Jaime waited until Robert disappeared with Ser Clegane before he slipped into the hallway where the royal family was kept. Normally he would have met Cersei into the tower but after he pushed that fucking Stark brat, it's been guarded and restricted. Checking the area Jaime made sure no one saw him as he slipped into the room.

"Cersei-"

"Where were you? Why didn't you defend me? You let that fucking pathetic man disrespect me! You let that fat whore drunk disrespect! Me, the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Me, your blood. Me, the love of your life. Me, the mother of your children. Where were you?"

"Do not blame me for this. Your husband is looking for reasons to send me back to Casterly Rock and I cannot give him any and risk leaving you"

"What about the man? The assassin. Or the boy."

"The boy is a boy who fell from a tower. He would be lucky to shit without help as for the assassin, I'll handle it."

"You better because if he speaks, you'll kill us all. Me and our children."

"I know that Cersei! You think I don't know that. What would you have me do, go to the pits and slit his throat right now."

"Yes! Rid us of this nuisance to protect our family. Remember, everyone who isn't us is an enemy."

Jaime looked at Cersei before looking away before glancing back to find her watching, "Fine. Fucking fine. Fine!"

"Good. Now go kill him and protect our family."

Catelyn Stark was never a fragile woman.

She was raised to be the heir to House Tully before her brother was born. She knew her way around the battlefield strategies more than any man. She had healed half of her father's soldiers herself when the maester's became backed up. She had carried and borne five babies when most women died upon their second or third.

But she was still a mother.

"Bran?"

Joffrey didn't move at the sound of Lady Stark dropping to her knees to hold Bran's hand in hers. She began whispering, thanking the seven for protecting and saving her son while kissing his hand. It didn't surprise him that she probably didn't realize he was here.

"He just fell back asleep actually. The maester said it's normal until his body regains enough strength to regulate back to normal."

"F-forgive prince Joffrey. I have not-." "Lady Stark, you are the mom of my betrothed. I shall go for a walk with Summer, it would do me good to look around my beloved home. Take that time to sit with him, he will wake up shortly. It would be good for him to see a familiar face. Come Summer."

Catelyn waited until the door closed before setting to properly kneel near Bran's bed. "Bran? Can you hear me?"

Jon felt like shit.

He felt like complete and utter shit. His body felt heavy and bruised worse than one of his training matches against Theon. Blinking a few more times, Jon found himself staring at Robb. The heir to Winterfell's eyes were closed as his hands were clenched together in a prayer as he sat on the seat nearest to the bed.

'Bran. Where's Bran? Bran!' Jon's head started screaming as he yanked himself upwards almost falling out the bed if it wasn't for Robb grabbing him, but Jon paid him no mind. All Jon could time about was Bran, he had left his little brother. He had failed to protect him. If he was here that meant Bran was alone. Jon tried to open his mouth only to realize he couldn't feel his face. Reaching up despite the ache in his arms Jon felt around his face trying to stop the panic rising in his chest as he tried to force his mouth to open.

'I can't feel my face, I can't feel my face. I can't feel my face. I can't feel my face' . Jon started panicking. He didn't realize it as his hands started scratching away at his face, ripping the newly stitches under his jaw along with creating lines across his face.

"Jon? Jon, Jon stop. Jon, stop it!" Robb roared. Jon soon found himself pressed against Robb's chest; hands locked in between them. "Calm down. Calm down. Take a breath Jon. Jon take a fucking breath now!" Robb hissed.

"Jon."

Jaime groaned he had to use another rag to clean the blood from his sword. "Fuck bleeder." He grumbled.

"Kingslayer."

"Joffrey? What are you doing down here?"

Joffrey didn't speak as Summer sat down beside him. He simply looked at the assassin who was now laid dead throat cut from ear to ear. "You executed the assassin. By orders of my father, the King?"

"He tried to escape, and I stopped him. But that's not important why are you-"

"Bran Stark is my betrothed. Bran Stark is Lord Eddard Stark's son. Bran Stark is a subject of King Robert Baratheon. That man's life belonged to one of the three men, I have listed, and you are none of them. You, a Kingslayer, thought to be above the King, a Lord, me? I wonder what my father would have to say to this. Shall we ask him?" with those words Joffrey turned around.

The prince took a few steps stopping as he heard Summer growl. Glancing over his shoulder Joffrey smiled as he found Summer snarling at the Kingslayer. The man held his sword out the direwolf but made no move to touch it, especially seeing the drool dripping from its mouth ready to attack.

