Chapter 19. Showdown at the Red Keep

Joffrey Baratheon was now 26 years old-He had mellowed ever since his wife Margaery gave birth to their only son Robert Baratheon II-naming him after Robert also tore the rumors and whispers about the King's parentage. Margaery had refused to give Joffrey anymore children after she learned what Joffrey did to Sansa Lannister. In fact Maergary had just started talking to him again and allowing Joffrey to sleep in their bed. She had told Joffrey that if he did anything beyond pleasing himself he would wake up without a cock. The cockless King is what they would call him and Margaery promised that she would turn her son against him. So Tywin threat before the court combined with what she told him forced Joffrey to change. He labored at it everyday and finally Margaery spoke kindly to him and a week after she gave him sex.

Joffrey ruled with a fair but strong hand despite the fact that his grandfather Tywin Lannister was the true power behind the Iron Throne. Tywin labored day and night to ensure that the power of the Lannisters could felt in every corner of Westeros. Despite the past eight years of peace in a bitter winter none of the royal family or people of court was aware of the war raging in the west. This was due to three factors-Arya Stark had killed all Ravens sent to King's Landing, along with all messengers. The Tyrells kept sending supplies to King's Landing by guards who would wait in the city and unlock the gates when they attacked-and finally Lord Verys had kept the rebellion a secret-more so because now his life depended on it.

Master Pycel tapped his staff on the stone floor, "Let all those who have business with the King come forth!"

The Nobles in court all whispered and awed at the beautiful brunette who captured the eyes of all the men and made the women look for the slightest flaw-they found none. She was dressed in a gold and green gown-colors of the north-Her hair thick curly hair flowed down her back and the rest was in a bun-She wore a gold and sapphire band on her head. Even Tywin had to shift in his seat next to the King.

"May his grace King Joffrey live forever."

Joffrey smiles and looks at Margaery who was enchanted by the exotic beauty as well. "You are a rare rose indeed-dear lady-Your beauty is equal to that of my queen-almost."

"Your highness is too kind-But even I am no match for the Rose of King's Landing."

"Ask me whatever boon-I shall grant it!"

She curtsied again, "Thank you your majesty-for my family has been unjustly wronged-My father was friends with the Late King Robert Baratheon."

Joffrey smiles again, "Your father knew my father-who was he and please tell us your name!"

She laughed, "Forgive me your grace for laughing-I said my father new the King not your father Jaime Lannister."

A wave of shock echoed through the court from the people in session. The hands of the Kings Guard flew to their swords. "What did you say?" Joffrey asked, giving her a chance to correct herself.

The woman's voice took on a menacing tone, "You heard what I said son of Jaime Lannister!"

As Joffrey jumped up the guards drew their swords, "Woman I will have your tongue ripped from your filthy mouth!"

The courtiers were spellbound by the exchange of words, "Really-because you beheaded my father and raped my sister-Bastard King!"

Tywin stood up as Joffrey spoke, "I'd have your name woman-before I order my men to kill you!"

"My father was Eddard Stark whom you unjustly beheaded-My mother Catelyn Stark-Sansa my sister whom you raped-Bran and Rickon my other brothers-I AM ARYA STARK of HOUSE STARK!" She pulled out a bag from her gown and threw it across the floor. A woman screamed as the heads of Jaime and Tommen Lannister rolled out along with the heads of Cersi Tyrell and Myrcella Martell. "And I have come for vengeance!"

"Kill that bitch!" Tywin yelled looking at the heads of his son, daughter, and grandchildren.

"Protect the King!" The Captain of the guard yelled.

