ROBERT

Myrcella en Tommen were playing a ball game in the garden and they waved at him and their grandmother. Robert nodded at them while his good-mother, who wore an enticing perfume, waved back. Robert enjoyed the walk and not just as a way to infuriate Cersei. Lady Lannister always responded to what he had to say without trying to change the topic. She'd nod or show surprise or smile and he found that he liked having an attentive listener who wasn't aimed to please him.

"Stannis told me he sent for Shireen. He thought it would be good for her to have other children to play with. Said her only friend now is a lackwit fool. It would be good for Myrcella too. And for Tommen. He might finally find a boy to befriend, instead of spending so much time with his sister."

"It's good when siblings get along Your Grace. Young Robert Arryn might become Tommen's friend?"

"Ha! I admire Jon, but his son… Shall we walk under those trees?"

"Let me walk on your other side so you may benefit from my parasol. There we are."

Enjoying the shadow Robert continued: "The Hand planned to send his son to Dragonstone to be fostered there. Now that Shireen is coming here that plan's off the table. Have you heard how Lady Arryn responded when her lord husband mentioned it to her? Varys told me all about it. The thought that her lord husband would send her son away without discussing it with her, enraged her. She even threw a beaker at him!"

"No!"

"She did! Between you and me: Lord Stark married the better Tully sister. Jon's too gentle with his wife."

Realising what this implied, Robert coughed a bit.

"Cersei told me that you're planning to marry Joffrey to Lord Stark's eldest daughter."

Relieved that his good-mother didn't question him about his own marriage, Robert confirmed this.

"A Baratheon-Stark bond will , or so I imagine, give you personal satisfaction."

She sounds… understanding?

"My daughter is not Lyanna Stark," his good-mother continued, "though from the stories I've heard about the Northern lady they were both active girls: riding, fighting with swords."

"Swords? Cersei?"

"You didn't know?"

Robert shook his head. Cersei with a sword was like… Stannis with a whore on his lap. Lady Lannister smiled, a bit sadly, Robert thought.

"Well, a union between Stag and Wolf will work out well," his good-mother said. "Myrcella will make Robb Stark a good wife."

Robert nodded, then got to his senses. "What?!"

Where most people would have flinched at his displeasure, his good-mother merely smiled at him and a sweet smile it was. "Joffrey isn't quite ready to wed I'd say. Your northern namesake is a bit older."

"Myrcella is younger than Sansa Stark."

"She's a dear girl and she'll make the North love her."

My blood would rule Lyanna's land and Myrcella won't find a better good-father than Ned. Robert found himself smiling. "Myrcella for Robb then? I'll have it discussed in the Small Council."

"Why don't you announce it in today's Small Council."

Robert guffawed at the thought of how the Councilmembers would look.

"She can leave in less than a month," his good-mother said.

"Are you trying to upset Cersei? She loves her children, I'll give her that."

His good-mother didn't respond to this feeble praise other than by saying: "So do you. And so do I."

Robert knew Cersei would rage, but with any luck the bulk of her rage wouldn't be directed toward him. Robert managed to keep his expression neutral. "A month. Is that enough time to send her off as befits a princess?"

"Let me handle that for you. Costs and all."

Robert smiled. There was something exciting about the twinkle in his good-mother's eyes.

"I suggest you say that you'd like Myrcella to marry a week after her arrival in Winterfell Your Grace."

Before Robert could object Lady Lannister added: "You are right to think she's too young. Yet there will be opposition and one needs to be able to compromise a bit."

They'd reached the shadow of a wall and Lady Lannister took down her parasol. She gestured Ser Barristan, who was one of two White Cloaks guarding him, to come near.

"Let Cersei talk you into Myrcella leaving in a month's time to become Robb Stark's betrothed," she said in a whisper. "The couple can marry when she's six and ten."

The bloody Saviour of King's Landing faces her on a daily basis.

'Bwahaha,' Robert roared.

JON

Baelish and Renly were just talking about the number of ravens in Casterly Rock's rookery, when Ser Barristan and the king entered. It had been many months since Robert had graced a meeting of the Small Council with his presence.

"Did the country run out of wine and women Robert?"

"There's plenty of that left Renly," the king said with a smile.

"I'm glad to see you here Your Majesty," Jon offered.

"Just the once probably. Sit my lords. Let's keep this short. My Hand will have told you that I'd like to have a Baratheon-Stark union."

"He did indeed. I hope you've not changed your mind about that Your Grace?" Pycelle asked.

