King's Landing seemed almost like a jewel as the sun rose on a new day and Lucian Lannister narrowed his eyes in the glare. It had taken a total of two weeks for Lucian and his envoy to ride from Casterly Rock to King's Landing with nearly everyone they passed bowing to him. When they had stopped the other night the bar maid had actually mistaken Lucian for his father.

The road had been uneventful with mostly sunlight, the only exception had been the first day when it had rained heavily but eased over night into sunlight.

They had ridden on through the night last night in the hopes of reaching King's Landing that night but they had taken longer than expected and had instead arrived at sunrise.

It had been many years since Lucian Lannister had last been to King's Landing, the last time being the wedding between Robert Baratheon and his sister Cersei. He could still remember the look of hostility, distaste and restraint upon his brother Jaime's face.

It was no secret that Jaime and Cersei had always been close, closer than he and Tyrion were. When they were younger the two looked nearly identical, so much so that if they swapped clothes none would know which was Jaime and which was Cersei.

Jaime wanted the best for Cersei, that was fair enough, and she had been wed off to the fat and drunken Robert Baratheon instead of some noble and honourable husband… although saying that Jaime himself was not a man of honour.

Lucian knew that Cersei had wanted to love Robert Baratheon, or at least tried, when he had danced with her at her wedding she had confided in him how handsome her beloved was and how excited she was for that night. Jaime had been nowhere to be seen after the first hour of that feast.

Lucian remembered King's Landing as an illusion of something it could never be. It was a place full of grandeur, trying so hard to impress and impose upon all of the people below the Red Keep. It made you think that there could be nothing greater, that King's Landing was some great beacon of light in a dark world.

You only had to look outside the battlements to Flea Bottom to see that was a lie. In Flea Bottom people starved and lived in poverty screaming out for some sustenance but that was the way of things.

When Lucian was younger he had asked his father why they didn't give the money of Casterly Rock to the poor in Lannisport. He had scowled and said that the lion did not concern itself with those below him. If they were to pay every poor man in the seven kingdoms then even Casterly Rock would become poor.

Lucian had always had a hidden distaste for the capital deep down inside of him, a distaste that he could not shake. He had no idea where his distaste derived from only that it existed. He hated the way it seemed to sparkle slightly in the sunlight, he hated the shadows it cast on the world below it, he despised Blackwater Bay that glistened in the morning light.

Perhaps he despised the city so much because it was where Tyrion ran off to when he had gotten annoyed at father. In all honesty Tyrion was never not annoyed at father, the two never saw eye to eye. Tyrion would always lazily jape whilst Tywin would scorn him for his whoring, drinking and the fact that he blamed Tyrion for their mother's death. Deep down Lucian wondered if Lord Tywin blamed Lucian for Lady Joanna's death as well.

The last argument had been about whores again, Lucian had stood to the side as father told Tyrion that he was a Lannister and that a Lannister did not go about whoring and drinking his whims away. Tyrion had replied that, as father kept pointing out, he was so short it was unlikely any woman would ever love him for anything but money.

Father had demanded Tyrion to leave his sight and Tyrion had gone to King's Landing, as he always did, and apologized to Lucian for leaving him once again. Lucian had been the only sibling which ever seemed to remain in Casterly Rock anymore.

Jaime was in the Kingsguard and therefore did what the King commanded, Cersei was married to the King and had to stay by his side and Tyrion had so much ill feelings towards their father that he was never around long enough to say he was ever at home. Father has born four children but only one of them ever seems to stay with him.

Lucian spurred his stead onwards and his convoy followed as they approached the Gate of the Gods. Straight down the road and looking upwards from the gates you could see the monstrosity that was the Red Keep reaching up into the sky. Lucian spurred his horse on more firmly and they road through the city, most moving aside and glancing to him as he passed. Most turned away immediately probably quickly identifying him as a Lannister due to the trademark golden hair and green eyes.

It took only a total of ten minutes to climb Aegon's High Hill and enter the Red Keep. The courtyard was largely inactive with only some city watch walking about and other men milling around silently.

However as Lucian dismounted he looked to see a small man walking over to him from the main entrance his golden hair, elaborate clothing and wide smile giving him away even if his height had not. Is he even smaller than I remember?

