Chapter 9-Game Changer
Tywin Lannister was not amused. In fact, he wasn't smiling. The man rarely did these days. Namely due to his eldest son Jaime Lannister. His son showed such promise in his younger years. Granted, Jaime was still young, but that wouldn't be the case forever, and Tywin knew it with each passing day going by. Jaime was quite skilled with the sword and had been squired under Ser Barristan himself when the Mad King still sat on the Iron Throne. His son was charming, handsome, wealthy, and showed such potential in being the Heir to Casterly Rock that Tywin wanted in a son.
Unfortunately, somewhere along the way of raising his eldest son, Tywin Lannister had miscalculated (yet another rare thing) regarding Jaime's actions in life, and saw his Heir become a Kingsguard. While a position of high esteem and honor, it had its drawbacks, and one of them was a Kingsguard must forfeit all other titles he will, or might inherit in the future. Not only that, but the Kingsguard cannot have a child once they become one of its members.
Meaning Jaime had thrown away any chance of becoming the future Lord of Casterly Rock and siring an Heir to one day succeed him. It had upset Tywin greatly considering how much time, effort, and gold he put into molding Jaime into being his Heir. The only two alternatives left to him was to either name Tyrion the new Lord of Casterly Rock or go out, have a bastard with some woman, and then legitimize the boy as his son. Neither choice suited Tywin Lannister in the slightest since he neither approved of either choice regarding Jaime's replacement.
And if things were bad enough, the current Hand of the King, one Ned Stark of the North was making demands of him while the King was on a hunting trip, and drowning in wine.
"Summoned to court to answer for the crimes of your bannerman, Amory Lorch and his men. Uh...arrive within a fortnight or be branded an enemy of the Crown. Poor Ned Stark using such a tactic. Brave man. Terrible judgment," said Jaime while reading out loud the words on the parchment a rider had come to give Tywin Lannister earlier.
"You think so? I find the terrible judgment was yours and yours alone. Attacking him was stupid, as is evident from the condition you are in. Lannisters do not act like fools!" said Tywin in a scolding tone while using his knife to kill a dead stag.
Outside of the tent, Lannister men were getting out of their own. All them getting ready to eat, drink, and then march on the road to war. When word had reached Tywin of his youngest son's kidnapping by Catelyn Stark, the elderly lion had been furious. Not over his son in terms of caring about him. He didn't care about Tyrion like most Fathers would. What Tywin cared about was the Lannister name and how Catelyn Stark had, in her own way, attempted to weaken his House, and make it less feared then it truly was when spoken by rivals.
"I had a good reason for what I did," protested Jaime while Tywin wasn't convinced.
"Unlikely. You clearly want to say something clever. So go on, say something clever in an attempt to impress me," replied Tywin while Jaime frowned at his Father's coldness.
"Catelyn Stark took my brother. The Demon Sage was backing her in this. I wanted to get him back and acted like a Lannister in doing it. Through force," replied Jaime while he saw his Father shake his head.
"Why is he still alive?" asked Tywin suddenly.
"Tyrion?" questioned Jaime while Tywin looked up at him.
"Ned Stark. You face him and his men. Why is he still alive?" asked Tywin with Jaime just shrugging.
"One of my men interfered. Speared him right through the leg before I could finish him," said Jaime while Tywin scoffing since he saw through the lie.
Jaime was good when it came to speaking lies to others to get what he wanted, but Tywin was far better at it, and more experienced in the art of telling lies to people. Not really all that surprising due to his own past experience when he had been Hand of the King for the Aerys II Targaryen.
"Oh please, what are you five years old? Do we need more lies in this farce of a tale? The reason, the only reason you are still alive is because you were a fool to attack him in the first place. You didn't even realize who was with him when you started your fight with Ned Stark and his men," replied Tywin with a hint of anger in his voice.
"You mean that three eyed masked freak?" questioned Jaime with Tywin looking even more furious at him.
"That three eyed masked freak, as you call him is the Demon Sage! His name is Naruto of House Uzumaki. Surprisingly, finding out his actual name took me a lot of gold to locate someone who knew what it even was since few know his name, and even fewer actually address the man as such. Ned Stark being one of those few who does know and has on occasion! Do you find something funny?" replied Tywin while Jaime shrugged at this supposed importance.
"No. Nothing is funny. I just find it amusing you burden yourself with the details of one masked, possibly facially deformed man with three eyes, and calls himself a Sage," said Jaime while Tywin slammed his fist into the table where the dead stag lay.
"This is not funny Jaime! If you had realized just how deadly the Demon Sage truly is, then you wouldn't have attacked him, or Ned Stark openly out in public with countless witnesses to the spectacle you created. And it is not a burden to know everything you can about someone who may possibly be your enemy in the future. If you had any brains left in that thick head of yours, you wouldn't look as horrid as you do now. The scars left by both Ned Stark and the Demon Sage are proof of your recklessness," replied Tywin while Jaime reached up and grabbed his face where the Maester with the army had done what he could to heal them.
The scar Ned Stark left would heal for the most part. The one Naruto left was deeper and left its mark that would stay with Jaime forever.
"The Demon Sage just got lucky," complained Jaime while Tywin gave him a look that told him the older Lannister didn't buy it.
"The Demon Sage once killed thousands of men with his gunbai or war fan as he called it back during Robert's Rebellion! He alone in that single battle, planted seeds of doubt in my mind and the minds of others serving the Mad King. It was through him that I came to the realization regarding House Lannister's future, and if it would be beneficial to help the Targaryens and their fight against Robert Baratheon!" Tywin shot back with Jaime looking surprised.
"Those stories are actually true? The Demon Sage actually used a fan to kill his enemies? The kind that all the whores and women in the South use to cool themselves during the hotter then usual summers?" questioned Jaime while Tywin sighed.
"Not a fan you idiot! He used a war fan! A gunbai as it is called in his native tongue. He easily spun it around over his head like it weighed nothing and sliced through the enemy army in front of him. He turned them into nothing! Just blood smearing the air like that of a thick mist! You were lucky to have even walked away with just a scar across your face from the fight with him!" exclaimed Tywin while Jaime saw the deadly seriousness in his Father's eyes.
"Perhaps I am just that good. Or maybe the Sage has gotten rusty over the years," offered Jaime while Tywin narrowed his eyes at him.
