. We can sell many of these products to other houses, with a tax, to help recover the funds Lord Baelish allowed us to lose."
That almost made Cersei laugh, the direction of her son's ease of maneuvering the others... it was masterful. However one thing still burned in her chest. " The bastards, why them Many others would kill for such a position... any one would give their children for such prestige and power and merely having access to reliable food."
Arryn's eyes were warmer then Cersei had ever seen them. " They are family and that means it is my duty to help them. They did not choose my father's indiscretions. They should not bear his shame. I have long felt that Dorne was the most sophisticated in regards to how they deal with bastards and it was them, and their training of their women, that has inspired me to do this. I will make my brothers and sisters into a fighting force to rival any others and, if time and Joffery permits, I will have a new House much like Our House Baratheon, created from the bastard lineage. Madness has been bred out of our line, so I am not worried for a repeat of House Blackfyre."
"LORD ARRYN!" The words made them all jump, each one followed by a knock. Her beautiful son stood immediately and marched towards the door, opening it just enough to have words whispered in his ears by an outside force. A wicked smile crossed his face.
"Thank you, Baleton. Your actions will have positive consequences, do not doubt that." Her son turned to them all. "Arya Stark has been found, she is in her sister's chamber being tended to by her Septa. If you will all excuse me, My King you should come with me, as should you mother."
The others obeyed his words without question, even the Royal family.
"""
"We should gut the lot of them!"
Septa Mordane hand whipped out like a snake, cracking Arya across her face with great speed. Her hands should as she grabbed her ward and yanked her close, looking very close to her tiny, stunned face. "Do not insult our captors you stupid girl. It is only through the grace of Lord Arryn that any of us, even I, am alive. He had his guards personally gather us to ensure that no harm came to us. He could have you, all of us, killed in moments. You will mind your manners."
The girl recoiled at her tone, stunned that she had been struck by the previously quiet Septa. "Why did you..."
"I do not want you to die child, if hitting you is what I need to do to keep you alive I will gladly greet the gods with the actions on my conscious."
"What on your conscious?" Raspy and weaker then she had ever heard, the room of frightened women turned to Arryn Lannister, looking at them with genuine warmth and worry. "Who struck you Arya? Tell me and I will have their heads."
Septa Mordane, to Arya's shock, stepped in front of her. "I did. A lesson needed to be learned, and I taught it. She is a good girl but too willful. I did not want her angering you, Lord Arryn."
The boy Lord looked at her Septa for a long hard moment before sighing. "I am glad it was just you then, otherwise I would have an extra head to put on a spike. I fear it wouldn't be alone. I heard they killed your dancing teacher Arya, for that I am sorry. My guards only managed to protect your sister and Septa... I mourn his loss as if he were my own." he bowed low for a moment, with Arya's heart aching at the mention of Syrio.
"You liar! Your family attacked our guards, locked us in here, captured my father!"
"And kept you alive." Arya heard the gasps of her sister and Septa, but Arryn like her ignored them both and kneeled before her. " I am doing my best to keep you alive, all of you. It has not been easy. War and conflict calls for the the bloodlust within even the purest of men. "I do not ask that you like or even understand what is going on, it is complex and terrible but it is your reality. I am doing my best to keep your family alive and unharmed. I am in charge of the prison were your father is being held, I personally delivered his food and am making sure he is not developing wounds or sickness that might kill him before his trial. I have spoken to the king, my brother, to make sure your father is given a proper trial. I am making sure all is happening as it should. Do not think differently, for I alone will keep you alive. However you too must do you part, in part by being respectful to the king and my mother less you burn away the bridges I have formed through careful planning and my own grace. Are we clear? They are more bloodthirsty then I am... they will have your heads, all of yours, for petty offenses... I beg of you, be good."
Arya wanted to growl, to spit and scream and attack but the boy's earnest eyes calmed her hands and eased her spirit. She felt the blood of the wolf waver in her, and she knew that he meant his words. More then anything it was the sheer exhaustion she saw etched into his every feature, from his tired eyes to the pale tone of his golden skin. He seemed worn by the world as her father often had been in her youth. Why she had no idea but for some reason now she got it, now she understood what could stretch someone so thin...
