THE KING

CERSEI

She is on top of the world. Her plan had worked, there were only one of two things she was not pleased with and the first was not being the one responsible for Robert's death. Her son had listened to her council and named her Queen Regent. A few days ago she and Jaime were able to be intimate A private celebration honoring Robert's death. The other thing dampening her mood was the fact that Renly Baratheon had escaped the Capital. The fool Janos Slynt had not sent enough men to stop Renly. Renly having hired Sell Swords to swell his ranks. Then there was Ser Loras Tyrell a legendary swordsman in the making. She sits down and writes a letter.

To my father Lord Tywin Lannister

I write this letter to let you know that forces are plotting against us. Against our legacy. Instead of supporting his nephew, Renly Baratheon has fled the Capital for some reason. Both Jon Arryn and Eddard Stark plotted to have me arrested and deny my son Tommen the Throne. But I was able to buy the loyalty of Lord Slynt and the Gold Cloaks.

I have been named Queen Regent, but when the Knights of the Vale and Lords of the North learn that their Lords have been imprisoned for treason they will raise arms against us. I ask that you do what is necessary to strike first. I also ask that you send troops to King's Landing as soon as possible.

With regards,

Your Daughter and Queen.

After sending the letter off she summons the small council. "Where is Ser Barristan? I sent for him to be at this meeting." She asks. Usually the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard attended the small council meetings. Barristan had a reputation of not attending.

"I am sorry your Grace, but this was found in his Solar."

To her Grace Queen Cersei

I Ser Barristan Selmy do hereby turn in my resignation. I do not serve traitors or their bastards…I wish you good fortune in the wars to come…

Ser Barristan Selmy

She balls the letter up and looks at Varys, "Did you read this?" She asks annoyed.

"No your Grace it was addressed to you. What did it say?"

"Nothing important!" She replies, "Ser Barristan has betrayed the King. I want a bounty placed on his head. Dead or alive."

"Forgive me your grace…Few men would take such a bounty on Ser Barristan the Bold. He is one of the best swordsmen in the seven Kingdoms." Varys says.

"Perhaps ten thousand gold dragons will enhance their courage."

"We have news from the East…The assassination attempt on Daenarys Targaryen has failed."

"And her brother?"

"Dead!" He replies explaining how Viserys met his end. They discuss affairs of state and Cersei expresses her desire to have Stannis watched closely along with all other potential enemies of her House and Son. She also wants Jaime made Lord Commander of the King's Guard.

"Has there been any sign of Arya Stark?" She asks looking at Janos Slynt.

"No your grace."

Then she looks at Varys, "And you spymaster…Have your little birds found her?"

"No your grace…The girl is good at hiding…"

"Bring Lady Sansa to me…" A few minutes later Sansa walks in escorted by two Lannister men. They are dismissed, "Sansa my little dove…"

"I am not a dove…I am a wolf of House Stark." She confidently replies.

Cersei smiles, "Of course you are. Please be seated."

"No thank you."

Cersei smiles, "I am your Queen. I command it."

"I demand to see my father!"

"Your father is a traitor."

"My father is no traitor! He is a man of honor. The only traitors I see are the ones sitting in front of me." Her wolf blood had been flamed by Robb before she left Winterfell.

"Be careful little dove…My patience has its limits."

"I am not the naïve little girl you take me for…And you can't touch me. If you do my brother and the Lords of the North will unleash the seven hells on you, if I or my father are harmed."

"You think your brother can stand against the combined might of House Lannister, House Baratheon, House Tyrell, House Tully…" Pycell says.

"You may get the Tyrells to support you…" Sansa says interrupting. "…but House Tully is my mother's House and they will aid my brother and the North against you. So will the Vale when they find out what you did to Lord Arryn. I know what the Queen is accused of and don't think for a minute the Baratheons will support Tommen or his mother when they hear of it."

Cersei is angry and she would like nothing more than to give the little Northern Bitch to her men for sport, but she is right. House Baratheon would not support them. Especially if they believed the rumors about Tommen. Renly probably knows which is why he left and will no doubt tell the Stormlords. The Tyrells may support Tommen, but she knew that the Tyrells would want something in return.

TOMMEN

Sandor Clegane had shielded his eyes when the carnage started, but still Tommen had seen the blood and dead bodies just before Clegane escorts him from the throne room. "Hear me Roar!" Are the words of House Lannister. "Ours is the Fury!" The words of House Baratheon. He had the blood of lions and the Stag, or so he believes. He is a King and his inner lion had been awakened by Robb as well to counter anything his mother would do.

Tommen leaves his room, it was time to rule. "You!" He says to a servant walking by. Sandor Clegane is standing guard. "Find me Ser Barristan."

"Begging your pardon my King. Ser Barristan has resigned his post." Clegane says speaking up.

Tommen frowns, "Why?"

"Don't rightly know my King."

Tommen looks at the guard, "Fine! Find my mother and bring her here."

"Yes my King." The servant replies and runs off. He returns a few minutes later, "The Queen is in a small council meeting."

"What!" He looks at Clegane, "Come Ser Clegane." When they arrive at the small council Chamber Ser Meryn Trant is on duty.

"Forgive me your grace, but the Queen is in session with the small council."

"Who rules the seven kingdoms?"

"You do your grace."

"I'm glad you remember that. Now stand aside!" He quickly opens the door. "What is the meaning of this?" Tommen says raising his voice entering the council chambers in the Tower of the Hand. Varys, Pycell, Janos, and Jaime quickly stand up.

