THE GAME

TYWIN

Jon Arryn was not known for plotting things and Tywin Lannister didn't see any underlying power grab for the Hand to ask him to bring his daughter and the children back with him to Casterly Rock. Still that didn't mean there wasn't one. Two days had passed since the funeral rights for Joffrey and Tywin sat with his family to break his fast.

Genna, Cersei, Tyrion, Myrcella, and Tommen were all present; Jaime was on duty. Tywin looks at Cersei, "You seem angry. Why?"

"My husband seems bent on having this tourney anyway. It was to celebrate the betrothal of Joffrey…" She pauses after mentioning his name.

"Momma are you alright?" Tommen asks.

She smiles, "I am fine…Now he wants the tourney to go forth to honor Joffrey."
"And what is wrong with that?" Genna asks.

"My oaf of a husband would use any excuse to have a tourney…Any!" She says the last part raising her voice.

"After the tourney why don't you and the children come with me to Casterly Rock. It would be good to get away from the Capital for a while."

"Oh please mother can we go?" Tommen asks in excitement.

"Yes I have been wanting to visit the rock again for a long time now."

She looks at the children and smiles, Cersei's mind races and Tywin could see the wheels turning in her head. "May I speak with you in private father?"

They go to her room to talk, "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you asking this of me…Did my husband put you up to this?"

"So suspicious."

"You always said look for the reason behind all moves. So I am asking. Is this your idea or was it suggested by someone else?"

Tywin didn't like when his own words were thrown back at him. It implied that he didn't live by them so he told her. He wanted to see where this was going. "It was suggested by Jon Arryn. Why?"

She starts pacing, "So the old man is making his move."

"What move?"

"Jon Arryn has it in his head that the King would be happier with another woman…A younger bride. He wants to set me aside."

Tywin has his doubts. The crown is indebted to House Lannister for two million gold dragons. Of course there are Houses Lefford and Tyrell. House Lefford is a banner of House Lannister. Lord Lefford has a daughter younger than Cersei and House Lefford is the second richest family in the west. Then there is the Tyrells, they are as rich as the Leffords, certainly more powerful.

"What does Jon Arryn gain by having you replaced as Queen?" Tywin asks. He can tell she is hiding something.

"Someone he can control. There is a power struggle here in the Capital. Robert is unfit to rule and Jon Arryn runs the kingdom, but I have been gaining power and influence. He sees me as a threat."

Tywin listened but he was skeptical of what his daughter said. He needed to speak with Jon Arryn. "Lord Tywin." Jon says after he is announced.

"I need to speak with you."

"Can it wait I am on my way to a meeting with the King and the small council."

"Perhaps we can walk and talk."

"Very well then."

Jon Arryn's men keep a safe distance, "My daughter is under the impression that you wish to replace her. She believes that you are whispering to the King to get him to annul his marriage."

"Is that what she told you?"

"Is it true?"
"You know my reputation my lord as I know yours…What do I gain by having the Queen removed? And the crown is indebted to House Lannister by two million gold dragons."

The answers came to quickly for Tywin's liking. Something was up, "Then what are you up to?"

"I am up to nothing. I thought it would be a good idea for the Queen to get away for a while."

Tywin stops in the hallway, "I am no fool my lord. Neither will I be made one of. You are hiding something and I will find out what it is."

JON ARRYN

He watches as Tywin walks away. The question now, was did Cersei know that Jon knew her children were bastards? That would be the only reason for the lie she told Tywin. Jon put the matter aside for the time being as he entered the council chambers next to the throne room. To his surprise and delight Eddard Stark is present. "I invited Ned to sit in on this meeting…I think we can use his wisdom." Robert says.

"I have no objections your grace."

"Good let us begin. Now with my son Joffrey's passing the Iron Throne goes to my son Tommen…I am still determined to unite our houses Ned. So…"

"Begging your pardon, your grace. But Sansa Stark is four years Prince Tommen's senior. Shouldn't we find someone younger."

