Chapter 4: The Trial

"The trial begins this afternoon, so let's not waste time and begin," said Father.

"The king won't be joining us?" asked Oberyn.

"He will be here shortly. We should wait for him, father."

"Hmm. It is his first small council meeting. He should've been here already. We will begin now and if his grace wishes to join us then he can."

"He wanted to share some vital information with us. He would not like if we started without us."

"Fine."

"These meetings will not be always so early will they?" asked Oberyn but before anybody can answer Will walked in with Jaime behind him and everyone stood up including Oberyn who a moment earlier showed disrespect to Father.

Cersei did not like Will eying father like that. Father was sitting on the center chair. Even Joffrey had not been able to ask her father for that chair. She was worried about the relationship between them.

After an awkward moment between the two, which she believed Oberyn was very interested in, Father got up and took a chair between her and Will. Jaime also took a seat after everyone sat down with Will.

"What is he doing here?" asked Father referring to Jaime as soon as everyone sat down.

"I have decided to honorably release Uncle Jaime from my kingsgaurd. He will now serve as the commander of our armies. I am also giving him a seat on the small council. He is to lead our forces in the battle and will counsel me in matters related to war. Consider him Master of War if you will."

Cersei felt a slight pain in her heart knowing that now father would make Jaime his heir and he would have to marry to further the family line but when she saw the smile on her father's face that pain vanished. Her son had done a wise thing to please father.

"Well the more the merrier," said Oberyn.

"Who is to be the new Lord Commander of the Kingsgaurd your grace?" asked Pycelle.

"I have left that decision completely to Uncle Jaime. He will choose his successor. So shall we begin? What is the first order of business?"

"The Queen Regent informs us that you have some information that you would like to share with us."

"Yes, I had an interesting conversation with Lady Olenna and she has agreed to pay our full debt to the Iron Bank as dowry for her daughter."

"That is very good to hear your grace. How did you manage that?"

"That is a conversation for another day but Lord Mace had something to share with us. Isn't that correct my Lord?"

"Of course it is your grace. My son Loras is a great warrior. He wishes to protect you and his sister. He would be honored if you would take him as your kingsgaurd."

"It would be a pleasure. It will happen the next time I hold court. What is the next order of business?"

Varys brought up the matter of Sandor Clegane which Will had clearly no interest in. Then came a name which lightened his eyes. Danaerys Targaryen.

"Daenerys has taken up residence in Meereen. She has conquered the city and rules as it's queen," informed Varys. He went on about her having an army of unsullied, some sellswords, three dragons and two seasoned warriors counseling her. Also that Mormont was now loyal to her.

"Dragons haven't won a war in years. Armies win them all the time," said Father.

"Dragons haven't won a war in years because dragons haven't existed in years and the ones that did before that were as small as a dog. Her dragons are already bigger than most of the dragons of the Targaryens. Aegon conquered the seven kingdoms with three dragons just like her. She has an army too." said Will.

"She is just a child."

"She is a woman. A strong one too. She is a ruler who not only conquers cities but also the hearts of the people."

"You seem to know a lot about her."

"I saw her in Yunkai once. I have a feeling that I'll see her again soon."

xxx xxx

Everybody stood up as Will walked into the throne room. Uncle Tyrion and Sansa were already in the guilty box. He took his seat and everyone followed. His mother was seated with the Small Council and other important people, her face determined. Her eyes seeking revenge. She might not get justice for her son's death truly but he will make sure that she will get her revenge. Margaery was also there with her brother Loras. He didn't know if she knew about his conversation with Lady Olenna already. If she did she hid it well. She passed him a smile when she saw him looking which he returned. A little courtesy never hurt anyone he thought. Prince Oberyn sat to his one side smirking. He already had asked Varys to make sure his little birds followed him. To his other side sat Tywin Lannister, the name that made his enemies shiver with fear and rightfully so.

His eyes made his way in front towards the accused and he felt guilty. Guilt for making his Uncle stand in front of him with his hands chained. Guilt for not being able to help him. Guilt for fucking his wife every day since the day he first visited her in her cell. Then his eyes moved towards Sansa. She had changed so much in recent days. Most others won't notice those changes but he did. She was no longer the shy kid from Winterfell. She was now a woman. It amazed him how she easily broke her marriage vows without even a second thought when she almost stopped their first encounter because of her guilt. That guilt was gone now.

"Tyrion of the House Lannister and his wife Lady Sansa both of you are accused of murdering my brother and your king Joffrey by the queen mother. How do you plead?" he said loudly making sure that everyone was able to hear it.

Both of them said that they were not guilty and Uncle Tyrion made a joke about the pigeons being guilty for Joffrey's death.

"The trial begins. The crown may call its first witness."

There were testimonies from Meryn Trant, Pycelle, Varys and one of Sansa's maids previous to the one appointed by Tyrion. Then there was a break. Although there were a lot of witnesses from the crown's side but Will was sure that he could give the not guilty verdict as none of those were actual proofs. 'They did not like Joffrey, they hated him, Lord Tyrion threatened him.' Statements like these were not an actual proof. However, what happened after the break was not expected by Will.

"The crown may call its next witness."