"The Demon Sage is many things Jaime. Rusty is not one of them. Or has his slaying of the Mountain with a blade made up of lightning slipped your mind?!" questioned Tywin with Jaime frowning.
"You knew he possessed such a skill?" asked Jaime with Tywin giving him a cold look.
"The Mountain isn't the first one to die at the hands of such magic. Besides, its clear he spared your life because Ned Stark's was more important to him. As for what Catelyn Stark did, I intend to repay the favor to her in kind. I'm giving you half of our forces of 30,000 men. You will bring them to Catelyn Stark's girlhood home and remind her, the Tullys, and the Starks that Lannisters pay their debts," said Tywin while Jaime nodded.
"I didn't realize you placed such high value on my brother's life. Its so unlike you," said Jaime while his Father scowled at the insinuation about him secretly carrying about his youngest child.
"I don't. But he's a Lannister. Tyrion might be the lowest of the Lannisters but he is one of us! And every day that he remains under their keep, the less our name demands respect from our rivals! stated Tywin while Jaime was shocked and yet slightly amused.
"So the lion does concern himself with the opinions of...," said Jaime, but was silenced by his Father's glare.
"No! That's not an opinion. It is a fact! If another House takes one of our own and holds him captive and makes one of our best soldiers look like a cowardly child, then we are no longer a House to be feared!" said Tywin with his patience with his eldest son becoming strained.
At least Tyrion, for all his faults, actually listened to him for the most part about these things.
"Is that all that matters to you? Keeping our House feared long after you're dead?" asked Jaime with Tywin sighing.
"Your Mother is dead. Before long I will be dead. And you, your brother, and your sister, and all of her children. The House name is all that lives on. Not your personal glory. Not your honor, but family. Do you understand?" explained Tywin with Jaime nodding since this was one of those serious conversations a man has about another regarding their own mortality.
"I'd like to think I do. Considering how far I've come since I was a squire and later when I became a member of the Kingsguard," replied Jaime with Tywin once more shaking his head at his son.
"You're blessed with abilities that few men possess. You're blessed to belong to the most powerful and wealthiest family in the Seven Kingdoms and you're still blessed with your youth. And what have you done with these blessings? Served as a glorified bodyguard for two Kings. One was a madman and the other a drunk who whored around to sire a small army of bastards. The future of our family will be determined in these next few months with my Grandson being on the Iron Throne when he comes of age or Robert eventually dies. We could establish a powerful dynasty that could last for one thousand years, or we could possibly collapse into nothing as the Targaryens did. To prevent the latter, I need you to become the man you were always meant to be in life. Not next year. Not in the next month. Not tomorrow. Now!" said Tywin to Jaime while the younger Lannister of the two nodded at how serious his Father was being about this.
"What do we do about the Demon Sage? From what I have seen, he has been mentoring Ned Stark on how to spot people who would scheme against him, and now acting like a Hand of the King. A Hand for the Hand of the King," said Jaime with Tywin sighing once again while thinking things over in his head.
"He won't leave King's Landing. Not yet anyway. With him helping Ned Stark act as a Hand of the King there, you can move your forces to Riverrun, and attack House Tully's lands. Armory Lorch has already done so under the pretense of becoming a brigand to get Ned Stark out of King's Landing. Given how he's injured right now thanks to your actions earlier, such a plan is impossible, and we have to accept the Hand of the King won't meet our forces in open battle. No doubt Lord Stark has sent a force to engage them already. Your forces will harass Riverrun while Armory's forces go deal with the men Ned Stark sent after him. When the time is right, we will crush them in a pincer movement," replied Tywin with Jaime nodding.
"And what should I do if my army faces the Demon Sage in battle like so many did long before me?" asked Jaime with Tywin looking at him with cold serious eyes once more.
"Run. Run and do not look back," commanded Tywin knowing his son could not win against Naruto and wasn't about to have Jaime die within a few seconds of facing him in battle.
(King's Landing-Sometime Later)
"NED!" yelled Renly Baratheon, who came running up to Ned Stark with his shirt open, and blood on what was showing.
"Renly? What happened? Why are you covered in blood?" asked Ned with Renly panting heavily from all the running he had just done.
"Its not mine. Its Robert's blood. We were hunting...and there...was a boar. He couldn't get away from it...in time," said Renly while leading Ned to the room where Robert was currently laying down on a bed.
In the room was Joffrey, Cersei, Pycelle, and Ser Barristan watching as Robert was now currently struggling to live after the serious injury done to his torso. Ned looked at him in horror, as the man he called brother lay there dying from an injury not caused by a sword, but by some boar's tusk of all things. It was unbefitting of Robert to die this way in Ned's mind, as Robert was a man who had always loved to fight, and felt the best way to die was to die fighting on the battlefield.
Not like this.
When Ned walked over to his friend and brother, Joffrey left the room since he didn't want to be here, nor did he care about him, and decided to be elsewhere. But in his head, a part of Joffrey was happy to see his Father was dying, as it meant his ascension to the Iron Throne was assured, and would soon be named King. As for Ned, he saw Robert looking up at him, and surprisingly was smiling.
"Its my fault. Too much wine. I missed my thrust when it charged forward," said Robert before grunting in pain from his injury and yet still chuckled.
Ned moved the blanket back to see the wound and it did not look good in his eyes. The boar's tusk had done a number of injuries to the stomach and side with lacerations all over with signs of it being infected for so long in the wild prior to getting him back to the Red Keep.
"Is there nothing you can do Pycelle?" asked Ned with Pycelle shaking his head no.
"The wounds are too severe Lord Hand. And the wounds themselves are already infected that no medicine in my possession can cure it. The only good news I can give in terms of condolences, is that the King can have the pain numbed so his death, which I am sad to say will happen shortly, will not be entirely unpleasant," answered Pycelle with Ned turning to Robert while the injured man chuckled.
"It stinks. It stinks of death. My death. Don't think I can't smell it. I could always smell death when on people. In the Rebellions. During the fighting, the dying, and the killing all those years ago. Ha Ha Ha. But I paid the fucker back Ned. After he gored my body, I rammed my knife right through his brain. You can ask him if I didn't. Ask him! I still have the damn knife right in the damn thing's skull!" said Robert with a laugh while Ned looked at Ser Barristan, who nodded since it was true.
"At least you can say you went down fighting," offered Cersei and making Robert laugh a little more.
