I stood on one of the many balconies that made up the Red Keep, staring at the city below. And for the first time in a long time I felt worried.

On the outside, life went on as normal: I held court, listening to the moaning of both lords and smallfolk alike, doling our advice, rewards and punishments where necessary. I held meetings with various lords and advisors, sometimes heeding their advice and sometimes not. I had lunches with mother, Tommen and Myrcella telling them somethings and not others. Speaking of Cersei, she gave me a huge rant about my affair with Alis, stemming I suspect from Robert's continuous cheating. Though, she seemed quite happy that the Stark Lord was no longer in the capital. I continued governing, reviewing reports on various things, whether that be on the progress of the new sewage system that had recently started to be built, or the rather boring but necessary tax reports from the crown tax collectors.

And whilst I was doing all these things I couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen, mainly because in the last council meeting Lord Varys had reported that Renly had left King's Landing -which itself was no surprise; there was nothing left for him here- however, he was not heading for the Stormlands but for the Reach. It may simply be a visit to his lover's family. But I had a feeling that a plot is brewing. This is why I took some preemptive actions.

Firstly, I sent a letter to all the various lords of the Crownlands ordering them to train up troops. If there was going to be an invasion then we needed to be prepared.

Secondly, I sent a raven to Lord Casper Wylde at the Rain Point. I had learnt about House Wylde as part of Pycelle's lessons. He had taught me quite a bit about the various houses in the Stormlands (with me being a Baratheon, by name anyway) and I remembered reading, on my aimless meandering through the wiki's, that House Wylde declared for Stannis. Now, I assume that was because they saw him as the rightful heir after Robert -as by that point I had been declared as illegitimate- this has not happened to me so in their view I am the rightful king. Thanks to Pycelle I know they can produce around 2,000 of the Stormland's 30,000 men. A fair amount for a vassal. By confirming that they're on my side by giving Lord Casper the position of Master of Ships, (they possess a small fleet, and if his advise is useless Stannis can provide better advise with his expertise) then that is 2,000 less men for Renly, if he does make that costly mistake.

Thirdly, I informed the Small Council of an impromptu visit I was going to take to Horn Hill. Unsurprisingly they immediately against the idea. After all, Horn Hill is in the Reach a place potentially hostile to my rule. I counter argued with the fact that potentially, a royal visit may dissuade them from acting (this in my mind at least was a long shot, and wasn't really my intention.) And that it was also my intention to give Lord Randyll the position of Master of Laws. He had a reputation of being un-yielding and was just the sort of person to root out the corruption in the City Watch. Moreover, he was discontent with House Tyrell, especially Mace after the slight made against him. House Tarly was also a well respected military house,some people even say that without the Tarlys house Tyrell would fall. The biggest thing that I would gain however would be the brilliant strategic mind of Lord Randyll. The potential dissuasion of taking up arms would just be a great side effect, if it worked.) Therefore, I informed them I was going. No ifs or buts.

In a few hours I would set out, I had to hold court for the last time first.

I was just about to leave when I heard a shout from the city below. "It's King Joffrey!" Cheers and shouts of "Your Grace!" Soon followed. I raised my hand and waved, a grim smile on my face. Fortunately they couldn't see my hesitation but I could certainly feel it. After all, what's the point trying to help your people if they are all going to die?

A few moments later I walked off the balcony and almost bumped into Cersei. "Mother, what are you doing here?" I asked her in confusion, she wasn't one to greet the people.

"Do you need to go to the Reach? You are the king, make them come to you!" She said for what felt like the thousandth time. Ever since I had told her and my siblings she had continuously tried to pursuade me not to go.

"Yes I do, it will send a message to those plotters, maybe I should stop by at Highgarden as well." I said jokingly, I had no plan to do so, that would be a bit too risky for my liking.

She didn't respond verbally to that. Instead she wrapped her arms around me and held me for a moment. Then she kissed my forehead, whispered "be safe" and then walked away.