"I decided to marry Princess Myrcella to Robb Stark."

"How joyful!" Varys exclaimed, but Jon had not missed the eunuch's expression of surprise, however briefly it had appeared. Baelish was seated at the other end of the table and by the time Jon could steal a glance at him the master of coin was smiling as always. He was sure that those observing him would think him to be surprised and he was though not by the new alliance but by the speed with which Lady Lannister had cleared the way for Shireen after he and Stannis had told her that the weather was too warm to their liking.

"I thought that you planned to marry the prince to Lady Sansa," Renly said.

"Indeed Your Majesty," Baelish chimed in.

"I did my lords. However my good-mother felt that Princess Myrcella is better suited to marry than her elder brother."

Renly grinned. Pycelle voiced his agreement and Stannis and Ser Barristan nodded.

"I for one am glad that children of my wards will be united in marriage," Jon said.

"When will the joyous event take place?" Renly asked.

"Myrcella will move to Winterfell soon."

"I'm sure Lady Stark will welcome the princess most warmly. But will she have time to prepare?" Baelish said, his words laced with concern.

"Do ladies ever have enough time to prepare?" Renly said.

"With the honour bestowed on House Stark, other Houses will need to be considered when it comes to the marriages of the princes," Varys advised the king.

Why would he say that?

"We agree on that Varys. Who do you suggest huh?"

"Hasn't Lady Lannister made any suggestions?"

Ah: to pry.

"Prince Tommen's too young by far. And Prince Joffrey didn't exactly endear himself to his lady grandmother."

"I assure you Your Majesty, had I known who would be the culprit of the prince's prank, I would not –"

"No need to turn red Grand Maester," the king interrupted. "I believe you. And more importantly: so does my good-mother."

Baelish whistled the first tones of 'The Rains of Castamere' and Renly laughed at that. Pycelle flinched but the king grinned and added: "We don't need her for more matchmaking."

I will work him, but it will take time, Lady Lannister had said at the inn. Jon hoped that Stannis didn't take his brother's words as a sign that the swift lioness would be prevented from fulfilling her part.

"Indeed Your Majesty. Royal marriages should be handled by the king with the Small Council's council, not by a lady, even if she is who she is," Baelish said. "Is it true that the Mad King was besotted by her Ser Barristan?"

The Commander of the Kingsguard looked uncomfortable. "He had a wandering eye."

"Seems like something kings have in common," Renly jested. His playful tone failed to bring a smile to the king's face.

"The lady refused his attentions!" Pycelle burst out.

"When will the princess leave Your Grace?" Jon quickly asked.

"A month from now."

"So soon?" Renly said.

"The girl will have to marry one day. And if I tell the queen the princess will leave in a year's time, she'll be mad with me for a full year."

Through Renly's laughter Stannis gestured at some paperwork. "May we enter the first topic of the meeting?"

The king rose. Jon, though glad that the first step had been made, was a little disappointed that Robert didn't stay.

"Go ahead my lords. Lord Hand, will you write Lord Stark about my decision? I'll tell the queen about the upcoming marriage and then I'm off hunting."

RENLY

It amused him that the Lannister bitch and he sat together as if they were friends.

"I dare say that I'd not expected my brother to be as blunt as not to tell you about his idea before announcing it in the council. Sweet Myrcella to leave King's Landing so soon!"

"This isn't his idea," Cersei hissed. "My lady mother came up with it. Robert wanted to marry Joffrey to the eldest Stark girl."

"You think she hasn't forgiven the prince for his… prank?"

Cersei looked at him as if he were dim-witted. "Of course she has not. She may say that Myrcella will in time help her husband rule half the kingdom, but that's just to placate me."

"Surely she 'paid her debt' and won't intervene anymore?"

"She'd better not."

"You must miss Ser Jaime," he said kindly.

Cersei tilted her head as if she wanted to seek him out. He gave her his best compassionate look and her features relaxed. Well done Renly, he praised himself.

"I do. He felt obliged to obey her command. Did you know she gained weight? She isn't as slim as she used to be and she always dismisses the lady's maid I gave her before she retires for the night. She probably doesn't want anyone to see her ageing body. "

"She surely isn't as youthful as you are," Renly replied. Cersei smiled as if he'd just declared her fairer than the Maiden herself. Women! Just wait until the Southern maiden arrives.

"If Lady Lannister thinks her orders trump mine, she's mistaken."

Renly said forward a bit. "You mean to play her?" he said with a hint of admiration in his voice.

