Damn I cannot get off of this thing. Every time I take a break, I find myself wanting to type more.

I'm happy to see that some of you gave good reviews to the Myrcella chapter of the book. Not sure if I'll do much more of her, but a lot of things can change leading up to ACOK time. This chapter takes place at an unspecific time before 'GOT Eddard V' All other original chapters are unaltered.

Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I claim any ideas, places, or characters from the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series. Cheers

Ned slouched in his chair, exhausted. He had suffered many a sleepless night since his arrival at King's Landing to serve as Robert's Hand. His own daughters had been at one another's throats, which created a hostile environment in his quarters that Septa Mordane had pleaded for him to aid in dispelling. The meeting with his wife in Littlefinger's brothel and the news that Tyrion Lannister had presumably tried to kill Bran increased his stress, as well as furthered his suspicion of the queen's family.

But all of these issues paled in comparison to another he was facing. His daughter's would eventually quell their tempers, and he would bring justice to the Imp, but Olyvar's behavior had suddenly become erratic and unfiltered. The boy had sent the majority of his forces, including his personal maester, back to the Eyrie to aid his mother and brother and had chosen to accompany the Starks back into King's Landing, despite Eddard's pleas for him to return home and begin ruling the Vale.

I can't leave that boy out of my sight. Ned knew that his nephew cared for his cousins, and was especially close to Arya. That was the reason he had decided to join them in King's Landing until the end of the tourney to be held in Ned's honor, after which he would sail back to the Eyrie with Lord Royce, one of his bannermen. But the memory of hearing Lysa's pleas come from the mouth of Cat haunted him. His nephew's encounters with the lions as of late did not help to ease Ned's mind either. Olyvar's temper had gotten the better of him too many times, and people were noticing. After all, what was stopping Cersei Lannister from clipping the wings of another falcon in her court?

He had talked to Olyvar before they had ridden ahead of the column into the capital. The boy had been in a particularly foul mood since the night of Lady's death, scarcely saying a word and brooding endlessly. Ned had told him that he would have to curb his public outbursts after they had returned to the capital. Despite your feelings, you cannot act like that. The Lannisters will use it against you. Those words had helped calm him for now. But with Joffrey Baratheon still acting like he was, Ned could not guarantee that Olyvar would heed his warnings forever.

A soft knock came at the door. "Enter." Ned commanded. Through the door came Lancel Lannister, the king's squire. He, like his cousins, had the traditional gold hair and green eyes that their house was known for.

"His Grace request an audience with you immediately."

Gods Robert, at this hour? Ned hung his head and gave a sigh. "Very well. Take me to him." Ned followed Lancel through the halls of the Red Keep, presumably on his way to Robert's chambers. The summon could have been for a number of things; to discuss how Ned's daughters were doing, to converse about the coming tourney, or perhaps about why Ned found it necessary to ride ahead of him by a day into King's Landing. Whatever the reason, Ned was sure that the conversation would turn into something less than pleasant.

Lancel opened a door, revealing Robert sitting on a chair in the middle of the room. On the table he sat by were two glasses and a large pitcher of wine. Of course. For once, Ned didn't mind that wine was readily available. He suspected that even he would need some on this night.

"Leave us." Lancel gave a bow before exiting. "Ned, sit with me my friend." Ned came to the table, taking the seat opposite of Robert. He watched as Robert poured him a glass of wine, handing it to him in almost a demanding matter before the king poured himself one, taking a drink before addressing Ned. "Ned, I've been troubled since the incident at the Trident."

"As have I, Your-"

"No. Enough of that 'Your Grace' madness, Ned. Talk to me as if we were back in the Eyrie. As if we were just boys."

"We aren't boys anymore, Robert." Ned took a drink from his glass, watching as his friend shot him a look. "Our youth has passed us by. Our job now is to help lead the youthful. We have no room to act like we once were."

Robert gave a small, spiteful laugh. "You always were too honorable, Ned." He took a larger drink from his glass this time. "But you are right, we aren't boys anymore. That nephew of yours is certainly making it known."

"I warned you in Winterfell that the boy had a strong will." Ned could tell that Robert remembered the words their mentor's son had spoken to him at Castle Darry. "He was not pleased by your decision at the Trident, to hand Lady over to your wife."

"He's a boy! Who is he to question his king?" Robert demanded. The mention of Olyvar questioning Robert back at Castle Darry had set him off into one of his rages. "What does he know of ruling? He hasn't even returned to the Eyrie to establish his reign."

"The boy's spirit is as unrelenting as yours, Robert. He's not going to adhere to your every whim like many that you have surrounded yourself with. I've seen your council, I've heard their tales. Six million dragons, Robert?"

Robert shrugged. "What of it, Ned? It's just gold."

"That's not what Tywin Lannister or the Iron Bank of Bravos will say. What's that saying your wife's family holds so dear? A Lannister always pays their debts? Tell me, when do you think they're going to start collecting on their debts?"

