Author's note: it has been a while, hasn't it? I visited Westeros often, but writing-wise things moved slowly. This new chapter shows Jon Arryn's POV.
At Irina: thank you for your review. The witch from the prologue who did the magic remembers some minor things from the old world, but the major changes escape her. I doubt she will show up again.
JON
Prince Oberyn had found himself a fine cook whose dishes seemed chosen to accommodate Jon's teeth. What the prince shared about his journey to and from the Bloody Gate wasn't to Jon's liking but he trusted the Dornishman's account, partly because the man proved capable of speaking without jesting. The dressing on his salad made Jon say that the Grand Maester had been impressed by the prince's potion making skills.
"With my nickname I'm obliged to be a decent potion maker. Lady Lannister asked me to assist the Grand Master in adjusting Ser Gregor's medication."
To slow him down? To appease the king? "Is there something wrong with him?"
"His size."
Jon scolded himself for his ungracious thoughts. "At times I've envied him his strength. There's often a downside to seemingly good things."
"For instance you're the second most powerful man in the country, yet you have to sit in an ugly chair."
Jon smiled. "And one that's uncomfortable too."
"I imagine it is."
Various topics came up, from wines to horses to the state of the roads.
"We've got linns in Dorne now."
"I would expect them to be styled minns."
The prince grinned. "Dornish merchants reported about the supervised and safe inns in the Westerlands and my brother agreed that we could use those too. Of course in the desert everyone is always offered shelter so my wise brother decided not to disturb that culture but along the coast and in the mountains several linns have been created. As to the name: with Lady Lannister being my dear sister's good-mother she is considered part Dornish."
There was still pain in the prince's voice on mentioning Princess Elia and Jon felt bad for having gotten used to having two deceased lady wives. "It is a blessing when a woman and her good-daughter get along," he said. The Viper confirmed this and changed the topic to step-mothers which led to long fond descriptions of his daughters' characters. "You inspire me to spend more time with my son," Jon replied, hoping that the spy who was listening to their conversation, had not been lulled into sleep. After Lady Lannister had surprised 'Ser Charles' he'd become aware in a way he'd not been before that there were unseen eyes and ears everywhere in King's Landing.
"I don't see my daughters often, but my mistress, that is the one who raises them, keeps me informed about – "
Jon reasoned that his expression had made the prince break off what he'd been about to say and he shook his head. "North of Dorne a man's love affairs aren't openly acknowledged, but I can't but approve that you take good care of your natural children."
The prince inclined his head. "Would that the warden of the west agreed with you," he playfully said. "Perhaps when the sun sets in the south, what say you?"
Jon smiled at that.
"You know the Starks well don't you?" At Jon's nod the Viper continued: "Lady Lannister felt you could judge how they'd feel about me sending my Sylvy with the princess to Winterfell."
Jon cut a pear before replying. He'd heard something about the prince thinking of having one of his natural daughters join the princess in White Harbor. Ned wouldn't make life hard for the bastard girl but he wasn't sure about Lady Stark's sensitivities. "Where Sand is nearly a common name in Dorne, it cries out bastard in the north. And if your daughter resembles your colouring, she'll stand out as it is."
"My sister stood out in the Westerlands."
"True, but she had the support of Lord and Lady Lannister and she gave Ser Jaime children. Does his eldest son look as much like him as I've heard?"
"He does, though only outwardly. My niece resembles my dear sister. Well, I suppose that sending Sylvy to Winterfell as a friend to the princess isn't a good idea. Lord Stannis doesn't make spontaneous decisions, does he? As commander of the fleet he must be used to swift thinking though."
"He loves his daughter and likes having her around." For the benefit of unseen ears Jon added: "But then the princess and Lady Shireen like each other. I'd be sorry if they'd have to part."
"The king doesn't seem to like Lord Stannis."
"They are very different men," Jon said, wiping some juice from his chin.
"My brother and I are different too, but I'd say that the Prince of Dorne appreciates my merits, as I do his. Lord Renly is like the king in almost every way. I take it that his duties in the small council don't overwhelm him?"
The prince laughed at seeing the Hand's expression. "What do you make of Lord Tyrell, apart from the fact that he'd benefit from a different diet?"
"He seems to approve of his son and daughter getting acquainted with the crown prince."
The prince sniggered. "With Ser Loras around the boy won't mistake Lady Margaery for a puppy."
"You've heard of that?"
"A knight from the Westerlands told one of my men. If Tyrell's daughter marries the prince I agree with Lady Lannister that she'll have a soothing influence on him. And if not Ser Loras will."