"Among others I'll send a message to the Bloody Gate to demand Ser Jaime's immediate return. His son can travel to the Rock for all I care."

Renly nodded. "Or… you could summon him to King's Landing as well?"

For the first time since the bitch had married his brother they shared a laugh.

Renly wanted Ser Jaime near when the king learned of his wife's incestuous affair for that way it would be far easier for Robert to cut off the Golden Knight's head. Having young Tybalt around would show that Lannister blood mixed with other blood didn't result in golden haired and green-eyed children while not having control of his eldest grandson would keep the Old Lion in check. Even Baelish wouldn't have thought of that!

"I was wondering," Cersei said. "I need to prepare Myrcella for her journey north. Might you be willing to spend some time with Tommen today? His father doesn't have much time for him," Being on his way to the Eyrie, "and he could use a male companion."

And childless me would become so fond of him that I'd appoint him as heir to the Storm Lands. That will never happen you sow. "Of course my queen!"

Though not particularly looking forward to be Tommen's play-mate Renly decided he'd better get it over with. Outside Tommen's rooms his shield stood in front of the open door along with a red cloak. The former was to announce him, but Renly, hearing a familiar female voice, shook his head. Ser Tymas Moreland looked uncomfortable but Renly whispered: "It's so endearing hearing the prince chat," and that made the shield smile.

"The Mad King had killed the father and brother of Lord Stark, who was Father's close friend. I don't know why, no one tells me, but I think it must be because he was mad," Tommen was heard to say.

"That sounds logical."

"The Mad King then wanted to burn Father and Lord Stark but Lord Arryn said no. He raised his banners, see?" the boy said. "I see," Lady Lannister replied. "But how did Lord Arryn become involved?"

There was a short silence. "He fostered Father and Lord Stark."

"Ah: they were under his protection."

"Yes!" Tommen happily said. "And then Father secured Gulltown and he went home to call his banners. Lord Stark did so too, so then there were three armies to fight the Mad King. The people in the Reach supported the Mad King, that's why I gave them dragon banners, see?"

Renly nodded at Ser Tymas, who knocked and announced him.

"Uncle Renly!" Tommen cried out. The boy seemed genuinely pleased to see him, which made Renly think that sending him to Old Town to become a maester or shipping him off to the Wall would be kinder than having him killed. Lady Lannister, elegantly seated on a cushion on the floor where Tommen's miniature armies stood, kindly smiled at him. For a woman her age she was slim still. Renly asked his nephew for permission to join them and the boy immediately entreated him to sit down. "I was just telling Grandmother about the Reach Uncle Renly. She said that my grandfather told her about it, but that she didn't quite get it."

"It is complicated. Perhaps you might enlighten me too. What about the Reach?" Renly asked, keeping his voice serious, but winking at Lady Lannister when Tommen bent over to add some horsemen to the Baratheon troops. Lady Grandmother gave Renly a genuine smile.

"The Reach supported the Mad King."

"How naughty," Renly said. Tommen giggled. "What about Dorne Tommen?"

"They didn't help the Mad King but they didn't help Father either."

"They weren't the only ones who acted that way. The Prince of Dorne is a cautious man, just like the Warden of the West."

Tommen cast a glance at his grandmother, who, to Renly's slight disappointment, calmly nodded. "They kept their hands to their chest, didn't they?" Tommen said. Another nod. "That's what Father says, but what does that mean?"

Renly was about to laugh aloud, when a pleading look from Lady Lannister prevented that. She smiled gratefully when instead he pretended to cough.

"When you play cards and you keep them to your chest, like so…" Lady Lannister picked up a miniature banner and held it against her upper body, covering it with the back of her hand and her slender fingers, "…your opponents will not be able to steal a glance at them."

"Making it impossible for them," Renly clarified, "to anticipate your next move."

"Which is good?"

"Very good," Renly said. "But do go on with your history class. I find it interesting."

Lady Lannister nodded and smiled. A little more praise for Tommen and he'd have her eat from his hand.

"Father and Lord Stark and Lord Arryn fought battles and they won most. The ones they lost weren't that important I think."

"They never are," Renly commented.

"Then Father met the Mad King's son and he killed him. And all armies went to King's Landing…" Tommen started moving miniature knights to some red bricks that passed for the capital. With some white chalk the boy created a gate in front of which he placed a Lannister banner. "But Lord Lannister got there first. The walls of King's Landing are powerful and it would have been difficult to enter and there were gold cloaks to defend the city from enemies. But my grandfather told the guards that he was there to help the Mad King. Do you think that's how he said it Grandmother?"