"What difference does her age make?" Lord Varys asks.

"Females mature faster than males…She could have a strong influence on the King and how the Kingdom is run."

"Your arguments make no sense." Ned says speaking up.

"You have another daughter Lord Stark…Arya I believe her name to be."

"My daughter Arya is young and headstrong…"

"She reminds me of Lyanna, gods rest her soul." Robert says.

"She will grow out of it. Your Grace I think a better match would be Lady Arya Stark and Prince Tommen."

Robert shakes his head, "No! Sansa and Tommen." He looks at his friend, "Ned."

He nods, "Agreed."

Robert looks at Varys, "Any word from the East?"

"Yes our friend says that Khal Drogo will marry Princess Daenarys Targaryen next month."
"What friend?" Jon asks.

Varys passes the letter to Jon Arryn. After he reads it he hands it to Ned, "You would trust the word of a disgraced Knight? A man who would probably do anything to return to his home."
"A Knight who escaped justice." Ned adds.

"I swore I would hunt those white-haired shits down and kill them all…"

"I said nothing when Gregor Clegane and Armory Lorch laid the dead Targaryen children at your feet. I could not believe the man I knew would condone the murder of innocent children."

"Innocent!" He yells, "Have u forgotten what the Dragon spawn did to your father and brother? How Prince fucking Rhaegar kidnapped and raped your good sister…My betrothed!"
"No I have not forgotten. But it was not Elia or her children who did those things. Neither did Viserys or his sister lay a finger on my family. So yes they are innocent in all this."

"And tell me friend! What shall I do when the Dothraki cross the Narrow Sea?"

"The Dothraki will never cross the Narrow Sea." Jon says speaking up.

"And if they do the whole of Westeros will unite against them." Ned says.

"Only a fool would face the Dothraki in open combat…" Robert replies taking a drink.

"Sometimes we have to do what is unnecessary for the good of the realm."

Ned stands up, "I will have no part of this. And if u do this, forget about betrothing your son to my daughter."

"Get the fuck out of my sight you coward!"

"Robert!" Jon says.

"Go on back to Winterfell!"

Jon wants to leave and speak with Ned, but he must stay for the rest of the meeting. After the meeting Jon Arryn rushes to Ned's apartment in the palace to find him packing to leave. Leaving."

"Aye…I'll not stain my hands with the blood of innocence."

Jon sighs, "Can we talk Ned. I need your help."

CERSEI

"You wanted to see me your grace?" Lord Commander Janos Slynt says entering her study.

"Yes…I did. How would you like to be the Lord of New Castamere?"

He smiles, "Me the Lord of my own Castle and Lands. And what must I do to earn this reward?"

"You serve me and me alone from now on. I am buying the loyalty of the gold cloaks…I will see your salary and the wages of every man under you tripled." She rings a bell and Ser Jaime enters. "Take a knee Lord Janos."

He obeys, "I Ser Jaime Lannister charge thee in the name of the Warrior…to be brave." He taps Janos on the right shoulder and then the left, "In the name of the Father protect I charge thee to be Just…and in the name of the Mother, I charge thee to protect the innocent…Rise a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Ser Janos Slynt."

"This is the first of many rewards Ser Janos…"

"And as a Knight I swear to serve my Queen…Queen Cersei Baratheon…"

"Now what?" Jaime asks after Ser Janos leaves.

"Now if Jon Arryn moves against me…I have the gold cloaks on my side."

"And Stark?"

"One way or another I will stop this foolish engagement."

"You are planning to kill Robert aren't you?" She just smiles and takes a drink. Later Cersei writes a letter to her father. "Ride after my father and place this in his hands and his hands alone." She commands to a Lannister guard.

"Yes my Queen…Do I wait for a reply?"

"Yes."

Jon and Ned had decided to confront Robert after the tourney. Robb had been watching everything that went on and decided that Robert's time was soon coming to an end. All the pieces are in place and all hell was about to break out.