A woman walked in and Will saw the look of surprise on Sansa's face but it was nothing expected to the look on Tyrion's face. 'This could be trouble,' thought Will.

"State your name."

"Shae."

"Do you swear that you would tell the truth?" asked Lord Tywin.

"Yes."

"These people are accused of killing the king. Do you know anything about that?"

"I know they did it."

"And how do you know that?"

She went on to explain how Tyrion promised to kill Joffrey so that he could enter Sansa's bed. That they both hated Joffrey. After Oberyn asking how she could ever know that much information, she replied that she was Tyrion's whore. She told everything in such details that it was impossible to call her out on her lie. This was not going well. Will knew he had to do something soon because he can see the look of hurt on his Uncle's face and then it struck him. He had to scare her.

"Did you overhear them make their plans?" he asked.

"Some of it. Some the little lord revealed to me after fucking me while he was drunk."

"It must have taken some time to make the plan. Get every detail right."

"Yes, it surely did your grace."

"Then why did you not inform anyone about their plans?"

She seemed dumbstruck on hearing the question.

"He had me shipped away on the day of the wedding."

"That was on the day of the wedding. Why did you not tell anyone as soon as you heard those plans?"

"I..I.."

"You are then an accomplice. You must be punished with them as well. Arrest her."

"No! No! I was lying. They paid me. I did not hear anything. I was paid to lie."

"Who paid you?"

"I don't know."

"There must be someone who told you to lie."

"A woman came to me and handed me a letter. In the letter was written what I had to do and she gave me the money. At first, I tried to resist but she knew who I was your grace and threatened to inform Lord Tywin about me. I knew that he would hang me if he ever found me so I accepted. I only did this to save my life, your grace."

"Can you describe the woman?"

After Shae gave her description Will ordered the city watch to find the woman and was ready to adjourn for the day when a noble from the stands stood up and shouted that he knew the woman.

"I am ashamed to say this but I know the woman your grace."

"Why are you ashamed?"

"Because she is a whore. I know her. Her name is Ros. She runs Lord Baelish's establishment."

"Bring her here," ordered Will to the city watch and within an hour she stood before him.

"It was indeed me your grace, I would not lie to you."

"Give me one reason why I should not arrest you?"

"Because I did not know the contents of the letter your grace."

"Who was the letter by?"

"Lord Baelish," she said and Will almost smiled. 'Thank you for this Lady Olenna' he thought.

"He told me what to say to her to convince her but he did not tell me what was in the letter," she continued.

"If Lord Baelish wanted to frame Tyrion and Sansa then either he had an issue with them or he was trying to get them arrested because he was the murderer."

"It seems that way your grace," replied Lord Tywin.

"But why would he want to kill Joffrey. Joffrey made him lord of Harrenhall. He was a friend of the crown," asked Lord Tywin.

"Maybe I can answer," suggested Ros.

"Go on."

"Lord Baelish once told me that he loved only one woman his entire life, Lady Catelyn Stark. Maybe he believed that his grace could be responsible for her death and wanted revenge."

"He did love her. That can be a reason. Send a raven to the Vale and summon Lord Baelish. Order him to arrive within two fortnights or be named an enemy of the crown."

"At once your grace."

"I think we can all say that it seems Lord Tyrion and Lady Sansa are not guilty at least until Lord Baelish arrives," Will said to Lord Tywin and Prince Oberyn and they both agreed.

"Both of you are free for now but you are not allowed to leave the capital. The trial will continue until Lord Baelish arrives."

xxx xxx

"The boy is getting out of her hands," exclaimed Lord Tywin.

"I think he is doing quite well but I might be biased," replied Tyrion while taking a sip from his Dornish red. Lord Tywin had asked for all of his children in his chambers for a discussion on Will.

"Your jokes are not appreciated."

"What has you worried father?" asked Cersei.

"He is hiding things from us. He has something on the Tyrells. Olenna Tyrell would never have given away her grandson up for nothing. No, it has to be something serious. I want to know what it is."

"Isn't that good for us though? We got the Tyrell gold, they increased the food they sent to us and now Will's children will get Highgarden."

"And you also got your golden son back. You now don't have to worry about me turning Casterly Rock into a brothel after your death, father."

"I don't care about what he got from the Tyrells but about how he got it and he has not shared it with any of us. He knows something that I don't. I don't like it. What do your spies say Cersei?"

"You think I spy on my son?"

"I know that you do. Now stop playing games and tell me what is he up to?"

"Nothing. He did meet with Olenna Tyrell a while back but other than that nothing unusual."

"Keep an eye on him. You're his mother, if you cannot get that information out of your own son then what good are you?"

"He is family father. Is that really necessary?" asked Ser Jaime Lannister.

"Yes. We also have to think about your marriage. It is time that you got married now that you are no longer in the kingsgaurd. You will also go to Casterly Rock and take your place as my heir."

"I am the commander of the king's army. My place is here."

"But you will marry. You will father children who would inherit Casterly Rock. I will find you a suitable woman to marry."

"We will soon be at war. Our focus should be on strategy and defense, not at marriage."