She's playing along, Jon thought. A week until Myrcella's departure. Will it be enough? "Her father might seek the alliance, but would she? The prince is younger than she is."
"I know another lady who simply wanted to have a king for a spouse."
And look at how that worked out.
OoOoO
"Breakfast at Oberyn's I heard?" Lysa asked, making it sound as if he'd been in a house of ill repute.
"Yes, I broke my fast with the prince my lady."
Jon was at his desk in his private quarters for he hadn't lied when he'd said that he wanted to spend more time with his wife and son. Seeing Lysa breastfeed Robert made him slightly nauseous though.
"At least he wasn't breaking it with Lady Lannister again. Did you know that the two of them were in the stables for half an hour yesterday?"
"A great many people will have sheltered there. It was pouring with rain, thank the Seven."
Jon dipped his pen in an ink bottle at the same time his son plopped his mother's nipple out of his mouth.
"According to Baelish the Viper and she talked to a stable hand about a bitch with puppies. The snake was interested in a guard dog," Lysa said while covering up. "Apart from that they kept to themselves. They were 'talking'."
So said Baelish… What is he up to? Jon regretted not having discussed certain gossip with Prince Oberyn that morning, but he suspected that neither the prince nor the lady concerned cared for it. Suns and lions don't bent for sheep. But a lioness may be trampled by them. "They have been long-time friends," Jon replied to his wife's remark, hoping to make her understand that 'talking' wasn't a codeword for having a tryst. Lysa looked displeased, as she always did while around him. Or perhaps, Jon tried to soothe himself, it was being in King's Landing rather than at the Eyrie that made her discontent? His third marriage had not worked out the way he'd hoped for in terms of companionship, but as Lord Paramour and Hand to the King he had enough things on his mind not to be too bothered by it. The most important thing Lysa had attributed to their union, the only thing that mattered, was an heir. Jon looked at his son, who was toying with his sleeve, and he suppressed a shiver. It will work out, he told himself. With his mind distracted he failed to listen to his wife, which made her hit her seat.
"I apologize my lady, I was lost in thoughts. You were saying?"
"That Ser Gregor will drag his lady straight back to Casterly Rock as soon as the Lion commands it. I think that's why he sent more troups here, to escort her back. Then again, she's bound to leave for the Westerlands right after the princess sails north, isn't she? Poor Tywin Lannister. First the Mad King –"
"No more!" Jon interrupted. "I will not have you repeat or spread vile gossip milady."
Lysa paled and Robert's expression showed a mixture of fear and glee. Jon didn't like his heir's response. He wondered how his defence of Lady Lannister would be received by those learning of it. As merely knightly hopefully. In a normal tone of voice he instructed both his wife and his son that gossip was a weapon too sharp to wield. Silence was followed by giggling: Lysa enjoyed some private joke and Robert copied his mother's behaviour.
"I saw the handkerchiefs you made for Princess Myrcella. The embroidery is beautiful," Jon said.
"I made the Arryn shield larger than the others, I hope you don't mind?" Lysa sweetly replied.
The Seven help me, but I'd rather be on that uncomfortable throne than in this cushioned seat among my family right now. "The princess will be reminded of who made her the gift," Jon said.
"Is the saddle you ordered for the girl done yet?"
"Saddles. I was told by the king that Lyanna Stark liked to ride astride so –"
"Myrcella is hardly a wild northern girl. And my sister rides like a proper lady all the time."
Jon smiled to placate his wife. "You may very well be right and the princess might use her lady's saddle only for now but in case she cares to –"
"You are spoiling that girl," Lysa interrupted him again. Jon didn't object to it. "A princess would have made my Robert a proper wife, but I guess we're not good enough for the high and mighty lioness, are we? At least she's toned down a bit with Lady Lannister around. Cersei is jealous of her: the other day she complained that it wasn't right that her mother was a patroness to the arts in King's Landing rather than she herself. At least Cersei has some political understanding, as I told Lord Baelish. Her mother spent many hours helping Lady Stokeworth with the preparations for that dimwit's marriage. Blah blah clothes, blah blah invitations. At least she was sensible enough not to expect me to be present during the ceremony. Have you seen that Lollys can't keep her hands of the Mountain?"
Lysa's laughter combined with Robert's giggles hurt Jon's ears. Outside the Tower of the Hand life wouldn't be much better and once more Jon wished he could be back at the Eyrie.
"Varys thinks she's pregnant already. Imagine how large she'll be! She won't even understand what's happening to her. Daft woman."
"I heard you received a message from Lady Stark today?"