8 men stood in front of the Iron Throne as another five charged Arya with their swords drawn. Arya rolls backwards and as she does two blades sprout from her dress cutting the gown in two-When she gets to her feet Arya is wearing knee high boots brown leggings like a man-a heavy leather sword belt-and a strap across her shoulders for holding two swords. A chain mail shirt is worn under a vest with a hood-gauntlets adorn her forearms-There are ten throwing stars on her belt with another sword-two daggers on each thigh-and on her right hip was needle. Arya ran towards the men stabing two at the same time-one on the right and the other on the left. The Courtiers scream as they hit the floor dead-Arya draws her Kitara sword blocking left-then she spins around to the right slicing the man's neck. Then she rolls to the right of the first man she blocked while another tries to flank her from behind thrusting his sword-Arya sticks her leg up and kicks the man into his comrades pointed blade. She decapitates both men with two swings.

The people in the court try to escape bu the doors are locked. Tywin, Joffrey, and Margaery are shocked by the display of swordsmanship. "KILL HER! KILL HER!" Joffrey keeps screaming.

This time ten guards surround Arya with their swords raised high. Arya raises her sword and slowly turns looking at each man-she mentally marks them in her mind and lowers her sword to a side guard. They all attack at the same time, but Arya leans backwards and slits the throats of four men. She throws her sword up and grabs the collars of two men in front of her-Arya drags them down raising her legs and throws them into their companions. She raises her hand catching her sword as it comes down. She swings right killing two men and swings left allowing the man to block her attack-She grabs his sword hand and cuts it off at the wrist-now Arya is armed with two swords-Tywin Lannister draws his sword and joins the fight running across the throne room. As she stabs another man Tywin tries to cut her hand off, but Arya pulls her hand away and starts fighting Tywin. One of the remaining two guards tries to flank her from the right, but Arya spins just in time to slash him across the gut and continues her fight with Tywin who manages to knock her sword from her hand. Arya drops to the ground on her back and uses her legs to clip Tywin-he hits the floor face first as Arya takes up her sword and stabs him in the back. The last man rushes her from behind but Arya raises her hands clapping them together stopping the sword. She spins up to her feet from the kneeling position and kicks the man in the gut. As he is bent over Arya leaps up with one foot and jumps off his back grabbing two throwing stars from her belt-She throws them one right after the other. The first star flies across the room and strikes Margaery in the head.

"Moma!" Robert says as his mother hits the floor with a throwing star in her forehead.

Joffrey's eyes bulge as he looks down on his dead wife-the second throwing star strikes Master Pycel in the throat-his hands go to his throat as he tries to stop the gushing blood-He falls to his knees as blood pours from his mouth-He gags and dies. The floor is now littered with the bodies of the guards and the courtiers watch as Arya crosses the floor to Joffrey. He grabs his son as the rest of the guards try to slow Arya down. The Captain leads them to the secret passageway, but Arya slips around a guard and throws Needle like a spear-it strikes Joffrey in the back of his knee.

"Father!"

"My Lord!"

"Run Robert run! Protect my son!"

When they reach the secret passage Sandor stabs the Captain in the gut and beheads him. Robert's jaw drops as he looks up at the beast of a man covered in blood. Gendry and fifty men enter the throne room shooting crossbows at the courtiers killing them all. Viserys stands by the throne watching it all unfold.

"Sandor help me!" Joffrey begged.

"I no longer serve you boy-I serve the Wolf of the North! She is far more honorable than you." He replied standing over Joffrey.

Arya walks across the floor and joins them-she uses her foot to flip Joffrey over, "Joffrey Baratheon or should I say Lannister?"

"Murderer!" He screamed.

She kicked him in the ribs then she kicked him the face, "The audacity!" She replied bending down.

"Please have mercy."

"You know this reminds me of that time when you attacked me and my friend Mycah-Do you remember that?" He didn't answer, so she yanked Needle out and and stabbed him in the shoulder.

"Please stop!"

"Answer me you bastard when I ask you a question!"

"Yes I remember!"

"My friend was killed-so was my sister's wolf Lady-and you lied-you and your bitch of a mother."

"I'm sorry!"

"I doubt that-I was going to kill you very painfully-very slowly-but then I was told that you raped my sister."

He shook his head, "No she wanted it she seduced me!"

Arya sneered and grabbed his cock squeezing, "What did you say?"