"We are more than capable of focus on more than one matters at once. You will get married after William and Margaery's wedding and this will be the last time we would discuss it."

"Yes, father."

xxx xxx

"Okay, what do we have today?" asked Will as he took his seat in the Small Council chambers.

"There is a group of fanatics in the city under the leadership of a High Sparrow..." began Lord Varys.

"Wait a minute, where is Uncle Tyrion?" he asked but was given nobody spoke.

"Is he not the Master of Coin? I want him here the next time we meet. Is that understood?"

"Yes your grace," replied Lord Tywin.

"Now, any news from the Vale?" asked Will.

"Neither Lord Baelish nor Lady Arryn has sent any replies to our messages," informed Pycelle.

"What do your birds whisper Lord Varys?"

"Lord Baelish and Lady Arryn got married two moons back. It would appear that Lady Arryn has no intention of handing over Lord Baelish to the crown. He was seen receiving the message by my birds but after that, there seems to be no sign of him."

"Must be hiding like a coward," came the voice of Mace Tyrell.

"So what do we do?" asked Will worried that it might lead to a war.

"It's simple, we declare them enemies of the crown, burn their cities and kill all of them. Why are we even discussing this? They killed my son and your King," announced Cersei.

"It is not that simple. The Vale has never been conquered before. Our armies would be at a terrible disadvantage with the terrain and the weather. Also, there is a long climb upwards. Thousands of our men would die just to reach their gates," replied Uncle Jaime.

"Jaime is correct. We cannot afford such heavy losses while Stannis still lingers."

"Isn't there some other way. We will look like fools if we do nothing. Everybody in the seven kingdoms knows by now that I had Baelish summoned. His absence has confirmed his guilt. If we do nothing we would look weak."

"There can be something done. Summon Tyrion," Lord Tywin said and a guard went to get him.

"You called for me, father?" asked Tyrion as soon as he entered.

"Yes, have a seat. Baelish and Lysa Arryn have not returned any of our messages. This means war."

"But we cannot afford a war with the Vale while Stannis still lingers."

"Agreed. That is why I am giving you an important task. You will go to the Vale and meet with those tribals who fought with us against the Starks. You remember them?" asked Lord Tywin and Tyrion nodded.

"You will provide them with more weapons and gold. They will use that to cause unrest in the Vale. This will weaken the knights of the Vale and we will take advantage of that."

"That is good. What news of Stannis?" asked Will.

"He seems to have taken a good amount of loan from the Iron Bank and rides North with his army of sellswords," informed Varys.

"Why north?"

"I don't know that your grace."

"Make sure your birds follow him wherever he goes. What else?"

"There are to be preparations for the wedding of his Grace and Lady Margaery. The date is coming closer every day but there are still many preparations left."

"Nothing fancy like Joffrey's wedding. I am sure mother will be happy to help you with that. You were saying something about some fanatics Lord Varys?"

"Nothing too big of a concern, for now, your grace."

"Are you sure? Good then."

xxx xxx

"Mother! What brings you here at this hour?"

"Can't a mother simply want to visit her son?"

"She can but she has chosen not to since after the trial."

"You let them both go."

"I did because they are not guilty. You saw the trial yourself. It is Baelish who did this and I promise you that I will give you his head."

"So it has nothing to do with your 'meetings' with Sansa Stark."

"Are you spying on me?"

"Not even a leaf moves in this castle without me knowing about it Will."

"So what do you want?"

"I want you to stop it."

"Or you would tell Uncle Tyrion?"

"No. You are my son. All the games I play, all the terrible things I do are for my children not against them. I would do things for my family that you couldn't imagine."

"What is this then?"

"This is an advice. Your father fell in love with a Stark but had to marry me and he never let her go till his death. You know we never had a happy marriage. Not even for a moment. Do you want the same for Margaery and yourself?"

"No."

"Think about it Will. Nothing good can ever come out of it."

"I will. I promise."

"Why did Olenna Tyrell become so generous towards you?"

"I… I… I don't want to lie to you, mother."

"What is so important that you cannot share it with your own mother."

"Mother please."

"All right. You are not a boy anymore. You are a king. You can do as you like."

xxx xxx

Meereen.

"There is a man to see you, your grace."

"Tell him to come to me when I hold the court like everyone else."

"He says he is from Westeros."

"Bring him in."

A man dressed in poor and torn clothes with a heavy beard and long hair walked into the room.

"Who are you?" asked Danaerys.

The man did not reply but began removing his beard and hair. When he was done she heard Ser Barriston sigh.

"Do you know this man Ser Barriston?"

"Yes, my queen. He was a member of King Robert's small council. His name is Peter Baelish."

End.

Next Chapter: A Lion and a Rose

Author's Note:

Thanks so much for reading this chapter. I hope that you liked it. Dany is introduced in this chapter and she will play a major part in this story.

Do review and tell me your thoughts on it if you liked it and especially if you did not like it. Your comments and criticism will help me become a better writer. I was sad to receive so fewer comments for the last chapter and get that you all didn't like it so much. So please tell me what was wrong, it was uninteresting or stupid or whatever you felt.

Make sure to follow the story. Also, favorite it if you liked it.

Till next time.