RENLY

He'd been summoned, much to his chagrin, and the first thing she said on his arrival was: 'What took you so long?' He bowed with a flourish while picturing her being whipped and told her that he'd taken a moment to act the diplomat by greeting some Dornishmen: he had after all not been present when they'd arrived. Hopefully his courtesy had not upset her? The lioness smiled her forgiveness. To placate her even more he added that the Dornish had been impressed at seeing their queen the previous day. It earned him a another smile, that faded away too quickly.

'Prince Oberyn can't have been among those you took your time to greet. Varys told me he and my mother broke their fast together and have left for a ride.'

'Let us hope that he might trigger her memory,' Renly politely said.

Cersei's expression made it clear that she doubted that would happen. Not surprisingly she started chatting about her youngest son and Renly obligingly complimented her on having such a sweet little boy.

'I think you're a better influence on him than the other person he spends time with these days,' Cersei said.

Renly pretended not to understand so she clarified: 'My lady mother.'

'Ah! Because I am a man no doubt. Boys need males to teach them the ways of the world.'

Cersei smiled sweetly and said: 'I fear she will encourage Prince Tommen to talk about a certain topic the king can't stand.'

After a heartbeat Renly asked: 'Embroidery?'

'Dragons!'

To cover his merriment Renly pretended to have a coughing attack and he was so convincing that Cersei had a servant pour him a glass of wine that she personally handed him. Once he'd 'recovered' and had thanked her for her kindness he said: "How embarrassing it would have been for your lady mother to be formally charged with being a Targaryen supporter. Fortunately everything got sorted out." To rattle his bitch of a sister-in-law further Renly casually continued: "Is it true that your lady mother had a word with Ser Todric about your eldest son?"

Cersei nodded. "I told Ser Todric that he is to obey the prince at all times. It was a wooden sword and Joff was merely being playful. Besides, that bastard is a no-good."

Renly nodded agreeably and said: "Fools, stableboys and dogs are hardly a match for him."

"If he chooses to engage with them, it is his royal right."

"I couldn't agree more," Renly said with a naughty smile.

"As does Lord Baelish." Renly's fair companion then complained about her mother some more, calling it beneath a Lannister to chat with stable-hands, as both Ser Gerion and his lady tended to do. "I'm sure they deliberately made the prince aware of it as if to warn him."

"Truly?" Renly feigned astonishment.

"Of course!" Cersei said with a look of superiority. "She even complimented Ser Arthur Storm for protecting the girl's idiot. She called him chivalrous! If she thinks she can best my son -"

Cersei stopped talking in mid-sentence, to Renly's sorrow.

"Tell me Lord Renly, what do you make of Lord Tyrell being on his way to King's Landing? Baelish thinks he wants his daughter to be the future queen. The crown-prince would be a prize indeed for a former steward. Lord Lannister would disapprove I'm sure, but his lady only cares to oppose me. Robert might even go along with it if she supports Tyrell."

"What about a countermove?"

"I'm thinking of that too."

"The beautiful Lady Margaery might be a match for your brother?" Renly suggested.

Cersei's eyes turned to slits and she paled but she quickly recovered herself, though her slightly high pitched voice still betrayed her anger. "Tyrell will not want his daughter to be a stepmother to four healthy children. He'd sooner wed her to Oberyn Martell."

Renly laughed for having upset her but from her smile he concluded that she thought he appreciated her wit.

"Lady Lannister informed me she's looking for a wife for you. I told her I would assist you instead."

Is that what you call a countermove? "You would? I am honoured Your Grace!"

How hard could it be to make Cersei realise that Margaery was to be his? She probably has it on her mind now: anything to get the girl away from her son or brother.

It took some time ere Cersei dismissed him. After flirting a bit with the fat middle aged wife of one of his bannermen Renly set off for the Small Council's meeting chamber. He run into Baelish.

"I heard you've had the pleasure of seeing our queen in all her morning glory?" the master of coin said. Renly nodded.

"You must look forward to seeing Ser Loras again?" Baelish asked.

"I am. He's a good friend."

"His presence will no doubt be comforting to you."

He's been making more hints about me and Loras these days and not just to me.

"Far more comforting than Lady Lannister's presence is to her daughter," Baelish said with a smile. "Has she complained about her to you too?"

Renly eyed the ceiling.

"Was there anything of interest she shared?"

"You know Her Grace better than that," Renly replied. He was not in the mood to satisfy Baelish's curiosity but he did share his latest conversation with Tommen, to bore Baelish as much as he himself had been bored when listening to the little lion. On arriving at their destination they found Pycelle waiting. Renly and Baelish greeted him and Renly finished his story.