"Ha! Leave it to my wife to make jokes about me on my deathbed like this. I want the funeral feast to be the biggest feast the Seven Kingdoms ever saw. And I want everyone to taste the boar that got me. A boar that killed a King! Maybe bards will name the boars around here after such an even. The King Killer Boars or something like that. Now leave us the lot of you. I need to talk to Ned in private," commanded Robert while the group started to obey, but Cersei was hesitant.
"Robert, my sweet...," started Cersei, but was stopped by a look from Robert.
"Out now! All of you!" commanded Robert with only Ned left in the room.
"You damned fool. You spent all your time worrying about the Targaryens. Worrying about how one of them would come here to take the Iron Throne from you and in the end your undoing was a boar! A boar!" exclaimed Ned angrily while Robert closing his eyes and nodding.
"Aye. I should have died on some distant battlefield. Like a warrior. Like a Baratheon. Like a King. Ten years ago, I could have taken this hit. Five years ago, I wouldn't have missed no matter how much wine I drank. Face it Ned, I was dead before I even went on the hunt. This just made it all official," replied Robert before Naruto appeared in the room via Kamui.
"So it happened. You got gored," remarked Naruto with Robert looking at him.
"You sound disappointed," commented Robert with Naruto nodding.
"I have known many warriors in my time Robert. To them, the best way to die was on some distant battlefield, skirmish, or in a war they could get behind. Not all of them got to die that way," replied Naruto with Robert letting out a chuckle.
"And now I'm one of them. Maybe I can talk to some of them on the other side. We can trade war stories, talk about all the people we killed, the women we fucked, and all of the bastards we sired!" said Robert while laughing and coughing.
"He doesn't have much time. Should we tell him?" asked Ned with Naruto nodding.
"What? Tell me what?" asked Robert with Naruto sighing.
"What we are about to tell you, we didn't want to tell you Robert. At least not like this," said Naruto before motioning Ned to tell Robert.
"You know how we have been investigating the death of Jon Arryn when we came here to King's Landing, as well as dealing with other problems around us," said Ned while he saw Robert nodding.
"Hurry up Ned! I'm dying. Say what you have to say so I can act accordingly one last time as King before I die!" commanded Robert while struggling through the pain.
"You're three children...they aren't yours Robert. Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen are not your children by blood," said Ned with reluctance.
"What did you say?" asked Robert while Ned looked like he wanted to bite off his tongue and stab himself in the chest with Ice.
"They aren't yours Robert. Not one drop of Baratheon blood runs through their veins. If they did, the hair would be darker, and have your features. When Jon Arryn died, he said 'the seed is strong', and was referring to your seed. In all the Baratheon bastard children you sired, the hair, and the eyes were yours. Boys and girls it didn't matter. In the book recording the lineage of the Four Major Houses, every member of House Baratheon up until those three were the same in terms of hair and eye color," explained Naruto while Ned reluctantly nodded.
"So none of those children are mine. I have been raising bastards. All three of them!" said Robert angrily at this fact.
"It get worse," whispered Ned with Robert looking at him in shock.
"How?" whispered Robert though his anger did not subside.
"The Father of all three children is...is Jaime Lannister," answered Ned with Naruto nodding and explained what he had heard the two talking about up until now.
And that Jaime was the one to hurt Bran before pushing him right out of the tower in an attempt to kill him. How Bran caught the two going at it and thus risked exposing the incestuous affair to the point where questions would be raised about the parentage of the three children. How Jon found out the truth using the book, seeing Robert's bastards, and to compare them to what he knew of Cersei's children. No doubt the evidence against the Queen would have at least brought the overall issue to Robert's attention. Naruto had no doubt that the old man planned to tell Robert about this, but was killed by Cersei before he could get the chance. All while using her allies in the form of Grand Maester Pycelle, who told her, and Littlefinger supplying the opening to poison Lord Arryn in the Tower of the Hand.
"So not only are those three bastards, but they are bastards born of incest, and their Father is their Mother's twin brother! If I had the strength or the ability to live entirely for the rest of the day, I'd kill that slut for a woman I call a wife, and her brother the Kingslayer in a brutal fashion like I did Rheagar during the war!" exclaimed Robert angrily before he went into a fit of coughs.
"Damn it Robert! You're only hastening your death!" pleaded Ned while Robert let out a chuckle.
"I deserve to die Ned. What I've done since I picked up my war hammer to get the throne. To keep it. Damn it all to the Seven and their Hells for this Ned, you should have ruled in my place. You would have made the kingdom prosper. Hell you could have had this three eyed shit be your Hand or possible Advisor to keep all the other members of the Small Council in line. Gods know he could do the job perfectly," said Robert with a smirk and Naruto had one of his own behind his mask.
"I'll ignore the comment about me being a three eyed shit simply because you're on your death bed," said Naruto with Robert smiling now.
"Ned! Paper and ink on the table. Get it and write down what I say," commanded Robert while letting out a grunt and coughed up some blood.
"You do know Cersei is not going to honor this dying last wish right?" asked Naruto with Robert grinning at him.
"Of course she won't. I don't expect her to honor it. Especially not with what I have to say for Ned to write down. Ready?" replied Robert with Ned sitting down.
"Ready," answered Ned with Robert nodding.
"In the name of Robert of House Baratheon, First of...oh you know how it goes. Fill in the damn titles. I hereby declare Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen are not my children by blood. Upon seeing the damaging evidence I find to be sufficient, I decree all three are bastard children born of incest, and have no right to the Iron Throne. As such, I hereby command Eddard of House Stark, titles, titles, and more titles...to serve as Lord Regent and Protector of the Realm upon my death. To rule in my stead until the rightful Heir of Lord Stark's choosing comes of age and proves himself to be worthy of being King of the Seven Kingdoms," said Robert with Ned writing this all down quickly since time was of the essence and this would need the King's signature and House Seal to make it official.
'At least he didn't make a decree denying the remaining Targaryens their right to the seat,' thought Naruto while Robert ordered the parchment be given over to him to sign.
"Give it to the Small Council upon my death. At least they can say I did this right...this one thing. You'll rule now Ned. You'll hate it worse then me, but you'll still do a good job of it. As for those fuckers responsible for Jon Arryn, you are going to be dealt with first, and right away since they are all slippery little shits. I should have paid more attention to things when I was King. Everyone thinks being a King is the greatest position in life one could ever want. To go where you want, to do what you want, say what you want, and fuck any woman you want. But its not grand. Its a pain in the ass with responsibilities. Responsibilities I left to people who fucked it up for their own personal agendas while I was busy fucking around and was too blind to see it," continued Robert with his voice getting more tired.