"Your Grace…" They all say at the same time.

Tommen looks at Sansa Stark as his mother starts speaking. "My love…I called a meeting…"

"I am King and I call small council meetings at my pleasure not yours!" Tommen says interrupting. Causing Sansa to smile.

"Of course you do my love. I did not feel the need to bother you with trivial matters."

"Trivial! Lords Arryn and Stark storm into the throne room with armed guards and you call this trivial!" He looks at the others one at a time, "Ser Jaime stand guard at the door. The rest of you leave us! Ser Clegane take Lady Sansa to see her father. Lord Varys…I need to speak with you later." They all bow and leave.

As Jaime leaves he smiles at the strength Tommen shows. "My love…"

"Be quiet woman!"

"I am your mother! You do not speak to me like that!"

He raises his voice as well, "And I am King! I gave you the title Queen Regent because it is what you wanted, but I can also take it away."

She smiles, "I apologize for calling a meeting without including you. It will not happen again my love."

"It most certainly will not. For if it does, I will have you shipped back to Casterly Rock!" He sits down, "Now tell me what was discussed and leave nothing out. For I intend to speak with Lord Varys." He listens as his mother tells him about the letter to his Grandfather, a water downed version of what happened with Sansa, and all the rest. "And Lords Stark and Arryn where are they?"

She sighs, "Imprisoned in the Black Cells."

"What!" Tommen responds standing up, "My father had those cells closed."
"I thought to teach them a lesson."

Tommen stands up. When he exits the room he looks at his uncle Jaime, "I understand you wish to be Lord Commander of the Queen's guard."

"I do your Grace."

He sighs, "Do you really Uncle or is this what my mother wants."

"She asked it of me and I said yes."

He shakes his head, "Well I say no! I will appoint the new Lord Commander."

"As you wish my King."

"Would you please escort my mother back to her apartments and make sure she stays there. No one sees her without my permission."

"Your Grace…May I speak with you in private?"

Tommen nods to the two Lannister guards and they walk away, "Yes."

"Your mother is only trying to help you. Protect you."

"My mother…" He sighs not wanting to say the wrong thing, "…She can be overbearing. Sometimes I often felt smothered by her. And Joffrey…She was blind when it came to him." Jaime tries to speak, "I love my mother Uncle, but I will not allow her to run me or my Kingdom."

Jaime smiles, "Will there be anything else Your Grace?"

"We will talk later Uncle."

"Of course."

Tommen walks with to the cells. Of all the Kingsguard he trusts his Uncle and Clegane the most.

When he arrives Clegane is standing outside. He enters and finds Sansa is hugging her father. "Guards…I want Lords Arryn and Stark moved to the prison block…They are to be given water for a bath and fresh clothes everyday and food from the kitchens…Whatever they wish. See to it."

"Yes Your Grace."

"Thank you." Sansa says.

"My pleasure…Now leave me alone with the prisoners." Tommen waits for everyone to leave. "Why?" Tommen asks looking at the two men.

"Why what?" Jon Arryn asks.

"Why did you try to keep me from my birthright?"

"That is a question for your mother and Uncle." Ned replies.

Tommen sighs, "If you are the men you say you are. If you were the friends you say you were to my father then answer me."

Ned looks at Jon, "Tommen…You are a good lad. And no doubt you would make a better King than Joffrey ever would be or Robert. But if you wish to know the why speak with Lord Varys. I am sure he knows the truth of why we did what we did…"

Tommen shakes his head to leave, "One other thing." Ned says speaking up, "I would not keep Pycell around he is your mother's pet. So are Trant and Slynt."

He stops looking at them, "Thank you." Tommen goes to see Lord Varys with Clegane. "Tell me. Why did Lords Arryn and Stark try to take the Iron Throne from me?"

"I will tell you Your Grace, if you truly wish to know. But first Ser Clegane must wait outside. I will not speak freely otherwise." Tommen nods to him and he leaves. "I also ask your word that you will never tell who you learned this from."

"You have my word…I swear on the New and Old gods."

He sighs, "Your mother was unfaithful to Robert. He is not your father."

Tommen starts breathing heavy, "That is…You are lying! Now tell me the truth!" His emotionally raised voice causes Clegane to enter the room.

Varys sits back, "Are you alright my King?"

Tommen looks angrily at Varys as Clegane's hand falls to his sword, "I can see your angry…And believe me when I say that I have faced death on many occasions. In many different forms. We are old friends, so if you are going to threaten me then do so. Or if you are going to command Lord Clegane to kill me then get it over with. But know this…I speak the truth. I will say no more as long as Clegane is in here. Do as you will."

He closes his eyes. Tommen looks at Clegane who nods and walks out. "If King Robert…" He takes a breath. Trying to calm his emotions. "If King Robert is not my father…Then who is?"

"Jaime Lannister…" Tommen stands up and walks out not wanting to hear anymore. As he and Clegane walk towards his mother's apartments he looks at him.

"You want to ask me something your Grace?"

"Is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"About my mother and Ser Jaime."

Clegane sighs, "You have to ask them."

"So it is true. If it were not Ser Barristan would still be here…And Lords Arryn and Stark would not have done what they did."

Clegane stops and grabs Tommen by the shoulders, "Do you want to be King?"

"I…I'm afraid."

"Everyone feels fear…"

"Even you."

He smiles, "You know what I fear My little King."

"Will you…Will you abandon me?"

Clegane touches his chin and lifts his head, "I will protect you for as long as you need me…My King." They hug.