I stood proudly on the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor as I listened to the Head Septon drone on about the Mother and the Smith. I let my eyes sweep below me. I saw the lords of all the major houses (bar Dorne) looking almost as bored as I felt as they watched the High Septon continue preaching.
I tuned back in as he got to the important bit.
"In the light of the Seven, I now pronounce Joffrey of House Baratheon, the First of His Name, the King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. Long may he reign!"
"Long may he reign!" The crowd returned. The frantic cheering outside showed that the small folk outside had heard the proclamation made by the lords inside the sept.
A small while later I stood on the balcony at the sept. I felt a great sense of pride at the fact that thousands of people were standing shouting at me in admiration, the fact that they loved me this much and yet I had only just been coronated. This was the power of a king. I am now the King. I would not let my people down.
Time Skip
I sat in my new office. It was still decorated the way that my 'father' had it decorated. As if he ever used it. He was willing to decorate something using the money of the people he had sworn to serve and protect and yet he never helped them. It disgusted me. The stag head that was proudly displayed on the wall only served to remind me of what I needed to be. A king for the people.
I was shaken out of my thoughts as the door was knocked.
"Your Grace," the voice of Ser Barriston sounded through the door. "Lord Varys is here."
"Let him in" I said in reply.
I stood as Lord Varys shuffled in through the doorway.
"Your Grace." Varys bowed his head in respect.
"Lord Varys, please sit." I motioned to a chair that was in front of my desk. It was still weird to think of it as my desk, my office, my crown, my throne...
"Your Grace, why did you ask to see me? Do you require the service of my Little Birds?"
"Partly" I acknowledged. "I need you for two things. The first is about Petyr Baelish."
"Oh?" Varys enquired.
"I know that he has been using his position as Master of Coin to siphon funds off the Crown. I also know that he had something to do with the death of Lord Jon Arryn. Unfortunatly I have no proof."
"I see." Lord Varys responded. "And you need my Little Birds to find this proof?"
"Indeed." I responded.
"I can definitely be of help, Your Grace. And the other thing you needed me for?"
I breathed deeply. What if this goes wrong? What if he flees to Essos and helps Daenarys? But then I pulled myself together. The benefits of this alliance far outweighs the potential risks.
"Lord Varys. I know that you have been helping the exiled Targaryens."
He tittered. "Well, there's no point in denying it."
This shocked me. I thought he would at least try to contest the claim.
"Your father was a weak King. All he did was whore, drink and mourn the girl he never had!" He was practically frothing at the mouth, this was a side of Varys I had never seen before!
"He was selfish. He never cared about the realm, as long as he had a whore to warm his bed and plenty of Dornish Red then he was happy. He never cared about the realm. These Seven Kingdoms need the Targaryens to return so that peace and order can be returned. Of course, I know you're not going to arrest me. If you were going to you wouldn't have asked for my help with Littlefinger. So what is it you want?"
I sighed. "I want what you want, Lord Varys. Of course I don't want the Targaryens back, but what I do want what is the best for the people and the Realm."
He openly laughed. "Every king says this. Very few actually carry out on their promises."
"Lord Varys, why do you think I implored my King father to annihilate the Greyjoy's? Because all the ever did was rape and murder! I'm not stupid, I know it was the unpopular choice on the Small Council but it was the right thing to do. If their measly existance had been allowed to continue then the 'old ways' would have continued. Sometimes it's not about the popular choice but it's about doing what is right!" Here I stood up. "I have great plans for Kings Landing, I have plans to tear down the city and rebuild it! I want to build sewers and make the quality of life better for the people of not only Kings Landing but also the entirety of Westeros. Before I was only the Crown Prince. The most I could do was try and get a few laws passed here and there when Father was to drunk to notice; like the law on bread. But now, now I am the King. Now I am the Protector of the Realm and I vow to protect my people!"
Varys looked mildly impressed.
"Your Grace. I believe you, however I doubt many people in my group would. They joined with me not for the good of the realm but because they were either looking for mutual gain or because they were Targaryen loyalists."
I pondered this for a few moments until I came up with a solution.
"Have you ever held meetings?" I asked.
Varys nodded solemnly, seeing where I was going with this. "A few times, mainly when something happens that could change our plans."
"Well." I responded. "The premature death of a King would definitely change things."
"Indeed they would." Varys murmered.
"Schedule a meeting for a moons time." I said. "Then we will strike."
He nodded.
"You are dismissed, Lord Varys. I thank you for your trust and I hope we can work together for the benefit of the Realm."
Time Skip
I stood at the Mud Gate. I had recieved word a few days ago from Uncle Tyrion telling me that he would be arriving at Kings Landing soon. A member of the City Watch had seen him approaching the city while on patrol on the Kings Road (something I had set up to appease the merchants, it helped deter would be theives from attacking them as they entered and left the city with their goods) and had sent word back to Kings Landing.
So here I stood watching as my favourite uncle road in on his horse, a gidt from me for his nameday a few years ago.
"Look at me" he smiled, "I get a royal welcome."
I knelt down and hugged him. We had always been close. "Well your King orders you to come and eat with me. I'm sure your hungry after your long journey."
"As His Grace commands." He laughed and followed me into the Red Keep and then into my chambers.
When we arrived I ordered one of my servents to fetch some food and then turned back to Uncle Tyrion.
"I am glad to see you again Uncle." I said warmly.
"I'm glad to be back," he laughed. "The wall was beautiful but it was fucking cold."
We laughed and talked for a little while before I got to the important stuff.
"I was thinking," I told him. "Even though your job to build sewers at Lannisport was meant to humiliate you, you did a very good job."
"Well, anything to piss my father off." He smiled.
"Yes well, I was thinking you could do the same at Kings Landing."
"Really." He said with a lift of his right eyebrow. I could tell he wasn't expecing it.
"Yes, really." I replied amused. "You will have as much money and men as you need. Plus the position won't be temporary."
"It only takes so much time to build a sewer, Joffrey." He told me.
"Yes but it will take a long time to completely fix Kings Landing. And after that there are other cities in the Realm, I'm sure their lords won't refuse Crown money to make their cities better."
"It sounds as if you're offering me a Small Council posistion." Tyrion remarked sarcastically.
"That's because I am." I replied, then stood. "Tyrion Lannister, do you accept the position of Royal Steward for the Infrastucture of the Realm, an official position on the King's Small Council?" I asked.
He looked shocked before kneeling and replying "Yes, Your Grace."
"Then rise Steward Lannister." He did so and then I laughed. "Can you imagine how pissed off Mother's going to be!"
Tyrion joined in the laughter and we continued to eat and talk about his trip to the Wall before I said. "Well I'm sure you need some rest Uncle, you need to be rested before the Small Council meeting tommorow."
"Well, thanks for the warning."
"You're so very welcome."
