The Winter King
Author Notes:
Chapter 05: City of Kings
Harry look at King's Landing and at the Red Keep. It was an impressive sight. Not like his first glance at Hogwarts, but it was still impressive none the less.
"Remember Harry, you are my steward in these matters." Eddard Stark said to Harry as he leads Harry inside the Red Keep.
"Welcome, Lord Stark. Grand Maester Pycelle has called a meeting of the Small Council. The honor of your presence is requested." The messenger said.
"Get the girls settled in, I'll be back in time for supper; and Jory, you go with them." Ned Stark said.
"Yes, my lord," Jory replied.
"If you would like to change into something more appropriate…" The messenger began but a hard look from Ned Stark silence him. He slowly turns around and leads Ned Stark inside with Harry following. Harry eyed the Lannister men carefully. It was strange as they were few Baratheon soldiers. Harry somehow felt he had stepped into a lion's den just waiting to be devoured.
They walked inside as the messenger steps aside and bows allowing Ned Stark and Harry to pass into the Throne room. By the throne was Jaime Lannister, wearing his Kingsguards uniform.
"Thank the gods you're here, Stark. About time we had some stern, Northern leadership." Jaime Lannister said in what Harry could assume was a mocking tone of voice.
"I'm glad to see you're protecting the throne, Sturdy old thing." Ned Stark replies.
"How many Kings' asses have polished it; I wonder? Um, what's the line? The King shits, and the Hand wipes." Jaime said as he got up and stood firmly in front of Ned Stark. Harry said nothing as he watches the encounter between the two men closely.
"Very handsome armor. Not a scratch on it." Ned Stark said.
"I know. People have been swinging at me for years, but they always seem to miss." Jaime said proudly.
"You've chosen your opponents wisely then."
"I have a knack for it," Jaime said as he stares hard into Ned Stark. "It must be strange for you, coming into this room. I was standing right here when it happened. He was very brave, your brother. Your father too. They didn't deserve to die like that. Nobody deserves to die like that."
Harry felt his stomach go upside. The death of Brandon and Rickard Stark that trigger Robert's Rebellion. This was a very sensitive subject to be talking about it, and Harry didn't know if Jaime Lannister was trying to apologize or trying to provoke a fight.
"And you just stood there and watched." Ned Stark said.
"Five hundred men just stood there and watched. All the great knights of the Seven Kingdoms… do you think anyone said a word or lifted a finger? No Lord Stark, five hundred men, and this room were silent as a crypt. Except for the screams of course, and the Mad King laughter. And later, when I watched the Mad King die, I remembered him laughing as your father burned, it felt like justice."
"Is that what you keep telling yourself at night, just before you go to sleep? That you're a servant of justice. That you were avenging my father and brother when you shoved your sword in Aerys Targaryen's back?"
"Tell me, if I had stabbed the Mad King in the belly instead of the back would you admire me more?" Jaime Lannister mocked.
"You served him well when serving was safe."
"My Lord, we must get to the meeting," Harry said hoping to avoid any kind of confrontation.
Ned Stark made no motion that he heard Harry, but he walks past Jaime Lannister towards the Council chambers. Harry followed, not bothering to look at Jaime Lannister any longer.
The moment they entered the Council Chambers a bald man walked up to greet them.
"Lord Stark," The man said. As he shook Ned Stark's hand.
"Lord Varys." Ned Stark said as he acknowledges the Lord of Whispers.
"I was grievously sorry to hear of your troubles on the Kingsroad. We all pray for Prince Joffrey's full recovery."
"A shame you didn't say a prayer for the butcher's son." Ned Stark said. Harry didn't blame Ned Stark for his attitude. What happened on the Kingsroad was the Prince getting his way. Cerci Lannister showed her influence over the King well. Harry felt she was more dangerous than she appeared.
"Renly! You're looking well." Ned Stark said as he walks over to Renly Baratheon. The two embrace warmly, patting each other on the back.
"And you look tired from the road. I told them this meeting could wait another day, but…" Renly said.
"But have a Kingdom to look after." Lord Varys said.
"I've hoped to meet you for some time, Lord Stark. No doubt Lady Catelyn has mentioned me."
"She has, Lord Baelish. I understand you also knew my brother Brandon as well."
"All too well. I still carry a token of his esteem from navel to collarbone." Lord Baelish replies as he gestures his hidden scar on his torso.
"Perhaps you chose the wrong man to duel with." Ned Stark said.
"It wasn't the man that I chose my lord, it was Catelyn Tully. A woman worth fighting for, I'm sure you'll agree." Lord Baelish said.
"Everyone, this is Hadrian Black, who will be serving as my Stewart during my time as King." Ned Stark said he introduces Harry to the Council. They all gave him their nods of acknowledgment.
"I humbly beg your pardon, my Lord Stark."
"Grand Maester." Ned Stark said.
"How many years has it been? You were a young man."
"And you served another King."
"Oh, how forgetful of me." The Grand Maester said as he reaches inside his pocket. "This belongs to you now." The Grand Maester hands over the badge that represented the Hand of the King. "Shall we begin."
"Without the King?" Ned Stark suddenly said.
"Winter may be coming, but the same cannot be said about my brother," Renly said.
"His Grace has many cares, he entrusts some small matters to us that we might lighten the load." Lord Varys said.
"We are the Lords of Small Matters here." Lord Baelish replies.
Renly hands a scroll to Ned Stark.
"My brother instructs us to stage a tournament in honor of Lord Stark's appointment as Hand of the King," Renly said.
"Mmm, how much?" Lord Baelish asks.