Lysa shrugged. "She and her brood are thriving or so she claims. I think she brags about her children because she's jealous of my position as wife of the Hand. She's preparing for the arrival of the future Lady Stark. Lord Stark is having some difficulties with a couple of wildlings."
"Animals!" Robert said.
"They are not animals son. They are humans like us, and they simply have different ways about them, just as King's Landing is different from the Eyrie."
Robert looked wide-eyed at being addressed and Jon felt lacking. Yet when a servant alerted him that it was time to leave for a meeting of the small council, he only barely suppressed a relieved sigh.
Ten minutes later, on approaching the council's room, Jon heard Baelish's voice from within: "There are many Westerlanders around now."
Too many to your liking? Good. Jon hadn't asked Lady Lannister whether the Lion had sent more red cloaks or whether she had requested them.
"I feel you are right," Lord Renly agreed. "How did you enjoy your ride with the crown-prince?"
"He asked for advice."
Jon entered. Only Varys paid him due attention.
"Advice on what?" the master of laws asked Lord Baelish. "He doesn't need to shave yet."
"One may appear to be a boy and feel like a man. And with so many beauties from the south visiting…"
"Tell me: is it true that the queen invited you and Lady Margaery to supp with her tomorrow?"
"It is. I'm honoured by her invitation."
Lord Renly smiled on the wrong side of his face. Footsteps approached.
"I imagine Ser Loras will be there as well, if only to make a forth at the table," Baelish continued as he and the other council members rose in anticipation of the king's arrival. "This evening however I'll have a meal with Lady Lannister in private."
The king and his faithful shadow entered the room.
"Sit my lords. Did you know that Ser Gerion thinks the lady wants to set him up with some companion of Lady Margaery? A Redwyne I believe. A maid of fifteen and he's not interested," Robert shook his head. "I think she's aiming for the wrong Lannister. You'd feel different than Ser Gerion wouldn't you Renly?"
Renly didn't reply instantly and Varys told the king that with the queen having committed herself to find Lord Renly a wife, Lord Renly could not express an interest in random ladies. Robert grinned at that. "What have I heard Renly? After you had one of Chataya's girls she slept for a day? Ha!"
The Grand Maester and Lord Stannis entered. The latter curtly apologized for being late but Pycelle had to be cut short by the king.
"Have a seat Grand Maester. I myself may be a bit early. My eldest son hurt himself when we were sparring and he claimed he couldn't go on."
"I was not informed of this my liege."
"And why should you Pycelle? He wasn't truly injured. He was simply tired and chagrined that Tommen managed to hit him. That little boy simply goes on: falls on his back – he rises. Gets punched in the stomach? He rises. And not just once mind you," the king said with a proud grin. "Now. Dragons? Anyone?"
"Daenerys is in a place she styled Vaes Tolorro," the master of whispers said.
"City of bones," the Grand Maester translated.
"It is north of Qarth Your Grace."
"What is she doing there Varys?"
"Resting. She took her tiny khalasar, children, women and old men mostly, through the Red Waste and lost many."
"More sailors report about dragons. No one saw them themselves. Their stories are similar."
"That's just drunk talking Stannis. Lizards Your Grace, that's what this is about," Renly said, already sounding tired of the topic.
"I want to know as soon as the bitch is in Qarth. I don't like the idea of her being in a harbour city."
Renly shook his head. "Dothraki hate the ocean. They think it's poisoned water. She'll never get them to follow her."
Varys confirmed that Lord Renly was right. The king shook his head. "I want assassins in Qarth Varys. That dragon-spawn has no pack of warriors left to scare them away this time. She will not set foot on a ship."
"It shall be so my lord."
"What is it Jon?"
"Your Majesty, she is but a girl and whether she truly has dra –"
"Silence Lord Hand! Even if Renly is right and the dragons are but lizards, she is still a Targaryen. Who knows what might happen if the bitch arrives here? I should have followed the Lion's example years ago." Robert's anger didn't last long. "That reminds me: Baelish, should Lady Lannister inquire after the state of the coffers during your joint supper, you'll tell her what I told her namely that all is well."
"Yes Your Grace."
"Good. What's next Jon?"
Daenerys Targaryen is innocent and I don't know how to protect her from my former ward. "The state of the coffers Your Majesty."
"We just covered that."
Jon didn't know how to reply: the king seemed serious.
"There are letters from Lord Stark and the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch," Varys prompted. "They hope you'll send supplies to improve the Wall."
"They also hope for more men to man the Wall Your Majesty," Jon added. "A wandering crow will arrive in King's Landing some ten days from now to collect such men as seem fit for the job."