"Rest now Robert. I'll make sure someone gets you something to numb the pain," said Ned while Robert shook off the idea.
"I need the pain Ned. I need it in order to feel alive. To throw off death's touch if just a little longer. As for you Naruto, you have helped me out multiple times at Ned's request when anyone else would have told him, and me to fuck off. Yet you didn't. I know I was a cunt to you and even to Ned regarding the issue with the Targaryens and their families when the sacking of King's Landing happened. That should have never happened. They should have never gotten away with what they did. Not that it matters anymore with the Mountain Ser Gregor. But Armory Lorch is another issue. Find that son of a pig fucker and run him through with one of your swords boy. Make him know and feel what its like to have someone stab him multiple times while pleading for his life," said Robert with Ned and Naruto nodding.
"And the Targaryen girl? Daenerys? Word has reached me of her brother dying at the hands of Khal Drogo. She's no threat to you or the Crown," said Naruto with Robert closing his eyes in thought for a moment.
"Cancel all plans to have her killed. Fuck it, pardon the damn girl if you feel the need for it. Just keep an eye on her in case she decides to get bloodthirsty and brings an army over to Westeros," ordered Robert before he coughed up some more blood.
"I'll inform Varys right away," said Ned while he and Naruto left the room with the Small Council members waiting for them.
"Did King Robert say what needed to be said?" asked Ser Barristan with Ned nodding.
"Give him milk of the poppy. But do it quietly. I won't have him die suffering no matter how much he thinks the opposite of dying without it will extend his life," commanded Ned to Pycelle knowing that he could not tip his hand just yet.
"He was reeling from the wine. He commanded us to step aside. I failed him," said Ser Barristan sadly while looking at the door leading to his King now closed.
"The King failed himself. He admitted as such to us when we were in the room. So much he wanted to do and regrets leaving things this way," replied Naruto while Ned nodded since they couldn't exactly tell anyone here what Robert had said about most of them and the Queen with her bastard incest born children.
"I wonder Ser Barristan, who exactly gave the King his wine?" asked Petyr though he had an idea of who it was already.
He just needed to plant further suspicion on the Lannisters.
"It was his squire. From the King's own wine skin no less," said Ser Barristan while he recalled Robert drinking and drinking more wine while the effects making the man lose all control of himself.
"His squire? You mean the Lannister boy?" asked Ned while Ser Barristan nodded that it was indeed the mentioned Lannister.
'Cersei's agent in the wings. She must have become very suspicious of Ned already, even without him giving things away about what he knew. No doubt making sure the wine he drank was extra potent and simply let nature quite literally take its course in ending his life,' thought Naruto sadly while wishing he could bring Robert back from the dead.
He could! But it would raise a whole shit load of problems. People demanding their loved ones be brought back. The High Septon denouncing his magic as an enemy of the Seven. They would denounce Robert as King because he had died and coming back to life is not a natural thing in their eyes. Cue the riots, the hunt by the faithful for his life, the life of Ned Stark, and his family still here for associating with him. All that stuff!
Nope! Naruto was not going to go through with that.
"Such a dutiful boy to make sure his Grace did not lack refreshment. I do hope the poor lad does not blame himself," said Petyr while hoping his words would continue to make Ned and Naruto suspicious of the Lannisters.
"His Grace has also had a change of heart concerning Daenerys Targaryen and wanting her dead. Whatever arrangements that were made, you are to unmake them at once!" said Ned with Varys looking at him sadly.
"I'm afraid those little birds with the order have already flown. I can't recall them. Not now. By the time I can, they will have already set out on their task. The girl is most likely dead already," said Varys while Naruto shaking his head.
"Not yet she's not. I have my own means of keeping tabs on her Spider. She's still alive so I suggest you send some other birds after the first flock you sent to stop this from getting even more complicated," replied Naruto with Varys nodding and set out to do that.
"I need to be alone. To think and to...grieve," said Ned while he walked away from the group and Naruto vanished via Kamui.
(Winterfell)
"The Wall is really that bad?" asked Robb with Jon nodding his head.
"Very bad. I sent a raven to Father, but with all that's going on in King's Landing, I doubt I'll hear a response. The Wall needs more men, more equipment, and everything else they under the Seven," said Jon while Robb cursed.
"This is bad. The Wildlings are pressing further over the Wall by finding ways around it," said Robb with Jon nodding.
"You mean that Wildling woman named Osha?" asked Jon with Robb nodding.
"Aye. She mentioned to Maester Luwin what she saw over there. Things frozen in the ice that are sleeping, but don't stay asleep within the ice. If not for the Sage, I think Maester Luwin would be more skeptical," answered Robb with Jon nodding.
"I agree. From what she said to the deserters from the Night's Watch talking about the White Walkers, not to mention the Sage himself...I think the White Walkers are real. I think they do exist and they are coming to kill us," said Jon with Robb nodding.
"And if they can summon an army of the dead, all the Wildlings over the Wall are the perfect army for them when they need it. The number of Wildlings is unknown, but I suspect the number is greater then anything the North could hope to muster on an open battlefield. The Wall is the best defense against such possibly large numbers. Even more so if they are an army of the undead like the stories say," added Robb while Jon nodded with concern in his eyes.
"What do you want to do? You are the Lord of Winterfell now so what you decide on doing is entirely at your discretion," said Jon while Robb sighed heavily.
"My Father would know. Instinctively, he would know what to do. I want to ask him, but there will come a time when that won't be possible," said Robb while wishing he could think of a plan.
"You are your own man Robb. No one can question it. Whatever decision you make about this I will accept," replied Jon while Robb nodded and looked out the window to think of a plan.
"The Wall needs men right? That can come later overtime. But the materials to build and upgrade their siege weapons along with other things is another issue we can address now. Ser Rodrik, get some men together, and Maester Luwin. Go through the library to find the different blueprints for the most advanced siege weapons and then do an inventory of materials needed to make them. I want all the supplies prepared to send up to the Wall along with men to set the weapons up while teaching the members of the Night's Watch how to use the tools and upgraded equipment for future knowledge," commanded Robb with Ser Rodrik nodding.
"Yes Lord Stark," said Rodrik before he left to get he needed men.