"Forty thousand gold dragons to the champion, twenty thousand to the runner-up, twenty thousand, to the winning archer." Ned Stark said as he read the scroll.
"Can the Treasury bear such an expense?" The Grand Maester asks.
"I'll have to borrow it, I'm sure the Lannisters will accommodate, I expect. We already owe Lord Tywin three million gold. What's another eighty thousand?" Lord Baelish replies.
"Are you telling me the crown is three million in debt?" Ned Stark said in disbelief.
"I'm telling you the crown is six million in debt."
"How could you let this happen?" Ned Stark said in disbelief.
"The Master of Coin finds the money, the King and the Hand spend it." Lord Baelish replies.
"I will not believe that Jon Arryn allowed Robert to bankrupt the realm." Ned Stark said strongly.
"Lord Arryn gave wise and prudent advice, but I fear his Grace doesn't always listen." The Grand Maester said.
"Counting Coppers, he calls it," Renly said.
"I'll speak to him tomorrow." Ned Stark said. "This tournament is an extravagance we cannot afford."
"As you will, but still we'd best make our plans." Lord Baelish began.
"There will be no plans until I speak to Robert." Ned Stark said in a strong raised voice. Apparently, he realized his mistake. "Forgive me, my lord, I'm… I had a long ride."
"You are the King's Hand, Lord Stark. We serve at your pleasure." Lord Varys said.
Ned Stark said nothing as everyone got up to leave.
Harry said nothing as he went to look over his documents as Ned Stark ate with his daughters. It was amazing how bad things were. He knew Eddard Stark would attempt to make things right, but what scared Harry was how strong the Lannister's grip on the Realm was. Harry express his concerns to Ned Stark but he was confident that Robert would settle things right. Harry, however, knew Cerci Lannister was more cunning and dangerous than she appeared.
The days past and Ned Stark and Harry went over many things. Attended Small Council meetings, trying to fix what damage to the realm there was.
However, that did not stop Harry's feeling that he looked down upon by so many in King's Landing.
Even he could see tension mounting between the Lannister's and the Starks.
Harry sighs as he realizes the Lions and the Wolves were never friendly towards each other. While no altercation has yet to happen, the tension was mounting high between the Stark's and Lannister's. As Stewart, he looked down upon by the guardsmen. However, they only showed him respect because of Eddard Stark's position.
Today was the day of the tournament, Harry wasn't attending. He was trying to get things organize and make thing easier for Ned Stark as Hand of the King.
"A word if you please." A voice said at the door disturbing Harry from his work.
"Lord Varys. Come in." Harry said in a polite tone.
"I've been meaning to speak with you for quite some time now. However, even in these walls, ears and eyes are everywhere. This is the first time we can speak freely." Varys said as he closes the door.
"What's going on?" Harry said suddenly.
"I've come to warn you. The King is a fool." Harry said nothing as this was no news to him. "I see you are not surprised. Yes, I have seen the disaster that is Robert Baratheon and I see a terrible storm is coming."
"Does this have to do with the assassination of Jon Arryn?" Harry said. Varys blink in surprise.
"Is that why Ned Stark came to King's Landing? To find Lord Arryn's killer?" Varys asks.
"Ned Stark came here to protect his friend," Harry answers strongly.
"I see, but yes indeed. My influence is strong but it is not enough to prevent what is happening. The Kingdom is in danger."
"What are the Lannister's plotting?" Harry asks.
"What any house with power wants. Absolute power. They are moving their hand towards the realm." Varys said.
"The Northern Lords are cooling off with the appointment of Ned Stark as Hand of the King. However if provoke the North will declare war on the Southern Kingdoms." Harry said.
"That I am aware of. The Lannisters are no friends of mine that I can assure you. However, my position must be to play both sides. That is why I'm going to tell you this. The King is in danger. Because he is a fool, he has dragged Lord Stark into danger. King's Landing is a dangerous place. Spies are watching your every move and reporting to many masters. The Queen is one of them."
"Her political position is powerful. Being Queen gives her many advantages. It also allows her to manipulate her position to have people do what she pleases." Harry said.
"I see you know the game well. I fear when the King dies, Lord Stark will soon die after him. Including his children."
"They would risk war," Harry said in surprise.
"Lord Stark is the only pillar that stands between the Kingdom and the Crown. As Hand of the King, Lord Stark can deny Joffrey the right to be King of the Seven Kingdoms."
Harry sits back in his chair and thinks hard.
"Who can we trust?" Harry asks.
"That is something I cannot answer," Varys replies calmly.
"The Targaryen girl. Would she be a better ruler than the Lannister's?" Harry asks.
"That is an interesting question. One that does often make us ponder. Robert Baratheon will have her head on a spike before she can sit on the Iron Throne. But it does raise the question, will she be the better ruler than the last two fools who sat on the Iron Throne."
"Too many pieces are moving, it may be best if House Stark withdrew from these conflicts," Harry said.
"That would be reassuring wouldn't it?" Varys said.
"But it won't be that simple. Cerci Lannister wants to humiliate the Starks to show her power. This means she intends to provoke the North. That course of action will start a war."
"Then you best warn the North as quickly as you can. I may be a spider, but even I cannot risk my position when things move quickly. There are few men of honor in the capital, but you are surrounded by enemies from all sides."
Harry said nothing more as Varys gets up to leave. Leaving Harry to question what the Lannister's had in motion to seize power.
Harry thought back to Brandon Stark's accident. Harry was suspicious right away as Brandon has climbed the towers of Winterfell in every weather and never once fell. The real question was, what did Brandon see that someone would push him to his death.
Harry grabs his sword and looks at it. He has yet to use it in actual combat, but he was certain he would be using it soon.