Time Skip

I walked through the corridors and waited for the Royal Steward to make his proclamation: "All rise for His Grace Joffrey of House Baratheon, the first of His name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm." I then entered and sat down on the most uncomfortable chair in the world.

"My Lords and Ladies, as I am sure you know I will soon to be travelling to Horn Hill to offer the position of Master of Laws to Lord Randyll Tarly. I must also inform you that I have offered the position of Master of Ships to Lord Casper Wylde of the Rain Point." The people of the court seemed somewhat surprised by this revaluation, they most likely expected a lord of a higher stature to be given a position on the Small Council. "The position of Master of Coin will -for the time being- remain vacant. In my absence the Lord Hand will be my regent."

With that out of the way I headed out into the courtyard, waiting for me there was Ser Barristan, Ser Jaime, Ser Preston and Ser Arys, the members of the Kingsguard who would be accompanying me on my trip, along with 150 or so Baratheon men, sworn to me and not Renly of course, servants and a few others who would be forming the retinue.

"Are you ready to leave Your Grace?" Asked Ser Jaime, his white cloak flapping in the wind.

"Aye, if we leave now we should get a good few hours of riding before we have set up camp for the night." And with that I mounted Midnight and we set off for Horn Hill.

Time Skip

Our procession rolled into the keep of Horn Hill, the centuries old towers loomed above me as I trotted into the courtyard, Ser Barristan and Ser Jaime in front of me as if to shield me from any potential threats. My jewel adorned crown sat atop my head, I wanted to make a point: I was their King.

I had a severe case of déjà vu as I saw the Tarly family lined up in the courtyard. Hopefully this visit would end better than the Winterfell visit did.

I dismounted my horse and strode towards the Tarly's. They kneeled as I approached and I narrowed my eyes, was it genuine? Either way, hopefully by the end of this trip their loyalty would be secured...

"Rise." I said and they did. "Lord Tarly, it is a pleasure to meet a man of your renown."

"It is a pleasure to host you, Your Grace." He said in reply.

I then turned to his son who was the next in the line. "Lord Dickon." I said as I eyed him up, "I am sure you will carry on the legacy of your ancestors." Lord Tarly muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "at least one of my sons will" but I chose to ignore that.

I then greeted his daughter and wife before I turned back to him and asked if we could go to his solar, after all we had much to discuss...

After we had gotten settled in his solar I got straight to the point.

"Lord Tarly, you know I wouldn't come all this way just to offer you a Council position, I would have just sent you a raven like I did with Lord Wylde."

"Yes, Your Grace, I had wondered."

"Well let me put it simply. I suspect my Uncle Lord Renly of plotting against me, his last words to me before he left King's Landing -after I had dismissed him from his position- were "I won't stand for this." These could have simply have been an angry man's words and thus I thought no more of them however, my Master of Whispers has reported that he has not returned to Storm's End, as would be expected but instead headed for Highgarden. I feel that they are planning to overthrow me and place Renly on the throne, with perhaps Lady Margaery as his queen. Though I doubt anything exciting will be happening in their bed chamber." I added humorously, though he didn't seem to find that funny. "Regardless, I know that you are an honourable man who values the oathes you make and no oath is bigger than the one you make to your king. I know I can trust to you to honour that oath if I am betrayed."

"Aye, I have sworn an oath to you, but I have also sworn an oath to Mace Tyrell."

"Mace Tyrell, the man who took credit for your successes."

"He may have, but he is my Lord."

Nothing is ever simple, he wants something.

"And I am your King. And if the Tyrells do rebel they would be traitors. Why should traitors keep their positions of power and respect? They should go to people loyal to the Crown. Now theoretically if they did rebel, and you sided with the Crown, they would be the traitors and you would be the hero, the one who stayed loyal to the Crown. And in this theoretical scenario, you Randyll Tarly would be declared the Warden of the South, Lord Paramount of the Reach, and I as your King, and only I, could make that happen, not your Lord. Theoretically of course."

He smiled a shark like smile. "Of course, Your Grace, only theoretically."