"Methinks he would have styled him 'His Majesty'."

"Or the Mad King would have gotten mad, wouldn't he? The king believed him and the Lannister troops entered. The gold cloaks fell asleep because they were tired and then the red cloaks could just walk to the Red Keep. Uncle Jaime went to see if the crown prince's wife was all right and he defended her when some mean men wanted to hurt her. But first he and Lord Lannister went to see the Mad King who told them he was going to burn the city with jars. Grandfather killed the Hand, who was good at setting things on fire using jars, and then he killed the Mad King and he got rid of the jars and he raised Father's flag. The end."

Renly and Tommen's grandmother applauded the boy. They were stopped by Tommen crying out: "Oh no. I forgot. Father then wanted to travel to a tower in the north of Dorne but Lord Stark went there instead and then Father and Ser Jaime went to Kingspyre. Father killed some knights from the Kingsguard, I think because they belonged to the Mad King's Kingsguard and they weren't heroes and Ser Jaime valiantly fought the Sword of the Morning and he took his sword but he didn't kill him and he returned the sword. Father said that it pissed my grandfather but Mother said Dawn is overrated and Brightroar is much better. I forgot to tell that Father and Uncle Jaime and Lord Stark were looking for his sister, Lord Stark's sister, who was in the Harrenhal tower, the Kingspyre. Not in Dorne. I hope someone told Lord Stark for it is a long way to Dorne. But there was a pyroman in the tower and he set it afire so he died and the sister too. Father said it was a sad day."

The boy looked at the ceiling, moving his lips as if he were going over a list. "Yes. That's the story!" he concluded. Renly led the applause once more.

"There's a lot I don't understand," Tommen admitted, "but Mother said she'd tell me about it when I'm older. Father then said that she wasn't to defile her memory. Is that what happened with you Grandmother? Did your memory got defiled?"

"No little one. It got lost."

"A sad thing indeed Lady Lannister."

"There are worse things Lord Renly."

Dead twins. Three grandchildren who are declared bastards… Myrcella might still marry Stark's heir but she doesn't matter.

"And joyful ones too: knowing that you've arranged for a wonderful husband for your royal granddaughter."

"She is a sweet girl."

"Do you have marriages in mind for her brothers too?" Renly asked Baelish's question.

Lady Lannister tenderly glanced at Tommen, who'd continued to move his little knights about and who was softly humming to himself. She shook her head at Renly and lipped: just look at him. Renly nodded: Tommen was remarkably kind. "And uhm, Symon's opponent?" he said. Lady Lannister's smile disappeared. "He's young and he'll learn. In a couple of years…"

"I could find out if my bannermen have eligible daughters? We could go over it together?"

Lady Lannister seemed keen for a moment but she sighed and shook her head. "I've gotten involved too much as it is."

"Your debt is paid?" Renly said with a wink.

Lady Lannister cast her eyes down in shame. "For the next weeks I'll just enjoy being with my family."

"Will you leave soon?"

"I'd like to see Myrcella off."

"I don't like it that she has to leave," Tommen tearily said. "And I don't want to have to go away myself."

"You're not leaving Tommen," Renly said, curious to learn whether Lady Lannister had told the boy about plans concerning him.

The boy's lower lip trembled. "Won't I Grandmother? Joff said that when Uncle Jaime was nine he was sent to Lord Yronwood to be fostered and that I would be fostered in Dorne too. Or if they wouldn't have me there I'd be shipped off to Skagos," Tommen continued in a whimper.

Renly barely succeeded in keeping his laughter in. Imagine that boy on an island filled with barbarians and some said cannibals. He would last less long than he would on the Wall.

"Your brother has an odd sense of humour sweetheart. Your parents and uncles are very busy but you may always come to me instead of worrying about Joff's stories. Will you promise me that?"

Tommen inhaled deeply as if to gain strength and nodded.

"Good boy," Renly said. Weak and soft as Tommen was, Renly preferred him over Joff, who had the Lannister pride without backing it up with any qualities whatsoever, much like Cersei. Renly got to his feet, claiming to have to do some council work. He greeted the incestuous offspring and the slut's mother and walked to the exit. He heard Tommen repeat his complaint about Myrcella's departure. In the doorway he cast a last look behind him. The boy was sobbing in his grandmother's arms and she was rubbing his back, whispering sweet nothings into his ears no doubt.

Baelish is a fool to worry.