"Lucian!" called Tyrion as he waddled over spreading his arms open as if to hug him before laying them down again, his smile still wide. Lucian returned with a small smile of his own.

Tyrion was not a pretty sight, he had been born a dwarf (even more to father's dismay) but he was also rather ugly most highborn often jeered and glowered at Tyrion as if he was contagious. It confused Lucian what that girl Tysha ever saw in him that others missed… yet again she had been a whore.

Lucian, unlike his twin, had not been born stunted or with ugliness in fact he had heard rumours that many thought him handsome although he would never be one to spread those rumours. Despite his favourable outcome in comparison to Tyrion, Lucian had often looked out for his twin, a task shared only by his older brother Jaime.

"Tyrion," replied Lucian with a small nod of his head, "it's been too long."

"Come now, only a year this time I believe wasn't it?"

"A year too long," Lucian replied smiling wider for his brother. Having grown up under the iron hand of his father Lucian found it hard to not act guarded in front of most individuals. Tywin had taught him that armour was never a bad thing and Lucian wore his well. He knew that he didn't need it with Tyrion though never with Tyrion.

"Perhaps," Tyrion spoke turning and Lucian followed behind his twin obediently as a stable boy took his horse from him, "fathers letter announcing your arrival arrived a week and a half ago, the reactions were mixed."

"Tell me." Lucian said and Tyrion chuckled slightly.

"Well as you can tell I was over the moon," Lucian chuckled and Tyrion laughed aloud, "so long without a decent conversation, Lucian, you have no idea how much I've missed you. Jaime didn't seem to care all that much, not that he often does, as for Cersei she was convinced you were being sent as some kind of punishment. She asked Robert to send you right back to Casterly Rock but he refused, he's far enough in debt to our sweet father as it is." Lucian listened to it all with small nods. He had expected as much from Cersei.

Lucin and Cersei had never been awfully close but they did care for one another as brother and sister should. Lucian and Cersei had never had much of an opportunity to talk either ever since her marriage. When Cersei had been married she had been bound to King's Landing whilst Lucian had been kept away in Casterly Rock. The same could easily apply to Jaime although, like Tyrion, he had always idolised his older brother.

"I assure you I'm not here to act as a punishment to anyone," Lucian said as they turned down corridor after corridor, all needlessly decorated, "I'm simply here to keep the family in check."

"Such a heavy task brother, I would offer to assist but I fear if I did I would shrink even smaller." Lucian smiled and he knew Tyrion was smiling too.

"I don't expect to have to share the task I simply expect compliance. Father sent me here to ensure that we make a good impression on the Starks. That means no whoring or drinking in excess."

"Then how am I to pass the time?" came the fake tone from Tyrion.

"Do what other respectful individuals do and socialise, talk and not disgrace the family." Tyrion stopped in his tracks and Lucian realised with a lurch what he had said. Shit. Lucian knew that Tyrion did not have a trouble being abused by upset and even random lords he met but his own brother… why am I such a fool?

"Has he really changed you that much brother?" asked Tyrion coolly making Lucian shiver slightly, "that you would consider me a smirch on our families honour?"

"Tyrion… I… that was wrong of me, forgive me."

"Has he got so fucking wound around his finger that he's got you thinking like him now? Thinking that I'm some idiot dwarf who only insults our family?"

"Hells Tyrion I'm sorry, I got carried away-"

"No it's fine Lucian, come then, call me all the names you want. Jeer and insult me brother, let it all out and I'm sure you'll feel better." Tyrion had turned to Lucian here his green eyes flaring in anger and Lucian shivered again.

He slowly and surely but a hand to his twin's left shoulder.

"Tyrion there's nothing to say. I stepped out of line, you know I'd never upset you." There was silence for a second before Tyrion's smiled returned.

"Accepted as long as you stop talking like him." Lucian nodded and they proceeded onwards.

The rest of the walk was silent before Tyrion opened up a door to a large room with a double poster bed on one side and a long table with countless chairs on the other.

"When do we leave for Winterfell?" asked Lucian as he turned back to Tyrion.

"Two days but Cersei said even if she didn't want you hear, you're a Lannister and a Lannister gets only the best."

"Charmed, when may I see our dear sister and our charming brother?"