(King's Landing-Red Keep)
Ned was heading for the throne room. He had finished writing a message to Stannis about the situation in King's Landing and what Robert had decreed to him in his final moments of life. Stannis had been a great commander during Robert's Rebellion and during the Greyjoy Rebellion with his navy fleet, which was why he was made Master of Ships on the Small Council. Ned had originally thought to make Stannis the new King given the line of succession would allow it since Robert had no legitimate Heirs at this point given the situation with Cersei's children. Naruto seemed to think Gendry had potential out of all the bastards Robert had so far to be worthy of legitimizing, but only to keep House Baratheon alive on the late King's side.
There was also the issue with Renly, who had pushed for Ned to seize Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen to hold as hostages over Cersei to ensure she complied with the transition of Ned being Regent. Renly knew Cersei well enough to know the woman would not give up her seat of power as Queen or her son's "right" to be King to anyone. Every Lannister supporter and weak willed noble at Court who would go with things to ensure they were not caught in the crossfire of a potential war with the Queen. When Ned refused, Renly left King's Landing with Ser Loras for the Stormlands that were ruled by over by House Baratheon. They took all of their men and fled the capital in the belief Ned Stark could not stop Cersei and her allies from usurping Ned of his position.
Hence why Ned had gathered his men and members of the City Watch to side with him in taking the Iron Throne as Regent. Naruto had warned him not to trust the City Watch nor its Lord Commander Janos Slynt when the time came to use them. Not surprising really since the man was unable to properly keep the more rambunctious people within King's Landing in line when Robert held the tourney to honor Ned as Hand of the King. Still, Ned needed him now to help contain this issue in the throne room, as apparently Cersei had made her move to have Joffrey on the throne, and demanding all Lords come forward to swear their fealty to him.
"All is accomplished Lord Stark. The City Watch is now yours to command," said Lord Baelish with his usual sly smile.
"Where is the Sage?" asked Ned not seeing the masked man here.
"No one has seen him. My guess is he went off to handle some important issues greater then this. Though what could possibly be greater then this, I have no idea," said Petyr while he saw Ned frown.
"I would feel better doing this with him here beside us," said Ned while Petyr shrugging slightly.
"The City Watch is yours Lord Stark," said Janos with Ned nodding though he was sure that it wasn't the case since Baelish was the one paying them to support the late King's assigned Regent.
Opening the doors to the throne room, Ned saw everyone was basically waiting for them, and the new Regent and Protector of the Realm surveyed the room. In it were Lannister soldiers in red and gold armor, the Hound was standing as bodyguard to Joffrey, who was sitting on the Iron Throne. Ser Barristan and the Kingsguard were also there to guard the royal family. His Mother Queen Cersei Lannister was sitting beside him on a throne just for herself with a confident smug look on her face that mirrored her son's own.
"All hail his Grace. Joffrey of House Baratheon and Lannister. The First of his name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm," said a squire while Ned and his men entered the room.
"I command the Small Council to make all arrangements for my coronation. I wish to be crowned within the fortnight. Today, I shall accept any and all Oaths of Fealty from my loyal councilors," said Joffrey while Cersei's smile increased regarding the way her son demanded loyalty from everyone around him.
Like a true Lannister.
"Ser Barristan, I believe no man here can question your honor," said Ned before handing the rolled up paper with Robert's final words sealed in it.
"King Robert's Seal. Unbroken," said Ser Barristan before he broke the seal and read its contents with his eyes widening.
"Well...what did my Father say Ser Barristan?" commanded Joffrey after quickly losing his patience with the old man.
"It says...It says King Robert denounces all three of Queen Cersei's children. Claiming that newly acquired evidence brought to him, which he believed to be true, proves neither Joffrey, Myrcella, or Tommen are of Baratheon blood. That they are not his sons or his daughter and as such have no right to the Iron Throne. That all three are bastard children born of incest from the unholy union of Queen Cersei and Ser Jaime Lannister," replied Ser Barristan while the people around now began to talk to each other were unsure how to act.
"Lies! All lies! I am the King! I will not have this slander stain my House!" exclaimed Joffrey angrily while Cersei glared at Ned Stark for not only revealing this to Robert, but getting the man to make it an official declaration upon his death.
"It also says that upon King Robert's death, Lord Eddard Stark is to be named Regent, and Protector of the Realm until the Heir of his choosing is ready to sit on the throne," continued Ser Barristan while finding himself unable to decide what to do here.
"May I see the letter Ser Barristan?" asked Cersei before the man gave her the letter to read briefly.
"You would dare make such false accusation against me! I'll have your head on a pike!" exclaimed Joffrey angrily with madness showing in his eyes while his Mother put a hand out to keep him sitting on the Iron Throne.
"'Regent and Protector of the Realm.' Is this meant to be your shield Ned Stark? A piece of paper?" asked Cersei before she tore it up in front of everyone.
"Those were the King's last words," protested Ser Barristan while Cersei smiled at him in an unfriendly manner.
"We have a new King now. A better King. My late husband's words written when alive hold no more strength then he does now in death. Lord Eddard Stark, in an extremely rare form of mercy, I give you the chance to bend the knee, and swear loyalty to my son. If you do, we shall allow you to live out your days in gray waste of land you call the North and Winterfell," offered Cersei while Ned shook his head in resistance.
"Your son has no claim to the throne. Everything that Robert wrote down was the truth and the proof behind it is in the blood of your son and his features compared to those of Robert's bastards. Unlike any of them, not one drop of royal blood runs through your own son's veins," countered Ned with Cersei glaring now and so was Joffrey.
"Lies!" protested Joffrey angrily.
"You condemn yourself with your own mouth Lord Stark. Unbefitting of a High Lord in my eyes. Especially one that holds no loyalty to my House, which all Houses should. Ser Barristan, seize the traitor!" commanded Cersei with Ser Barristan looking at her to Ned with conflict in his eyes.
On one hand, he should obey as a member of the Kingsguard and had to obey any royal commands given. But on the other, if what the parchment said was true, Cersei forfeited the right to rule as Queen with her act of infidelity with her own twin brother. Not only that, but all three children she birthed were bastards all, and thus had no claim to the Iron Throne. Added to the fact the late King Robert proclaimed Ned Stark the Regent and Protector of the Realm was tantamount to treason against the command of a dying King when it was written.
"Ser Barristan is a loyal man. A good man. Do him no harm," commanded Ned to his own men since he didn't want to hurt Ser Barristan or the man to have a reason to draw his sword against them in return.