"So the young prince liked visiting the Sept? It is wonderful that Lady Lannister shows her grandchildren the city and places of worship. Of course a septon holds an honourable position, yet so does a maester. He would not be the first of royal birth to –" Pycelle stopped talking in mid-sentence, insulted by the laughter his words caused. Renly managed to reassure the old goat that they weren't laughing at him. "You see Grand Maester, I feel that the queen wouldn't wish for her youngest to leave for the Citadel. She rather longs that I make young Tommen my heir."

The moment he'd said it, Renly realised that persuading Cersei to marry him to Margaery would not fit in her plan. He felt Baelish observing him and he didn't care much for the knowing as well as amused look on the man's face.

OoOoO

Lord Tyrell's arrival attracted a lot of courtiers to the Throne Room. Robert, who disliked audiences, sat up on seeing his bannerman's daughter in her Southern style gown. Cersei, who disliked beautiful women, turned into a statue when Margaery Tyrell made her bow. Renly made sure to eye the queen and not the Tyrells, hard as it was to ignore Loras's magnificence. He wasn't quite sure what approach would be best but he realized that the fall of the lioness would have to wait until after he'd married his lover's sister or else the Flower would throw his precious Rose into Robert's bed. After the official part of the welcoming ceremony was handled, Robert introduced the visitors to his council members. Renly was careful to focus on the father and he didn't linger. He strolled toward Varys and positioned himself with his back toward the luring knight from the South as he addressed the master of whisperers. The eunuch chatted about the lovely sunshine, the mild temperature and the lovely breeze.

"Here it shows you're not from Westeros: I wouldn't call the temperature mild. And there's hardly a breeze in this hall."

"Oh, but there is."

"For it now resembles a garden?"

"How delightful! A garden for sure, and Lady Margaery might be styled a Rose."

"Don't let the queen hear you or she'll have your head," Renly playfully said.

"I fear I'm rather attached to my head. I'd hesitate to hand it to Her Grace."

"She'll feel the same I'm sure," Renly said meaningfully but Varys merely giggled.

"We can't always have what we want. I am a master of whisperers, you are the master of law and the daughter of Lady Lannister is not the King's Justice any more than we are."

Justice comes in many forms, Renly thought. Once I married Margaery Cersei may fall off the stairs and then her children may be pronounced bastards. It will achieve my goal and why care for Littlefinger's disappointment? "I'd say that Lady Lannister's daughter would prefer to be styled queen of Westeros."

"How would you like to be styled Lord Renly?"

"That will do just fine," Renly said, knowing he'd taken too long to reply. Varys smiled, inclined his head and left, but not before announcing that Lord Stannis was on his way over. Stannis greeted Renly with a nod and left it to him to carry on a conversation.

"It has been a while since we had as many distinguished visitors as are now gathered here," Renly said.

"Aye."

Renly sighed. The two brothers looked at Robert who was chatting with Lord Tyrell. Princess Myrcella and Lady Shireen listened as Prince Joffrey was talking to Lady Margaery. Cersei was being charming to Loras.

"Baelish told me you and Loras are the best of friends."

"That's hardly a secret."

Renly waited for his brother to reply but Stannis's lips didn't part. Renly sighed. "I was told that you and Prince Oberyn supped with Lady Lannister last evening?"

Stannis nodded and briefly glanced at his daughter.

"What did you make of the Viper?"

"He's very talkative."

"Someone has to be. Was anything of interest being discussed or was it a waste of an evening?"

As he waited for his brother to give the simple question some thought, Renly smiled at Loras, who stood near enough to Cersei to make her think the gesture was meant for her.

"The prince is not unfamiliar with ships," Stannis said at last.

"Praise indeed! Poor Lady Lannister: first caught in between ships and now in between flowers."

Tyrell bannermen were surrounding Lady Lannister while their overlord was still bothering the king. "Mace Tyrell makes our brother look less fat, what say you?" Renly asked without expecting a reply.

"Having a slimming effect is one of his more appealing features," a voice with a southern accent said. Renly turned to see the charismatic Prince Oberyn. "Though I believe that the king is sparring again, which isn't something the Flower cares for these days. But then, a roar in the right ear…"

Did Stannis just make a throatily sound? Renly looked at his stone faced brother and decided he'd been mistaken. "I hope the presence of Lord Tyrell won't cut short your visit?" Renly asked.

"The Red Keep hasn't looked this appealing to me in many years," the Viper said with a smile.

"And what of the city? I heard you're to re-visit an old favourite of yours?"

Any other man would be insulted but the Dornish prince grinned. "Chataya has many enticing people work for her, though unfortunately still no males. Other than that there's something for everyone, though I fear not for Lord Stannis, who disapproves of our talk. I admire faithfulness which might be the reason I myself am unmarried."

