Tiredness was there, fighting to take hold. Robert had forced it off at Pyke, he'd forced it off at Lannisport, and he'd fought it off on the journey home, but now, now he was starting to feel it. He wanted to sleep and sleep for a long time and not worry about something that might or might not happen. There would be no threats to him now, not within King's Landing or the Red Keep. Yet, he had promised Cersei that he would speak with her when he returned, and he kept his promises. So, here he was. dressed in a tunic in Baratheon colours sat opposite his wife. He blinked and said. "Greyjoy wanted independence, that much was obvious, but he also thought he could get away with it because he thought that nobody would side with me. He felt without the Targaryens around he could get away with everything. He was wrong."
"Of course, the Greyjoys have never been very smart. With Stark, Arryn, Tully, Lannister and the Crownlands firmly behind you, he would have been an idiot to think that. Especially now that the Redwyne fleet is fully included in the royal fleet." Cersei said. Robert nodded, her suggestion that that happen had been a smart one, even if he had not fully appreciated it at the time. She was much smarter than Lyanna had been. "What did you do with the Greyjoys?"
Robert took a swig of ale and winced, the ale was starting to taste like piss, he'd need to speak with the brewers about this. "Rodrik and Maron Greyjoy both died during the war. Maron died shitting himself in Pyke, whilst Rodrik Greyjoy came an inch from killing Jason Mallister before he himself was killed. As for Victarion Greyjoy, he was killed at Fair Isle, the youngest brother is heading off to the wall, whilst Balon Greyjoy was executed." He wasn't going to wipe out an entire house. He was not a fool.
"And Balon's children? Those who remained?" Cersei asked. Robert didn't want to tell her about Euron Greyjoy, not yet anyway, he had his suspicions about the man, but whether they were accurate or not he didn't know.
"The boy, Theon is fostering with Ned, if there's anyone who can teach an Ironborn something about honour and the right way to live, it's Ned. As for the girl, she's gone to your father." Robert said. "She'll be there for a time before moving to King's Landing."
"Will they both be going to Oldstones?" Cersei asked.
"No. the girl will remain here, and the boy will stay in Winterfell. I won't let them spend time together. The boy is to become a southern Lord eventually, once I have deemed him right for Pyke, whilst the girl will marry someone here, or she will be sent to the Silent Sisters. I have not yet decided." Robert responded.
"I don't think such a girl would be good for anything other than for being sold into the Silent Sisters. Ironborn cannot reform their way, at least not people such as her." Cersei said. "And who have you named as the new Lord of the Isles?"
"Rodrik Harlaw, the man who ensured that we knew more about what was to happen before anyone else did. He is without a son though, so the succession will delve onto his sister who is without children. Then his other sister Alannys Harlaw, who was Balon's wife. I think that perhaps it would be best to get his oldest sister married. Your uncle Gerion is currently unmarried is he not?" Robert responded.
"He is, though would that be wise? After all, the Ironborn are hardly likely to welcome someone from the mainland on their shores. Better to have Rodrik Harlaw marry a cousin, someone whom we can control." Cersei said.
"Who would you recommend?" Robert asked.
"My cousin Lanna, has always been close to me and is someone I think could do well in the Iron Islands. And if Rodrik Harlaw is as bookish as you have said in your letters, then perhaps they would complement one another well." Cersei suggested.
"Indeed, this is true." Robert replied. "But enough of this politics, tell me, what has been happening here?"
Cersei got up and took a seat on his lap. She ran her hands through his hair, causing him to moan with relief. "Well, Jon has started using his practice sword, the wooden one with some regularity. He defeated several of other pages a few days ago. He continues to regale us all with tales of Aemon the Dragonknight, Ormund Baratheon and the Laughing Storm. Myrcella has learned how to sing, and to dance as well, whilst Tommen can now read somewhat well."
Robert sighed, and nuzzled his wife's neck. "I see, there is so much happening, they are growing quite quickly. You know I spoke to Ned in the peace time after the fighting. He mentioned that he's got two daughters and two sons now. I think he was hinting at a marriage. Of course, that could just be me, but I do think that keeping the north closely tied to the throne would be good."
"And of course it would mean that you and Lord Eddard would be family in name as well as deed." Cersei pointed out.
"Indeed that is true." Robert said.
"And, of course it would make up for what happened with Lady Lyanna." His wife said. Robert heard the insecurity there and he looked up.
"Cersei, Lyanna was someone I thought I loved, and perhaps that was what love was to a young man, but I am not a boy anymore. Lyanna was wild, too wild, and it cost her. I realise now that what I felt for her was not love. The only woman I have ever loved is you. You must know that." Robert responded truthfully.
His wife didn't reply, instead she kissed him, long and deep. He felt a stirring and he knew that whatever sleep he had planned would have to wait. He had other things to attend to.