He also saw the man's hesitance and had to make it seem like the knight was going to do his duty to the Crown to protect Ser Barristan from harm. At least this way, no one from the Lannister side could say the Commander of the Kingsguard wasn't doing his duty.
"You think he stands alone Lord Stark?" asked Cersei before glancing at the Hound, who drew his sword to fight.
"Kill him! Kill them all! I am the King! I command it!" exclaimed Joffrey while seeing all loyal Lannister men drawing their weapons.
"Commander! Take the Queen and her three children into custody! Escort her to the royal apartments and keep them under guard!" commanded Ned while staring at Cersei.
"Men of the Watch!" exclaimed Janos while his men drew their weapons.
"I want no bloodshed. Tell your men to lay down their swords. No one needs to die here today," said Ned while Cersei smirked and then nodded to Janos.
"NOW!" yelled Janos before he and his men turned on Ned Stark's forces, killing them in the surprise move.
Ned tried to draw his sword, but found Petyr Baelish had grabbed him from behind, and put the dagger used by the assassin to try killing Bran to his neck. He was surrounded and had lost. Cersei knew it. Ned knew it. Joffrey knew it. Janos and the all the Lannister men knew it.
"I did warn you not to trust me," whispered Petyr into Ned's ear with a grin on his face.
Only to be surprised when Ned let out a chuckle of amusement.
"Who said Ned Stark did trust you Littlefinger?" asked Ned, but the voice behind it was not Ned Stark's voice.
It was the Demon Sage.
In an instant, the world around Petyr distorted itself before his very eyes, and the illusion of the Lannister soldiers along with his hired City Watch were on the ground. They were either dead, dying, or seriously injured while the Stark men were not even scratched. As for the form of Ned Stark that Petyr was holding, the Northern man vanished in a "poof!" of smoke, and Naruto now standing behind the shocked Master of Coin with the real Ned Stark behind him with his sword out.
"What happened?" demanded Petyr while seeing Cersei, Joffrey, and a few others around them looking around in confusion.
"Did you like the illusion? I merely showed what would have played out had I not been here with Ned trusting you too much to have the City Watch get on his side," explained Naruto before he used Kamui and transported Petyr to the chosen dimension he would hold the man until answers could be acquired from the snake.
"Kill him! Kill the Sage!" commanded Joffrey to what was left of the Kingsguard and his own forces not dead, dying, or badly injured.
"Stand down Ser Barristan," commanded Naruto with Ser Barristan looking at him, then Ned, and finally back at Joffrey.
"Is it true? What Robert wrote down before he died?" asked Ser Barristan with Naruto nodding despite Joffrey kept yelling for someone to kill the Sage while promising the Red Keep's weight in gold to whoever did it.
"Every word of it was true. Joffrey has no more right to the throne then a diseased rat," answered Naruto while Cersei bristled in anger at his words.
"Enough! Ser Barristan! Hound! Kill him that demon now! I am the Queen of Westeros and I order you to slay him!" commanded Cersei while Sandor Clegane stepped forward while Ser Barristan drew his sword and now stood in his way.
"You think they will obey you Cersei? That they will take orders from a woman, who is not worthy of the throne, and being called Queen," replied Naruto while Cersei looked enraged.
"I AM the Queen! I am still that much in terms of status and as such I still have the royal power to give commands to all the knights of Westeros to stand by their oaths to serve me regardless of what Robert's dying words were. Which means Ser Barristan has to fight for me, even if he does not like it," replied Cersei while Naruto shook his head.
"Not when the Queen had a hand in the King's death," replied Naruto with Cersei's face going from angry to pale while everyone else looked at him in shock.
"How dare you make such an accusation against my Mother!" exclaimed Joffrey angrily.
"Is it? I had a nice long talk with King Robert's squire. You know who that is, don't you Cersei? He's your cousin I believe. Lancel Lannister. Your dear Uncle Kevan's son," said Naruto before using his eye to use Kamui and manifest the frightened bound man before them all.
"Lancel?!" asked Cersei while everyone watched the man look around like a frightened child.
"No! No! Stay back! Please! I don't want to go back to that dark place ever again. It was so dark...so cold...so empty!" exclaimed Lancel, as he whimpered in fright, and crawled away from Naruto in fear.
"Lancel told me about the wine you gave him Cersei. The same wine that was given to Robert to drink when he went on his last hunting trip which thanks to the boar, ultimately killed him. It was extremely potent wine. More then usual. It was not watered down like wine normally is when the King goes out on his hunts or long outings," remarked Naruto with Cersei frowning at him.
"Is this true Lancel Lannister?" asked Ned with Lancel fearfully glancing at Naruto, then at a glaring Cersei, and finally Ned Stark.
"It is true. Cersei gave me the wine. I was suppose to get it myself. Make sure it was all watered down so he wouldn't be too drunk and risk his health when out on his hunting trip. But she approached me on my way to the wine storage room. She gave me the wine skin the King normally uses. She told me to make sure that Robert drank from it every second I could get it to him. When I asked why, she merely smiled, and said 'watered down wine is unbefitting of a King' before commanding me to go back to King Robert with it. I refused at first, but Cersei told me if I refused, she would ensure my time here in King's Landing, and as a Lannister would be short lived," answered Lancel with Cersei looking enraged at how her cousin had betrayed House Lannister, had betrayed HER in terms of trust like this, and confessed to what should have been the perfect crime.
All because of the Demon Sage and his magic!
"Then the Queen is guilty of regicide and so are you Lancel Lannister," said Ned while Lancel nodded.
"I know. I will gladly take the Black. Just please...please don't have him send me back to that dark empty place," pleaded Lancel while Ned nodded.
"And what of you Sandor Clegane? Will you blindly follow the Lannisters behind you? A so called Queen, who fucks her brother and gives birth to three of his children? One of which treats you like you're nothing, but an actual dog brought to heel? How many times have the people disrespected you for your title while others feared your brother for his own?" asked Naruto with Sandor looking at him with a firm grip on his sword.
"Too many fucking times to count," said Sandor with Naruto nodding.
"And you really want to give your life for a woman, who helped kill her husband, and the King? A woman who birthed children born of incest? One of which claims to be a King when he's a false King?" questioned Naruto with Sandor's hand on his sword tightening further.
"Fuck no," replied Sandor with Naruto seeing Cersei looking more afraid at this point.