"Joffrey, you have to understand I did this to protect us. To protect our family. That man attacked Stark in own home, men like that have no morals. A man with no morals should not be allowed to live. Ned Stark to honorable man he would not have given the proper justice, I had to-"

"Our family. Do you mean to protect me as your nephew or son?"

Jaime Lannister froze.

Slowly he dropped his sword down to his side, unable to find words.

"Have you fallen mute now Kingslayer, the golden man, the young lion, sister fucker, or father the names for you are truly endless aren't they."

"How did-"

"You and mother should be more careful with your looks and your making of bastards. A blind man can see the love between you two isn't simply a brother and sister love. You might have been able to fool everyone else. The Lannister blood is strong, producing golden hair children but the Baratheon has only ever produced black haired children regardless of who was the mother. Lannister and Baratheon have married before and borne black haired children. One or two would have been believable but all three especially when the only black-haired child died from a fever. Then you came to the Kings Landing and suddenly the King and Queen were pregnant again especially when the King seemed to stop bedding his Queen."

"Does Robert-"

"I will not be telling him if you are worried. I just want you to know that I know. I know Bran did not fall from the tower. I know you and my mother have been plotting to end our betrothal. I know many things and yet I shall stay quiet because now you do not serve my mother anymore, you serve me."

"Joffrey I am not-"

"You will serve me…or I shall make sure you receive a fate worse than anything you ever dreamed, understand Kingslayer?"

"Why? You know that I am your father and yet you still do this. I am your blood. You are my son. I have protected you at every turn since you were still inside your mother's belly. You, Myrcella, and Tommen are my heart and yet you will use me."

"I am my mother's son, what did you expect? Beside you touched my Bran. You aimed to kill my beloved because of your lust for my mot-"

"I love Cersei. I have only ever loved her."

"I believe you, but you lust more. I have seen what lust does to men, weak men. I love Bran and I am my mother's image. Just imagine what I am willing to do for him and only him. Good day Kingslayer. Oh, do not worry I will tell my father that the assassin attempted to attack, and you defended me as you should but tread lightly. If you take any more actions with my explicit consent, I will have you burned just like Rhaenyra Targaryen. Now go along and tell my mother you have a new master. Come Summer."

Robb stepped back allowing his father to take his seat. The Lord of Winterfell never seemed more alive as he checked over Jon. Robb smiled ignoring the look Jon sent him along with the look of betrayal as he laughed. A weight felt like it was lifted off his shoulder as Jon smiled as they're father pressed his

"It's good to see you awake. How are you feeling?"

"He can't talk right now. The maester numbed his face to stitch the outside and inside of his jaw from the blade. He will feel it soon but the maester already ordered some milk of poppy to help with the pain."

Ned nodded. "Sleep Jon. You're safe. Bran's safe."

"Lannister-"

"Allow him to go. Ser Clegane, who are you loyal to?"

"You, my king."

"Repeat your oath to me."

"I swear to obey the king's commands, to keep his secrets, to counsel him when requested and to keep silent when not, and to defend his name and honor." Robert glanced back to find Ser Clegane kneeled holding his sword out waiting.

"Stand Ser Clegane. There are lions in the forest. The forest belongs to the black stags does it not?"

"It does, my king."

"If a lion were to attempt to kill the stag, what would you do?"

"Cut the lion down where it sleeps."

"The cubs are to protect but the lioness must be watched."

"Of course."

"Good now shall we go visit the cubs."

Robert Baratheon walked off with Ser Clegane.

Cersei Lannister pressed a kiss to Myrcella and Tommen heads as they slept. She refused to allow them to interact with those northern savages despite Robert's attempts. Closing the door behind her, Cersei walked with one destination in mind.

Cersei Lannister was no fool.

She knew Joffrey was not her little boy anymore.

He hasn't been in a long time.

She had noticed the look in his eyes when he stared at her, the same look her father had like she was just still a little foolish girl. The men in her life all thought the same thing: that she was just a foolish girl, but she wasn't.

Cersei Lannister was a lion. She had bested Jaime since they were kids but none of that mattered because she was a woman. The weaker sex. Something to look pretty at and fuck. Not anymore.

Turning the corner Cersei smiled as the familiar hallway came into view. Relaxing her face, Cersei knocked on the door before opening it, "Lady Stark come to take a walk with me. I believe there's a few matters to discuss."