"Cersei will come when she wants, she is the queen after all. As for Jaime I couldn't keep my hopes up. He'll come and see you if and only if he thinks he has to." Lucian knew Jaime enough for that to be true so he nodded once at his twin who smiled ruefully back.

"I admit the room is grander than my own, my bed is far smaller than yours, yours was built for a wife." Lucian glowered at Tyrion then who chuckled. Marriage had always been a tense subject with Lucian. Father had largely ignored Lucian in his early life, instead focusing on Jaime and finding him a wife until he joined the Kingsguard. Since then all father had done was urge Jaime and Robert Baratheon to relieve Jaime of his vows and allow him to be his heir again.

Lucian's absence of a wife had been ignored and father often glossed over Tyrion. Lucian wasn't entirely certain he'd ever want a wife.

"Indeed, tell me when I see her won't you?" Tyrion smiled wider before bowing slightly.

"I'll leave you to yourself dear brother, I shall sup here with you tonight if you don't mind." Before Lucian could even reply Tyrion was gone.

…

It was far later that day, approaching dinner, when there was a knock at the door. Expecting Tyrion, Lucian opened the door only to come face to face with Cersei.

For a man grown Lucian was rather short in truth, he stood at the height of most women although his stern and similar demeanour to his father made people often think he was much taller than he actually was. As a result he stood at a height with his older sister who smiled delicately at him.

"Brother," she greeted sweeping into the room and Lucian closed the door behind her.

"Sister," was his reply as he sat himself in a chair at the desk and gestured for Cersei to sit also. He suspected she would've sat even without his permission.

"It warms my heart that you're here brother," Cersei said warmly with her wide smile, "it's been so long… how long?"

"You're wedding." Lucian replied seeing through her mask. It was all a lie on Cersei's face, just like King's Landing itself, he knew there was intent in her coming here but she didn't need to know that.

"Ah yes, of course, such a long time ago now and so much has changed." It certainly has. "How is father?"

"As healthy and sharp minded as he ever was," Lucian responded coldly noting that Cersei refused to meet his eyes, "busy too but that is to be expected."

"I understand it was he who sent you here."

"Whatever father requests I follow," Lucian spoke with a slight harshness, "if he sent me here it should not be of concern to you Cersei."

"He said in the letter that you were to check on us," Cersei whispered coldly now, "tell me, dear brother, why he would think we need to be checked."

"He needs to ensure the family looks its best for Lord Eddard, he will be the next hand."

"Should he accept."

"He will accept. Eddard Stark was like a brother to Robert Baratheon, they fought under one cause against Aerys Targaryen, he will not abandon his grace now." Lucian explained strictly.

"So what do you do? Keep us in line?"

"No. I ensure you don't mistake your place." Cersei reddened.

"I am the queen, Lucian, I am second only to my lord husband, I know my place. Perhaps you should learn yours and listen to your queen." All her mask was gone now, she was angry but Lucian was already tired of it.

"Would you like me to return to father and explain that mentality to him Cersei? I'm sure he will love to know how you view him below yourself." Cersei glowered there and Lucian smiled inside. Father had always been the weak point with Cersei she always wanted to be so like him. He had once heard Tyrion say that all Cersei desired to be was a female version of their father.

"You think you're so clever don't you?" jeered Cersei with a glare and Lucian almost snorted.

"I don't need to pretend." Lucian said simply keeping his cold eyes on her.

"Well you think that but let me tell you, I have connections in this city, more connections than you could ever contemplate. I know things that you would never believe and that your little mind would never acknowledge." Lucian furrowed his brows very slowly at her.

"I care not about your connections or knowledge," Lucian spoke harshly, "I was sent here for one purpose, to ensure you and our siblings stay in line, such as the will of out father. You would not want to disappoint him would you?" Lucian saw her face change slightly.

"No. Of course I wouldn't, forgive me brother for I forgot myself." Lucian nodded simply as Cersei raised her full mask back in place, "Enjoy your stay in King's Landing brother," and with that she left.

Lucian sat there alone for a few seconds before hearing a knock at the door. He opened it to reveal Tyrion who was smirking mischievously.

"How did you find Cersei?"

...

Author's Note;

Thanks to those who reviewed last chapter, it's very much appreciated. There will be a romance concerning Lucian later into the story but that's a way off yet so don't get too excited. I want to establish Lucian as a character in this universe first. As usual please read and review and have a good day. :)