"Then fight for Ned Stark. Fight for the side worth fighting for Sandor Clegane and rise above the scorn and mockery people say behind your back regarding your title as the Hound. Fight for someone or something worthy of your talents and those who will show you the respect you rightfully deserve!" said Naruto with Sandor nodding.
"Aye. My sword is yours to command Lord Stark," said Sandor Clegane before he turned around to face the now frightened Queen and her son.
"Traitor! You dare betray my Mother? My Grandfather?! Me?! YOUR KING?! I'll have your head on a pike for this Dog!" exclaimed Joffrey angrily.
"Fuck you boy. You're no King. You're barely a brat as it is with your well kept hair and skinny form. I could easily sneeze and send you flying back into a wall. You are a false King. And even by some chance you did become King, I simply say 'Fuck the King', and run my sword through your gut! If you wish to take my head you bastard born incestuous piece of shit, pick up a sword right now, and do the job yourself!" called out Sandor with Joffrey clearly having a mad look in his eyes.
"Take them!" commanded Ned with his men moving in.
Or rather they would have if not for more Lannister men charging into the throne room and began to engage the Northerners. Seeing their chance to escape capture, Cersei had quickly grabbed Joffrey from the Iron Throne, despite the boy's screams, and protests before running to the side of the room to make it to the only exit. As for Ned, he and his men, Ser Barristan, the Kingsguard loyal to the oaths they took, and the Hound all began to fight the sudden influx of Lannister soldiers.
"Ned, I leave this to you, and your forces. I will go on ahead and find your daughters and help your men where they are no doubt being attacked. If I know Cersei like I think I do, her men are currently hunting for them, and fighting your men elsewhere right now," said Naruto before he vanished via Kamui while Ned realized he was right.
"Push forward! Drive these traitors back!" commanded Ned while drawing his sword Ice despite his leg injury and readied himself the fighting that was to come.
(With Arya-At the Moment)
Arya had been training hard with Syrio when the Kingsguard Meryn Trant and several Lannister men came into the room. Arya and Syrio instantly knew something was wrong and Arya's dire wolf Nymeria was growling at these men. She had been very tame since coming here to King's Landing, mostly at Naruto's request so the Lannisters couldn't have the needed excuse to have her, or Lady killed off. Both dire wolves didn't know how the masked man could speak to them, but they understood his reason, and had obeyed for the most part.
But now, it seemed to Nymeria given the hostility these men were aiming at her mistress, the need to restrain themselves was over.
"Arya Stark, your Father wants to see you," said Meryn Trant while Arya frowned and so did Syrio since they both knew when Ned Stark sends for Arya, its with Stark men.
"And why is it that Lord Eddard Stark is sending Lannister men in place of his own? I am wondering," questioned Syrio while Meryn Trant sneered at him.
"Mind your place Dancing Master. This is no concern of yours," said Meryn Trant while Syrio became more on guard.
"My Father wouldn't send you. And I don't have to go with you if I don't want to," said Arya fiercely while grabbing her practice sword with the Kingsguard and Lannister men laughing at her.
"How adorable. The girl thinks she can wield a sword like a boy. She's one of those girls. The kind that refuses to act like a proper lady. Take her!" commanded Meryn Trant with the Lannister men moving in.
Only to be beaten back by Syrio using a practice sword.
"Are you men or snakes that would threaten a child?" asked Syrio while in position to fight them.
"Get out of the way little man. This doesn't concern the likes of you," threatened one of the Lannister men Syrio hit.
"Such disrespect. I am Syrio Forel" said Syrio with Meryn Trant spitting on the ground.
"You are a bastard," said Meryn Trant while not looking impressed and motioned for his men to kill the Sword Dancer.
Only to get beaten back again by Syrio with his wooden practice sword.
"And you will speaking to me with more respect!" said Syrio with his eyes narrowing.
"Kill him!" commanded Meryn Trant before he was gutted from behind by a sword by one Uzumaki Naruto wielding Kusanagi.
"I hope you don't mind I cut in here Syrio. While you're clearly no slouch with a sword, a wooden one only takes you so far against men in armor. Even if these Lannister men are the equivalent to armored sacks of shit," remarked Naruto before flicking the blood off of his sword while Meryn Trant's body fell to the ground.
"You fucking masked bastard!" exclaimed one of the now three angry Lannister men in the room, who charged the three eyed Sage, but was instantly cut down, and so were his comrades before they could full engage the man in battle.
"Its been too long Master," replied Syrio while bowing to the man with respect.
"Master?" asked Arya with Naruto chuckled.
"Of course. All Braavosi Sword Dancers learned from me and past their teachings down to their students. Syrio here is one of the last few students I taught from Braavos. Just as Ser Barristan is the last student I had here in Westeros. Why do you think I suggested to your Father to have Syrio train you?" explained Naruto with Arya looking in surprise at him and then at Syrio.
"If I may ask Master...what is going on with these Lannister soldiers and a Kingsguard coming here?" asked Syrio with Naruto's eyes becoming serious.
"The Lannisters are trying to remove everything Stark and those associated with them from King's Landing. With King Robert dead, Joffrey tried to take the throne, and the Queen tried to keep her husband's dying wish from being honored. In short, fighting has broken out everywhere around the Tower of the Hand, and the Red Keep itself. I am on my way to secure Sansa next while helping out any Stark soldiers I see along the way. I suggest the two of you and Nymeria get to the top of the Tower of the Hand where it is safe," replied Naruto with Syrio and Arya nodding.
"Don't worry. We can get there safely enough," said Arya with Naruto smiling behind his mask.
"Good. I expect nothing less from you. Now go! I have to go hunt some cowardly lions," said Naruto before he vanished via Kamui.
"I have a long way to go before I'm worthy of learning how to use a sword from him, don't I?" asked Arya with Syrio nodding while they made their way to the top of the Tower of the Hand.
"True, but not as long a way as you think. You definitely have the potential. Otherwise, the Master wouldn't have had me train you," said Syrio with Arya smiling further now.
(With Sansa and Lady Mordane)
"Your sister knew perfectly well that we were to leave today. How could she forget?" said Lady Mordane in a huff.
"She didn't forget. Arya is with her dancing master. She's with him every morning for lessons. I see her afterwards coming back with scrapes, bumps, and bruises. Almost like she is in a fight. When I ask, Arya just smiles at me and says her teacher is doing his job. Nothing more," said Sansa while Lady Mordane scoffed.
