Chapter Nine

False perceptions

Ned

Ned lay there as he had done for weeks now. That absolute fucker had sliced his leg in such a way that the muscles needed to knit back together before he could walk again. He had been taking milk of the poppy regularly as the pain was immense. For the first week he had been hallucinating seeing Arya coming out of the fireplace and crying by his bed.

Arya.

He had been told what she had done after he had been attacked and he was shocked. He knew his daughter was a wild wolf but even Lyanna would not have killed a man in front of the entire court. Ned had spent many hours combing over Arya's upbringing to try and find a reason Arya was like she was, but he couldn't find anything. She had the same upbringing as Sansa but had turned out the complete opposite. He could only hope that he had enough sway with the king that he could have her sent back to the north in disgrace rather than her be arrested or worse. Her marriage prospects were over, but that would probably please her.

Ned knew today was Robert's funeral and Joffrey's coronation and was upset that he couldn't attend either. Robert had been closer than a brother to him for many years and he had wished to be there as he was laid to rest but the maester had told him if he stood, he would undo all the work his body had done these past weeks. It was with a heavy heart that he agreed and instead spent the day embroiled in memories of his youth.

It was late in the afternoon when the door to his rooms was rudely thrown open without notice and in strolled someone who surprised Ned.

Cersei Lannister.

"Your Grace, I am surprised to see you here. I apologise for not rising but as you can see, I am currently indisposed." Ned said, his mind whirling. He knew this woman didn't like him.

"Yes. I see that." Cersei said, with a look on her face as if she had stepped in something. "I have come for my son. Now that my husband is dead his orders no longer stand so I came to support him."

"Surely you mean all of your children, your grace." Ned said.

"My son is now king. He'll need me as his regent to make the decisions he is too young to. My other children are fine. They'll have guards and playmates." She spoke dismissively of her younger children.

"Be that as it may, you are still their mother and they have just lost their father. If Joffrey has appointed you his regent, then we will be working together closely, your grace."

If it wasn't his imagination Ned saw a small smile appear on her face.

"Joffrey is too young to rule. As his mother it is my right. I will not be working with you Lord Stark. I have no need for a hand." Cersei said confidently.

"Your grace, if that is Joffrey's wish then that is fine but even as regent you cannot remove me as hand. That is his decision." Ned said flatly. He would not be intimidated by this woman.

"Mark my words Lord Stark. You will be leaving this city. One way or another." With this threat she turned and stormed out and Ned let out a sigh of relief.

That woman was going to be trouble.

Joffrey

Joffrey Baratheon was the king of Westeros. But the night of his coronation was nothing like he had imagined for years. He had dreamed of feasts and toasts about how great he was but instead he was sat at the front of the feast brooding.

His mother was back, and she had taken all of the control that Joffrey had worked so hard to gain. He didn't want her as his regent, he wanted Lord Stark. His mother wouldn't listen to his ideas and help his image, she would rule as she wanted and to benefit only herself and house Lannister. She did have the right to be regent as she was his mother, but it wasn't fair!

She also wouldn't even talk to him she just swept off and started issuing demands. His mother demanded she move into the King's rooms as she was ruling even though she wasn't the king. He had tried to protest but she had quelled him with a glare.

Joffrey was thinking about how he had changed since he last saw his mother on the way back to the capital, and it was all due to Lord Stark. He wanted to be known as great and leave a mark in history and he couldn't do that hiding behind his mother. Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy as that since nobody knew Cersei Lannister. She could silence a room with a stare and her temper could flare with no warning,

Joffrey had been on the receiving end of her temper more times than he could count, in fact one of his first memories was of his mother screaming at him for spilling her goblet of wine on a rug that was apparently very expensive. His mother tried to show a loving mother act in front of other people but in private she was a different person. Now that she was back Joffrey could feel the need to withdraw within himself and to let his mother take over to avoid her temper.

It was when he was on his fourth goblet of wine that his mother decided to come and speak to him at last.

