POLITICS AND INTRIGUE

CERSEI

It had been foretold to Cersei that she would marry a King and bare three children and the King would have twenty and one. The first part of that prophecy was about to come true. The war was over and her father had sent for her to marry Robert Baratheon, the new King of Westeros. The rest of the prophecy made no sense to her or at least the middle part. How can she have three children and the King twenty and one. The last part frightened her, but she was determined that no matter what she would be a good Queen and mother. The last part of the prophecy would not come true if she had anything to do with it.

Cersei is very, beautiful, her beauty a legend throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Born into House Lannister one of the richest and most powerful families in the Seven Kingdoms. While Cersei is confined to the fate of a woman to marry a man for political power. She is determined to prove to her father Lord Tywin Lannister that she and not her brothers are the key to the Lannister legacy.

Cersei rides with her Aunt Genna and to her disgust younger brother Tyrion who insisted on riding in the carriage with her just to annoy her. She hated Tyrion with her entire being as he is part of the Prophecy she was told. But the main reason she hated him was the fact that her mother died bringing him into the world. And to add insult to injury Tyrion was born a dwarf. Short legs, arms, a huge head, with his mismatched eyes of green and another color that if hit by the sun looks violet.

"The countryside is so beautiful." Cersei rolls her eyes at her brother's comment.

"When we reach the Capital you will take over the arrangements for the wedding and the feast Aunt Genna?"

"Of course."

"I want sixteen…No twenty courses for the wedding feast."

"No expense shall be spared on your wedding."

She sighs, "If only my mother were here to see it."

"Your mother would be proud of all her children." Genna says.

Cersei looks at Tyrion, "I doubt that."

Tyrion sighs loudly, "If King Robert knew what he was getting into with you, he'd call off the wedding. Perhaps I should warn him of the ugliness within."

"You should talk of ugly."

"Enough! Bite your tongue Cersei and you Tyrion if you can't be civil in the wheelhouse then please ride your horse the rest of the way to the Capital."

That ended the argument before it got worse. Genna had tried to be a mother figure to Cersei and she respected her Aunt, but she was not her Mother. Joanna Lannister the only woman who could make Tywin Lannister smile. Cersei had been told often enough that she resembled Joanna in many ways. "Your father loves you Cersei…Its just that you remind him so much of Joanna…It hurts and your father does not like to show weakness…" These words were said to Cersei after her father spoke roughly to her about something she had done.

"We've stopped." Tyrion says. "Stay here I will see why?" Tyrion gets up and leaves the carriage.

Cersei and Genna get up as well, "Ser Addam! Why have we stopped?" Cersei demands interrupting a conversation between Tyrion and the Knight.

"As I was telling your Lord brother our scouts spotted two men on the road riding towards us…I sent men to speak with them and learn of their intentions."

Soon the scouts return with the two men, "Lady Cersei…I am Ser Barristan Selmy Lord Commander of the Kingsguard to King Robert."

"I know who you are Ser and him?"

"Ser Arys Oakheart also of the Kingsguard My Lady."

"The King sent us to escort you to the Capital."

"My Aunt Lady Genna Frey nee' Lannister and my brother Lord Tyrion."

He nods to them, "My Lady, My Lord."

"Jonathan…Be a good lad and bring my horse." Tyrion commands. Once Tyrion is mounted and the ladies in the wheelhouse, the company rides off.

After another six days they reach the Capital entering through the King's Gate to reach the Red Keep. Ser Barristan opens the door to the wheelhouse. Cersei and her companions are met by Jon Arryn, Prince Stannis Baratheon, and her father Lord Tywin Lannister. "After you are settled I will speak with you." Her father coldly says after the introductions.

Cersei is placed in the royal wing as the King's betrothed, but not allowed to settle in the Queen's quarters as of yet. After the servants set everything in order she sends for her father. "Hello father."

"How was your journey?"

"With the exception of certain people excellent."

"I have settled things with the King…You marry in a month's time. Your dowry will be one million gold dragons. Your aunt tells me that you want twenty courses for the wedding feast."

"Yes father."

He nods so be it, "Your Aunt will handle everything. If you need something or want more concerning the wedding let her know. As you are Lannister about to become a Baratheon."

"I shall always be a Lannister Father."

He nods, "I will send you an allowance of five thousand a month." They discuss everything about the wedding, but Cersei really wants to talk about is politics. He stands up, "That is all for now…"

"Wait…I want to ask about Elia Targaryen…Is she alive? I heard that she escaped the Red Keep."

He sighs, "Yes she escaped. As to whether she lives or not, I do not know. It is a long way from here to Dorne."

"Have you sent spies to Dorne?"

"Of, course I have. Elia is no threat to us…By marriage we will have the King and House Baratheon on our side. The King has Jon Arryn has side. By marriage Jon Arryn has Houses Stark and Tully to call on. The Martells are no threat."

"You once said to consider everyone an enemy who is not a Lannister."

"I also said that sometimes you must make allies of your enemies."

"Have you seen Jaime?"

"Your idiot brother insists on remaining in the guard and serving King Robert."

TYRION

Meanwhile Tyrion goes looking for his brother. "Here you are!"

Jaime smiles at the sound of his brother's approach, "Tyrion!" They hug, "As you can see I am on duty."

"And how did our beloved father take it when you told him that you would stay in the Kingsguard?"

"Called me a fool. Among other things."

"We are supposed to have a family dinner tonight. Will I see you?"

"I'll be there may the seven give me strength." Later at dinner, Genna, Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion sit at dinner to eat in Cersei's room. They talk about family, business back in the West, and theupcoming wedding.