In the smallest voice she could manage, she managed to squeeze out. "Alright...Thank you, Arryn."
He smiled at her then pulled her into a warm hug she actually appreciated. "Never have to thank me, girly. Just live and prosper... now my mother and the King are waiting outside, they will be in momentarily. Behave yourselves, all of you."
The girls nodded, with Arya sharing a look at her sister and doing her best to mimic her body. Tall stance, straight back, wavering watery eyes... weak and worthless in Arya's eyes, but apparently, what she needed to be.
Arryn turned and nodded to a handsome red haired guard, who opened the door, allowing the King and his Mother to walk into the room. They looked smug in their power, arrogant and bloated like a pair of ugly snakes.
"Mother, my King, I present Arya Stark, just as I promised. Only she is a touch dirtier then we would like, that is easily resolved." Arryn's weak rasp seemed to fade as confidence masked the exhaustion she still saw hiding. It was clear to her then that Arryn was not on his family's side, but his own and he was hiding his true self even from them. What that meant for her was... unclear, she could only hope it was good. "She was found near the Street of Sisters, having not eaten in some time. If it is alright with you both, I would keep this short so we can have her cleaned and fed before too long."
His tone was firm, firm enough that even the bratty king seemed to be swayed by his words. "Yes, that would be best wouldn't it."
"I believe so, your Grace."
The Queen Mother kneeled towards Arya and put a hand on her dirty face. "I am just glad you are safe, little dove. We were quiet worried about you."
Arya had many things to say but all she could do was nod her head as if she cared about the queen's words. All she could think about was stabbing her like she had the miserly stable boy... 'Wait, where's my blade?' She would ask Arryn before too long... she hoped he would give it back to her, it was all she cared about of her possessions.
"You did well, my son, as always. I expect nothing less of you."
Arryn nodded, a smile on his face, but Arya could see the contempt in his stance. It wasn't that different from her own contempt towards the queen, so she thought. "I aim to please. Now, if that is all, I have established well trained guards for the girls and have some lessons planned for them with their Septa so long as they are here. Their education should not be wasted just because of this entire situation."
"I agree." Joffrey said, nodding to his brother. "You have done so well with Mycella and Tommen's education, I can see you making these girls exceptional before they leave our care."
"That is my goal, brother."
"""
As they left the girls, a wave of weakness over took Arryn, He managed to excuse himself from his family long enough to make it to his own room. It was only the that he feel to his knees, coughing harshly into his elbow to mask the sound. Shaking, he recoiled enough to see blood. Not a lot but enough... and it both infuriated him and worried him.
'Can I subsist on so much conflict? Can I live while stretched so thin, like a brow beaten bookkeeper... damn it all... No, I simply need to mitigate the stress I am under. I need to keep my eyes on so many things... it will take time but I think I can do it.'
With more confidence then he really had, Arryn stood from his floor, ignoring the burning ache in his joints, and made it to the window before lighting a sample of the herbs he had bought for his illness. A few puffs later and it's soothing presence washed through him. Easing his pain and soothing his mind of the stresses of the day. It all melted away...
"My Lord." The sultry sound of Dagmir drew a shudder down his spine, making Arryn turn to see the incredible body of the ginger man mostly shed of armor and clothes. "You seem unwell. Perhaps a treatment of some kind will ease your mind."
An easy smile washed over Arryn's face as he approached his part time lover. "Perhaps your right. It really has been so long, I seem to be suffering greatly."
"Of course you have."
Their laughter filled the room ever so softly.
"""
Ease washed over Myrcella at the news of Arya's capture. She had worried greatly for the other girl, that she was unharmed and well seemed to be a gift only the gods could have delivered... not that she had faith in such fanciful deities, but that was enough for her. She had plans for the two girls, many plans that could deeply help them in the day and months to come. She only hoped her beloved Arryn would allow her to fulfill those plans...
It would take a women's touch to ensure the girl's heart survived and not just their bodies...
And for that reason Myrcella dedicated an hour of her time to reading on Prisoners of War, hoping to learn from the past as so few others were willing to do.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was so much fun to write, I miss this story.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.