"Hello Joffrey. I missed you." Cersei smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Mother. I missed you too." He lied.

"Well, your oaf of a father thought he could banish me but see where he is now!" She gloated. "I am here now, and it is two years until your majority, I will be ruling until then. You can just sit and nod as I make the decisions, its for the best."

"But mother –"Joffrey tried to speak but cut off as Cersei grabbed his hand and her nails began to cut into his hand slightly.

"Joff, you are a child, my child, I will rule. I was born to rule, and this is my chance you will not get in the way of this." She stared into his eyes intensely until Joffrey nodded uncertainly.

"Good boy." She let go of his hand patting it lightly. "Now I do need to talk to you about the Starks."

"What about them." Joffrey asked.

"They are not to be trusted. Ned Stark accosted me on the way back from that wasteland. He said I spent too much coin! As if a Queen had to answer to anyone. I don't want him as Hand and unfortunately by law only you can dismiss a hand." Cersei said eyes blaring in anger in having to admit she did not have total power.

"Lord Stark has been a capable hand and has given me some very valuable advice mother." Joffrey offered.

"Ned Stark just wants what everyone wants. To be a part of the game of thrones. I believe he fabricated the evidence about Baelish and had his feral little daughter kill him to cover his crimes. He isn't on your side Joffrey; he isn't a Lannister." Cersei said. "I will be dealing with the Starks soon. I expect your full cooperation." With this she swept off.

Ned Stark hadn't lied to him, had he? Joffrey thought. The man had become someone Joffrey had admired in the short time they had had together. He wasn't a Lannister no, but neither am I. I am a Baratheon and its time the realm including my mother felt my fury.

Ned

It was the day after the coronation of the new king and Ned was once again lay in his sick bed stuck in his thoughts. He was thinking of the progress the young king had made in the moon he had been his foster father and he could only hope he had made any amount of difference in the once cruel boy. Ned knew the big test was here, having his mother back, and him being laid up recuperating meant that Joffrey was alone.

He was also dreaming more of his sister and that terrible day in that god forsaken tower. The smell of blood from his wound compounding the memories. Ned often thought of the fact that Jon was clueless to his true heritage, and it only took one lucky shot, as Littlefinger had proven, for that knowledge to be lost forever. He contemplated trying to send a note to Jon but quickly dismissed it as it could be lost anywhere from here to the wall. Ned could only hope that if he met his sister again, she would be understanding about his choices.

It was as he was again imagining a conversation with his sister when he heard people walking up the tower wearing armour. He couldn't lie he had been expecting this since he heard that Cersei Lannister was back in Kings Landing but he felt fear in the moment, not for himself but for his two daughters that would be without protection in the worst city of the continent.

He thought quickly and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill quickly scribbling a note and leaving it under the chair he kept imagining Arya in as he was healing. Ned then sat back and waited patiently. It wasn't long until the doors to his chambers were thrown open and in walked Cersei Lannister with two guards flanking her.

"My Lord." Cersei smirked.

"Your Grace." Ned said.

"It has come to my attention that you are the reason we are missing a Master of Coin." She paused. "After our conversation on the road from Winterfell, I find this suspicious. I also find it suspicious how close you are to the king so quickly, therefore, you are under arrest."

Ned just paused his mind whirring as he was trying to catch up to his present situation. "Your Grace, I was tasked as being foster father to the king, it was my duty. Baelish was found guilty in front of the court."

"And isn't it convenient it was you who fought him and your horrible little daughter who killed him. I wonder what he knew. Enough – "She interrupted Ned's protests. "Take him."

It was as he was being dragged from his sickbed that he thought he saw a shadow in his fireplace and decided it couldn't hurt. "I am innocent. My daughters are innocent. They should get to go home. They should be let to go North and quickly."

"Oh Lord Stark. Your daughters will not be going anywhere, you messed with my son. They're mine now." Cersei laughed and swept out of the room before Ned was dragged behind.

Hello all, Slightly early this week as I am not around tomorrow but chapter 10 will be next Friday.

Thanks,

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