Renly knew the rumours about the Viper bedding both women and men but he wasn't sure whether there wasn't a message for him in the prince's casual remark. He smiled broadly and seeing Lord Tyrell bend over Lady Lannister's hand, he said that with the queen's mother around the prince's marriage state might change.

"She made an attempt many years ago."

"You said no?"

"Lord Lannister said no. He could not bare the thought of having his precious daughter bound in marriage to a rake such as myself. What, you've never heard of this?"

Stannis looked as if this wasn't just as funny as Lady Lollys being the bride of the Mountain.

"I fear not," Renly said, unable to keep from smiling broadly. "When was the proposal made?"

"Before you were born: Ser Jaime and his sister were only seven years old."

"And at fifteen you were already known as a rake? My admiration goes with you my prince."

Oberyn chuckled. Stannis claimed that the Hand asked for his presence. Renly and Oberyn watched him walk to Lord Arryn, who obviously awaited him. Oberyn smiled wryly. "Any other man would have told a lie to leave us to our less than honourable conversation. He speaks the truth."

"And it makes him utterly boring."

"The truth is seldom boring and brothers aren't always alike. Would you care to visit Chataya's with me tomorrow evening?"

Renly was once again caught off-guard. Only a Dornishman would be blunt enough to openly mention a whorehouse, albeit an exclusive and expensive one, in the Throne Room. And again Renly wondered whether there was more to the Viper's remark. Had Baelish been whispering in his ear? But why would the proud Viper listen to the master of coin?

"I heard there's a gorgeous blonde from Skagos. I should like to try her: I imagine her to be wild," the prince continued before making a smooth bow. Renly turned and followed Oberyn's example for a blonde from the Westerlands had honoured them with her presence. Judging from Cersei's mild expression she'd not heard the softly spoken words from the Dornish prince. Loras Tyrell, who accompanied her, hardly dared to look at Renly, who still spotted the desire in his partner's eyes.

OoOoO

Chataya's had several private rooms and in one such room Prince Oberyn entertained his guests. Like Loras, Renly praised the beauty of the whores who danced or played instruments and he pretended to enjoy himself when a pair of melon sized dark skinned breasts was pushed into his face.

"Who do you think is the queen's main source of intelligence at court?" the Viper asked him.

They were seated close together so they could hear each other over the music. As a result Renly was distracted by his host's scent.

"Baelish and the eunuch I'd say?" the prince answered his own question. "I'm surprised they didn't inform her that Willas Tyrell holds no grudge against me."

Renly sniggered at the recollection of Cersei's attempt to set up Loras against Oberyn. "I'd say she holds a grudge against you."

The Viper shrugged, lazily caressing the spine of a red head who sensually moved in front of him. Renly took the opportunity of shifting in his seat: the prince smelled too good. "Her mother felt she would like Dorne and its laws but Cersei Lannister agreed with the Great Lion: she ought to be a queen. What do you make of the crown-prince?"

"Do you seek your daughters a husband?"

"Ha! They don't care for bullies. Fortunately bastards don't marry princes so there won't be royal offers to decline."

Renly smiled in reply but he kept staring at the red head and the voluptuous Summer Islander who were now caressing each other. Loras, excluded from the conversation with the prince, grinned at Nymos Wyl's loud and bawdy comments at the women's performance. It occurred to Renly that had he been born Dornish he'd been able to have Loras for a lover for all of Dorne to see.

"Have you asked Chataya to employ males?" Renly heard himself ask, thank the Seven with a sufficient amount of humour in his voice.

"She feels male employees would try to take over her establishment. There are places in the city where men offer themselves to other men, but I'm not sure the owner of those brothels is as trustworthy as the lovely Chataya. I take it you don't care much for your eldest nephew?"

Annoying enticing snake! Renly thought. He replied that he was more familiar with Prince Tommen and he described him as a gentle boy.

"His lady grandmother agrees with you. I'm sorry that his sister is to leave soon: she is a dear girl. Perhaps my daughter from the Westerlands might make her another companion in Winterfell." Before Renly had time to think on that, the Viper continued: "Baelish spends time with Joffrey, so Varys informed me. I wonder why. Well, have you made a choice yet?"

In a wide gesture Oberyn indicated the women on the bed, a petite lute player from Essos and the Skagos woman who'd been pleasuring herself in a hammock. The two blind women playing a flute and a harp were apparently musicians only.

Knowing about the prince's preference Renly chose the lutenist. Loras wisely selected the slim red-head and the four of them left for the adjoining room the Viper had hired for their convenience. It was tastefully decorated and contained two large beds. By Renly's request the women undressed each other and then joined him and Loras in a toast: "To pleasure!" One, two, three sips of wine and both whores had collapsed. Renly and Loras caught them before they hit the floor. When his lover kissed him all thoughts of court politics left Renly's mind.