"Thieves and rapists," Renly said.
"Who could turn into good defenders," Ser Barristan spoke.
"You think it's needed?" the king asked looking from the old knight to his Hand. "You agree with Stark and Mormont?"
"They will only make a request if they have a good reason for it," Jon said.
Ser Barristan nodded his agreement and the king ordered the master of law to give young and strong thieves a choice: losing a finger or joining the Night's Watch.
"They'd rather lose a finger here than at the Wall from frostbite."
The king nodded. "Good thinking Stannis. Make that a hand. And an ear as well," he told Renly.
That might gain the old bear some brothers. Jon expected the king to leave now, but Robert remained seated. Without seeming bored the king listened to the master of ships who told him about the maintenance of light houses and he agreed to Stannis's suggestions regarding. He made Jon skip two topics he found as boring as finances, but he sat out the rest of the meeting while declining the wine Baelish offered him and it was clear that the reports his councilmembers had sent him had not gone unread. When the king announced the meeting to have ended, Jon expected to discuss the remaining topics with the other members of the small council, but the king asked him to join him to his private quarters.
A messenger from the queen stood waiting in the corridor to request the Grand Maester to attend to the prince. Robert muttered something under his breath. During the walk to the royal apartment the Grand Maester chatted along but since he addressed the king Jon thought of questions to ask the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. On their arrival Ser Barristan went to stand guard outside the royal chambers and Lady Shireen's fool, who'd lingered in the corridor, seated himself at his feet. It didn't make the old knight uncomfortable. Inside a picture of domestic felicity awaited the king and Jon: Prince Tommen was playing with his cat while Princess Myrcella and Lady Shireen were embroidering, assisted by Lady Lannister. The queen stood next to a chair in which her eldest son was seated, his left arm resting on a purple pillow. Greetings were cut short by Queen Cersei who told the Grand Maester to check her poor son's injured wrist. With Pycelle doing the queen's bidding Jon expected the king to discuss whatever it was he needed him for, but Robert walked toward the table where his good-mother and the girls were seated. Jon followed him there. It turned out that Lady Lannister wasn't teaching embroidery but rather pointing out how to recognize quality work. A cry of pain interrupted her lecture.
"I apologize Your Highness," Pycelle said, sounding surprised rather than apologetic.
"I forgive you Grand Maester," Joffrey dramatically said.
"My galant prince," Cersei gushed.
Robert rolled his eyes. "The boy has less bruises than Tommen I'm sure and you don't hear that little fellow, do you?"
The wink the king gave Prince Tommen didn't escape Jon. No one may find out. It won't just break Robert's pride but his heart as well now.
"Tommen doesn't complain because he's not in pain. Joff is though. What say you Grand Maester?" Cersei asked.
Pycelle anxiously looked from the queen, who expected a favourable reply, to the king, whose expression spoke of annoyance. He was saved from making a choice by Lady Lannister.
"No one can feel another person's pain. I'd say that when Joffrey states he's in pain, he might be given relief for it."
The king sighed disapprovingly but other than that he remained silent. The Grand Maester naturally agreed and said he'd first bandage the prince's wrist. A tableau formed around Joffrey's chair for his lady grandmother gestured the children to come and watch as the Grand Maester, by her request, explained how to bandage. Joffrey sat in his chair as if it were a throne and he beamed at the attention he got. The king gestured Jon to follow him to a window.
"My queen's got our son on her mind now so I'll do the honours. She wants you to ask Stannis to allow my niece to remain Myrcella's companion," he softly said. Outside seagulls shrieked in a human-like way. Jon studied the king's expression. It showed the usual dislike for the queen, but no deceit. So she still hasn't mentioned the marriage.
"Apparently the lionesses' pleas haven't gained a favourable answer yet. Maybe it's because Stannis has no sense of humor. Lady Lannister knows some very naughty jokes." The king smiled broadly, a twinkle in his eye. "Ser Gerion thinks Ser Jaime's daughter might make Myrcella a good friend too, but you know how my wife feels about Mika's or what's her name's mother. My good-mother stated that the twins couldn't bare to be separated but Ser Gerion thinks that the boy might want to go on an adventure as well. He suggested he could be Ned's page. I think that their grandmother would rather have them remain at the Rock."
They looked at the group surrounding the crown-prince. "I wouldn't blame Stannis for keeping Shireen here," the king said. "I'm sorry Myrcella will leave just as I'm getting to know her. But that's my mistake. I plan to do better with her brothers."
How will people respond to this altered king? What might she accomplish in a week? What might others ruin? Jon felt his bowels.