The pain was unbearable, "She..." He clenched his teeth as she squeezed harder. "I raped her!" He looked at Verys, "Please help me Lord Verys!"

Arya looked at him and he backed away, "He can;'t help you-As I said I was going to kill you very painfully-very slowly but then I learned you raped my sister and I said to myself death is too quick-Too easy-You..." She twisted needle which was still in his shoulder, "...must suffer for the rest of your miserable life."

"Let my father go you bitch!" Robert said in anger as Sandor held the boy.

Arya smacked her teeth, "I almost forgot about you." She yanked Needle from his arm and stabbed Robert in the throat.

Joffrey's eyes bulged, "NO!" He screamed in pain as his son hit the floor, "I'm going to kill you-you bitch!"

Arya shook her head, "I don't think so-I however am going to cut off your cock-your arms-your legs-and for the rest of your life you will live like this-Where I go you go-I will feed you once a day and have you bathed once a week-You will live the rest of your days on my graces." Arya stood up, "Remove his pants!"

"No!" Joffrey screamed and struggled as they took off his garments. "Please I beg you."

"I don't recall my father begging when you cut his head off!" She bent down with a dagger and grabbed his balls and shaft. Verys looked away placing his hands over his ears to drown out the screams. She placed the blade by his balls as Joffrey's cries grew louder.

"No by the gods please no! I beg you pleas don't!"

Blood flowed as Arya cut in a sawing motion slowly. She yanked what was left from the small skin that still attached it to his body. Then they took a heated sword and seared him so that he didn't bleed to death. Next Arya moved to his right leg, Sandor gave her an ax and in one chop she took off his leg at the knee. The left leg took five swings because she cut up closer to the waist. They seared the ends as Joffrey passed out from the pain.

"Hey wake up!" Arya said slapping him.

"Please kill me!" he begged.

"Ask me that again and I will pluck out your eyes and cut off your tongue."

She raised the ax cutting off his left arm at the elbow and his right arm at the shoulder. When Arya was done Sandor placed a leather strap on hin so that he could carry Joffrey like a sack. Arya gagged him so they wouldn't draw attention to themselves as they left the city. As Gendry, Sandor and the others went into the secret passage Arya gave Verys a scroll.

"Memorize it! Then burn it-If you betray me I will hunt you down personally and remove your limbs as well."

"I have no intention of betraying you my dear." Arya vanished into the secret passage leaving Verys to stare at the gruesome carnage of the Throne room. When he had enough he summoned the guards and had them kill all the Lannister men still in King's Landing. He had all the Matrtell and Tyrell men arrested and declared martial law. He had to wait five days before he contacted Stannis Baratheon.

"Petyr Balish-are you serious?" He asked after Verys explained what happened at court. It was Petyr Balish who had the royal family and the court slaughtered-he was also behind the Tyrell-Martell Rebellion.

Milisandre was doubtful, "Why were you spared?"

Verys was a good lier, "Little Finger and I have been at odds with one another ever since I befriended Tyrion Lannister-It was Tyrion Lannister who took Harranhal from him in the first place and embarrassed him with the Tyrells. He had me spared because he wants to show off."

"The Iron Throne is yours-Now we march North!" Lord Davos said before Little Finger marches on the capital."

Verys stepped forward drawing a look from Milisandre, "If I may your grace-It would be wiser to Tell the Tyrells and the Martells what has happened-Gain their allegiance then you will be in a far better position to fight whatever army Balish has built."

Milisandre narrowed her eyes, "I agree the Lord of Whispers."

"Also time is on your side-as Balish will need that time to either crush his potential rivals in the north or gain them as allies."

Stannis agrees and when the Tyrells and Martells learn of what allegedly happen at the Red Keep they decided to follow Stannis' Banner on the condition that he marry into their families as his wife was dead. But little does either of them know that Daenarys has the cities of Braavos and Pentos as Allies-The Free cities of the east have fallen to her power and she is ready to cross the Narrow sea and land in Storm's End.