TYWIN

Tywin Lannister stayed at the Lannister Mansion in the city. It is fully staffed with servants and guards. There is business he needs to conduct and the Red Keep has too many eyes and ears, "I need you to head for Dorne and find out if Princess Elia and her brats are still alive."

"If they are?"

"Report back to me."

Tywin pays the man and he leaves, then Pycel comes to see him, " Maester Pycel."

"My Lord Tywin it is good to see you again."

"And you…I want you to keep a close eye on Varys. I do not trust him. And if needs be I have men who in place you can use to kill him. But only if necessary."

"Yes My Lord."

VARYS

Varys the Master of Whispers, a former slave, a former actor with a troop, and a Eunuch, not by choice. Varys had led a life of ups and downs and faced death in the form a dagger or hunger and thirst. During the hard times he developed a hatred for the Noble and rich and came to love commoners and children, for they were the ones who often suffered at the hands of arrogant nobles. He was born in the Free City of Lys in Essos. An island city off the southern coast of the disputed lands.

Varys never knew his parents, but he was raised and trained by a troop of actors. They taught him how to do voices, act, and disguise himself. And Varys was the best. At the age of eleven the troop was traveling through the city of Myr. They stayed for three weeks entertaining the people of Myr. Then as they were packing to leave a man came to Varys' master and offered him a lot of gold for Varys. His Master took the offer and Varys feared that the man was one of those men who took pleasure in having their way with boys.

It was not as he feared to his relief. The man was a practitioner of the dark arts. He gave Varys a potion that rendered him unable to move. Then he took a heated knife and cut off his balls and shaft. The man threw his parts into a brazier and he began chanting. A voice answered the man from the fire. When the ritual was done Varys was thrown into the streets to die.

A woman, a whore by trade, she was beholden to no one took pity on Varys when she saw him in the street. She nursed him back to health and said to him; "You have two choices before you…You can either become bitter and blame the world and the gods for your current state or you can pick yourself up and make something of yourself. You have talent, you are an actor play a part…Lie cheat steal, but survive. My father was a bastard and after my mother died, he told me and my sisters that it was our job to fulfill his needs…"

"What did you do?" Varys asked.

"After a few years me and my sisters had enough. We poisoned the bastard and ran away. I sold my body for money to eat, but I was the master of my own fate. My sister Lara became a healer and my other sister Jorda became a tavern cook and eventually owned her own business…"

The woman got Varys a client who liked Eunuchs for his pleasure. The first time Varys was sick, but he had gold to feed himself. After two more times he took account of his skills and started creating a character. He sold his body until he was sixteen and then used his acting skills to get a rich noble to invest a fake business. He ran off with the man's money to Volantis. He used his acting skills to get into the east side of the city of Volantis as visitors are not allowed in the walled section of the east side.

He became a good thief and after a few jobs he left for Elyria. It was in Elyria that he became a courier. Varys learned peoples' secrets and blackmailed them to keep those secrets. He was always able to change his voice and appearance to become a totally different person. It was in the city of Tolas that he met the man who would become his best friend and ally. A young man who like, himself came from nothing. Ilyrio was a thief like Varys and together they amassed a fortune as they traveled across Essos. During their time together Varys taught Ilyrio how to disguise himself.

Eventually Ilyrio became, Ilyrio Mopatis, a merchant in cheese, spice, fish, and other goods. He amassed great wealth and became Magister of Pentos. He wanted Varys at his side, but Varys had other interests. And even though the two men went their separate ways, they remained the best of friends. Varys created the greatest spy network across Essos and Westeros and eventually became Master of Whispers to King Aerys Targaryen before he became the Mad King.

When Robert Baratheon came to power he decided to keep Varys as Master of Whispers to him. Whether or not Robert would be a good King remained to be seen. The man had his vices and they included, women, feasting, and drinking.

Varys little birds were children he trained to be his spies. No one paid attention to children, so they made the perfect spies. If anyone tried to harm one of his little birds all they had to do was show them the mark of the Spider. Everyone from Noble to commoner knew not to harm that child or there would be serious consequences. Varys owned an orphanage which was a base for the children to get food, an education, clothes, and training.

Varys was in his room reading messages from his spies across the world when someone knocked at his door. It was the girl Ellyn, "Yes." After receiving the message Varys sneaks out if his room in disguise. Then he heads for the passageway used by Princess Elia to escape. Prince Oberyn is waiting for him.

"Varys."

"My Prince."

"Where do your loyalties lie."

"I think you know the answer to that question considering the fact that your sister made it back home. My condolences on Prince Jaehaerys."

"What became of Queen Rhaenys and her son."

"They fled to Dragonstone, where she had a baby girl. She died giving birth. Prince Viserys and his Sister Daenarys have been taken by ship to Braavos. With the death of Prince Jaehaerys succession falls to Prince Viserys."

"Perhaps…What became of Lyanna Stark?"

"Died…Lord Stark took his sister's remains back to Winterfell to be buried."

"The name Jon Snow mean anything to you?"

"A bastard claimed by Lord Stark."

"I knew Rhaegar. He did not kidnap that girl and my sister confirmed it."

"Prince Rhaegar would have made a great King."

Oberyn sighs, "Right…My sister commands that you tell Robert that her body; along with the children and her handmaiden were found in marshes torn apart by wild animals."

"And what of Prince Viserys and his sister?"

"Arrange for a merchant ship to meet me in Dorne…I and my sister will sail to Braavos…Wait a few months and tell the Usurper that Pirates sunk the ship on its way there. Make it look real."

"It will be done."