"That girl doesn't know what it means to be a proper lady. No matter who teaches her, the girl will always try to act like a boy. To think such women have dreams or desires to fight like a knight and charge onto the battlefield like they were a man. I heard that Brienne of Tarth is rumored to be one such woman. No sense of decency or understanding on what it means to be a lady of the realm. I hope the two never meet!" said Lady Mordane before the two heard the sound of fighting in the distance.
"What's going on?" asked Sansa worriedly with Mordane narrowing her eyes and the two heard metal cutting through flesh.
Their answer came when a Lannister soldier came flying out down a hallway on the right that was in front of them with an unnatural length of a sword's blade piercing the soldier to a wall. The man on the receiving end of it crying out in pain while the blade dug into his flesh and the poison coating the sword's edge didn't help either. Walking toward the Lannister soldier was Naruto, who was holding onto the hilt of the weapon, and slowly decreasing the length of the sword with each step.
"Sorry you had to see this. But it was either kill these men or let them kill you," replied Naruto before retracting the blade and watched the man in front of him slowly die from the poison in Kusanagi.
"What is going on?" asked Sansa while Naruto looked around real quick.
"In short, the Lannisters are making a move against the throne. Your Father was named Regent and Protector of the Realm by the late King Robert before the man died. The man also denounced Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen as his children so they have no claim to the Iron Throne," explained Naruto while the two women were shocked by this.
"What? Why would King Robert do that?" asked Mordane with Naruto explaining what he and Ned found out about Cersei and Jaime Lannister being the parents of the three along with the proof behind the accusations.
"So Joffrey isn't...he isn't a Prince?" asked Sansa in shock while Naruto nodding his head.
"He's no more a Prince then this dead Lannister solider at my feet is alive. I already went to visit your sister and she's headed for the Tower of the Hand where it will be safe. You two need to do the same. And Sansa, keep Lady close by since she will be able to sniff out hostile forces before they get close and protect you both from harm," replied Naruto before he vanished again to help out the Stark men and servants where he could.
Everywhere Naruto went using his sensory skills, he found Stark men fighting Lannister soldiers while the former tried to protect the Stark servants brought here from Winterfell. Using Kusanagi, the Nidaime Sage of Six Paths cut through the Lannister supporters like the name of his sword suggested...like grass. One group after another fell by his hands and one by one the group of Stark men he freed from fighting were able to move with the others to join their Lord in battle around the Red Keep.
In the end, the battle had been bloody, but House Stark, and his forces had prevailed against House Lannister's forces and supporters. Of course, such a victory came at a price in the form Stark men dying during the fighting, even with Naruto's intervention. There was also Cersei Lannister and her children getting out of King's Landing before the gates could be closed with her destination being Lannisport if not Casterly Rock.
When the chaos finally did die down around the Red Keep and King's Landing, Ned had once more walked into the throne room where the Iron Throne resided. All of his men, who remained from the fighting, Ser Barristan, the Kingsguard that were loyal, and the Hound walked in behind him. Ned looked around the room and grimaced at the sight of so much death. He hated war. Even though he rushed into two of them for Robert without question, the man still hated wars because of this end result of them.
He saw Lancel had not fled the room. The man was too scared to flee during the fighting that was happening around him. Having decided to crawl over to a corner somewhere and cower in private over what he had been put through by the Demon Sage.
Speaking of the masked man...where was he?
"Sorry I'm late. I made sure your daughters were safe and sound. They are by the way and so are most of your men and servants I helped fight off the Lannisters," said Naruto after he appeared via Kamui to Ned's right while his outfit now stained in Lannister blood.
"Thank you. Your current blood soaked appearance reminds me of Robert's Rebellion," commented Ned with Naruto nodding.
"True, but its not nearly as high in terms of the body count when compared to that or the Greyjoy Rebellion," commented Naruto with Ned nodding before the limping Regent of the Seven Kingdoms marched up to the Iron Throne to stare at it for a few seconds.
And slowly, as if in a trance, sat down on the chair that symbolized unmatched power being granted to all those who sat on it to rule.
'Was this what it felt like for Robert? To sit on this throne as an official ruler? Did it feel this overwhelming?' thought Ned while looking at the room and the people standing in front of him.
"All hail Lord Stark. The Regent and Protect of the Realm for all Seven Kingdoms!" said Naruto before bowing at the sight of Ned on the throne, Ice in hand, and staring at the people in the room.
With the exception of Naruto, everyone in the room kneeled in front of Ned Stark.
"Today is a day of change. Today is a day where I vow as Regent, to defend the Seven Kingdoms, and the realm from all threats. From here in King's Landing all the way up to the Wall itself. With your help, your strength, and aid when called upon...I know we will succeed in making this kingdom great again," said Ned Stark with Naruto smiling and saw the Northerners in the room looking up at the man with pride.
'The game has changed. The board is smashed and the pieces in place meant to cause harm to the kingdom are scattered for the most part. Only chaos will emerge from this action made by the Lannisters. But perhaps for the realm to grow, it must first struggle, and fight to keep itself alive,' thought Naruto knowing word would soon reach the North of what the Lannisters tried to do and Robb would no doubt call the bannermen to fight the old lion.
With this conflict going on, Naruto saw other Houses choosing sides, the Vale would be in chaos, and the two remaining Stags would fight each other for the crown left by their dead older brother. Not to mention an old bitter Ironborn would try to rise up to claim his right to be King of the Iron Islands and attack the North like they tried to do the first time around.
No doubt all setup thanks to Petyr Baelish's machinations since becoming a Master of Coin during Robert's rule. Maybe even before that time. Not that it mattered now. Petyr was trapped in his Kamui dimension until he brought the man out or came in there to get him.
In any case, Naruto planned to have one of his talks with Littlefinger within the sanctuary of that little dimension, and see what he had to say for himself.
(A/N: YAY! I have updated. Hope you enjoy it. I know most of you are wondering when Naruto is going to really start making waves and shaking shit up. He will soon enough. This Naruto in case you haven't figured it out, is one that has live a REALLY long time and has seen A LOT of shit happen in regards to his life. As such he wants to help others, but make sure they don't rely on him every stupid step of the way, and ask him for help when something bad comes along. But I'm going to have it where Naruto needs to be more active and yet keep himself more neutral to various sides in this new quest for the Iron Throne. Until next time...PEACE!)