"So long as Tywin's wife is queen and his grandchild is my heir, that old man won't do a thing!" Robert spat, so sure that he was right. "You only hold a grudge against them because you still don't like what they did to win the war!"

"There were other ways. Jon said so himself."

"Jon was too honorable, just like you." Robert finished his cup, pouring himself another one before continuing. "Yet Jon at least stayed by my side to establish my reign, to secure the Lannisters' support. While he did that, you fled back to your home in the North! When I needed you here!" Robert slammed his fist, looking at Ned with contempt. Eddard held his stoic look, despite his blood boiling.

"Yes, Jon did stay by your side. Cleaned up your messes, gave his son to your brother instead of sending the boy north to live with his family. And how do you repay him? Deny his heir his title as Warden of the East, allow your wife to trample on the boy's pride at every chance? He will not take these slights lightly, Robert. No one would."

"The boy will have to learn his place." Robert said grimly. "I promised my daughter to him-"

"A promise I hear your wife is trying to break. Will she convince you as she did about the matter of Warden of the East?" Ned felt his voice rising and becoming more heated. He opted to take a drink of his wine in an attempt to quell his rising temper.

"Would you blame me if I did?"

"If so, then I would have to ask you to break the betrothal between Sansa and Joffrey as well." Ned said frankly. After all that occurred at the Trident, that should be the pairing that you should spend more time worrying about Robert. "From what I've seen, Olyvar adores Myrcella, and she him. He speaks to her gently, he treats her with class. He seems like a perfect match for your house."

Robert gave a defiant look before sighing, his expression changing to one of defeat. "Gods Ned, I know you speak truth. Always have. Why must you always be right?" Robert took another large drink. "The boy is loyal and wise beyond his years, even I can admit that. Even if he is a bit too rash at times."

"He will grow, Robert. The boy has the same values as Jon did. He's simply needs to be a bit more refined, a trait that comes with time." Ned put his glass down, looking at Robert with a very hard gaze. "I know the boy. He will love your daughter when the time comes."

"That I do not doubt. Should he defend Myrcella with as much zeal as he defended that wild daughter of yours, I would sleep very soundly at night." Robert twirled his glass, watching as the wine swirled with it. "That boy would fight Ser Barristan if it meant defending his family."

"Not the wisest decision. But the boy's loyalty is unmatched, that I agree with. You would do well to call him back when he's grown. You could use him on the Small Council."

"Something tells me you want him here for your own reasons, Ned." The two shared their first laugh together in quite some time. It was refreshing. "Perhaps I should have just made him Warden of the East."

Ned gave him a look. "You haven't told him yet, have you?"

"No, no I haven't." Robert shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "The topic of it never came up. The boy simply assumed I had named him. Tyrion told me." Ned tried not to tense up, but couldn't help doing so upon hearing the name of his son's supposed killer. Robert did not notice. "They were playing that damnable board game when they discussed it. By that point, I had already named the Kingslayer."

"Robert." Ned began sternly. "You must reverse this decision. And not simply because it's Jaime Lannister. I can calm the boy down, but Lysa Arryn will be in a fury when she hears that her son has been passed over."

"It's too late for that, Ned. Maybe in a year I can reverse the choice when the boy is nearing of age. But not now, not after I finally rid myself of Cersei's complaints on the subject. Can I be allowed peace on this matter for a year?" Ned said nothing but looked down. Despite knowing that Olyvar was ready, he knew that nothing would change Robert's stance. Not now, at least. When he looked back up, Robert had finished another drink and was looking at him thoughtfully. "Say Ned, would you mind telling the boy in my stead? You always seem to know how to keep him calm anyways. You and Stannis, at least."

Ned sighed slightly. You always did avoid these types of things, Robert. But Ned knew the king's words were true, and it would help keep the boy under his watch. After all, whatever secret Olyvar's father had died for was now threatening the boy, and Ned knew that he would be in danger until his departure for the Eyrie. Until then, Ned would keep him close.

A/N: I feel like Robert, being uninterested in the administrative aspect of ruling, would have neglected telling Olyvar that he wasn't Warden of the West, and would naturally bestow Ned the honor of breaking it to him. Plus, the chapter's contents focus on the struggle between Cersei and Ned on influencing Robert, despite Cersei having no part in it.

We have two questions. First from our friend Spark She-Demon, who asks "Olyvar doesn't know that he's only Warden of the East in name yet, does he?" Think I answered that one in this update. :p

The second comes from Guest97, who asks "Is Petyr going to play a big part in this story?" Oh yes, Littlefinger is going to do as only Littlefinger does. And that is play the 'game' with the best of them.

Keep the reviews up, you guys fuel the story, and your opinions and discussions matter quite a deal to me. Thanks again!

A/N #2: This in itself is a rewrite. I must admit that there were some oversights from the original that I posted, and have taken the liberty of correcting them. The perfectionist in me demands it, I suppose. A thanks to OverseerBishop for letting me know.