Chapter 15: Robert

The day dawned bright and humid. Summer was clearly refusing to go, despite what the maesters said about winter approaching. Robert used a cloth to mop his brow and then used it to wipe his chin. His beard was damned itchy in this heat, but he had grown it years ago, and refused to shave it now. To shave it would be to show how fat he'd become. And that was something he would never do.

Especially with news about the dragonspawn so fresh in his mind. Daenerys Targaryen married to a Dothraki horselord. His first reaction upon hearing that had been to spit and snarl. Dothraki were excellent fighters. And yet, when he'd told Ned the news, Ned had merely laughed and said, he'd worry about the Dothraki when they stopped being scared of the sea.

That was true. The Dothraki were, for some insane reason, terrified of running water. They stayed inland and the only time they came near water was when they either had to let their horses drink or if there was a town that needed to pay them tribute. No other time.

Still, whilst he agreed with Ned that the time for concern would come when the Dothraki learned to not fear water, he had another reason for concern. Mainly that, if Viserys Targaryen had managed to arrange a marriage between his sister and this horselord, he clearly had influential friends. Influential friends who might be able to convince the Golden Company to side with him. Or maybe this new sellsword company-The Silver Dragon-that had formed and was fighting in the Disputed Lands.

The name couldn't be a coincidence. Especially as if Robert remembered correctly, Viserys Targaryen had had a silver dragon egg when he'd been a child. What had become of that egg, nobody knew, but, it was all getting too much for him. He should have taken charge when the war had ended, he should've gone to Dragonstone, or perhaps ordered Stannis to pursue them, instead of listening to Jon.

There was much he should have done. Listened to Howland Reed at Harrenhal to begin with, and actually spoken to Lya, instead of drinking with Richard Lonmouth. But when he'd seen her, in all her glory, he'd not known what to say. So, he'd avoided her. And then that hellspawn, Rhaegar, had crowned her Queen of Love and Beauty.

"Your Grace?" voice probed into his thoughts.

Robert looked up, it was his squire, Lancel, another bloody Lannister. "What?!" He barked.

"Her Grace is outside; she wishes to speak with you." Lancel said.

That was most unlike Cersei, usually, she just barged in, and it didn't matter what he had been doing, or who. Maybe the fact that Ned was in the camp had calmed her down. They needed to show some decorum after all. "Show her in." He barked.

Lancel bowed and hurried away, Robert mopped his face, wondering what it was that Cersei wanted to speak to him about. He didn't have to wait long, Cersei entered, and Lancel shut the door after her.

Cersei took a seat on the bed. She was still beautiful, she always had been beautiful, but she wasn't Lya.

"What do you want?" Robert asked.

"I spoke with Jaime just now, and he suggested we remove Sandor Clegane from Joffrey's service." Cersei said.

Robert frowned. "Why?"

"He said that Clegane was not a good influence for our son and that Joffrey would benefit from less ridiculous company." Cersei said.

Robert snorted. Jaime Lannister suddenly caring about the sort of influence that the Hound had over Joffrey was something he'd never thought he'd hear. As far as he knew the Kingslayer had never shown any interest in Robert's children. No interest at all.

"And what do you think?" Robert asked. It had been Cersei who'd recommended Clegane as Joffrey's sworn sword all those years ago.

"I think he is wrong." Cersei said. "The Hound is a good influence for our son, and he also provides a different perspective."

"You mean the fact his face is half burned off, and he hates his brother, and the fact that he's more knightly than half the damned Kingsguard?" Robert asked. He was not a fool, he knew that other than Ser Barristan and Ser Arys, and maybe the Kingslayer, his Kingsguard was perhaps the weakest one to ever grace Westeros.

"Yes." Cersei said.

Robert snorted. Clegane was a beast, but he at least seemed to have some ability to control Joffrey. Robert wasn't blind, he knew his son wasn't perfect, but at least with the Hound around, his instincts were being pushed toward something else.

"So, you will tell him." Robert commanded.

"Of course, Your Grace." Cersei replied.

"Good." Robert replied, a thought came to him then. "Is your father still on good terms with House Clegane?"

Robert knew that the Hound and his brother hated one another, and yet Sandor Clegane benefitted from Lord Tywin viewing Gregor Clegane as a useful enforcer. At least that was the impression Robert had gotten.

"Yes, why?" Cersei asked.

"Then that is even more reason for the Hound to stay." Robert said. His wife nodded, though he could tell she didn't quite get his reasoning. His reasoning was simple. He had an informal agreement with Lord Tywin, that in return for taking loans from the man, and allowing Lannisters to infiltrate the court, Lord Tywin would name Robert's second son Tommen his heir, an act that Robert would confirm.

Lord Tywin hated his son Tyrion, and whilst Robert liked the dwarf, he wanted his son to sit in the Rock. Let Renly and his issue keep Storm's End. Tommen would rule the Rock and the damned Lannisters would die out.

Another thought came to Robert then, based off of a conversation he'd had with Ned yesterday. "The Stark girl is of an age to start having her bleed is she not?"

Cersei's eyes widened in surprise. "I believe so, yes." She replied.

Robert nodded. "Then you are to explain to her what will happen and when." Ned had told him or rather admitted that Catelyn had not had a chance to explain the basics of the female body to her daughter, and Robert did not want his future gooddaughter to go to her wedding knowing nothing.

Cersei opened her mouth to say something then shut it, before opening it again and saying. "Of course, Your Grace."

Robert nodded. "Good, now since you are here, perhaps we had best try for another son." One more to secure the succession.