The cool early morning breeze felt serene against my cheeks. Standing on the balcony of my chambers, I was looking at the city below. The calm atmosphere before the start of business was appreciated only by early morning hustlers. The sun was rising above the horizon while vendors set up their goods, street sweepers were cleaning the great streets and laborers were going to their warehouses. As a whole it felt as if the wheel of city life was being oiled before a day's journey, which I guessed was a rather apt description.

To recognize a good wheel you have to have seen a rather bad one. Which I did when I was in King's landing. King's landing was a chaotic wheel with no gradual increase of pace, one moment that city was calm in the night sky and the next moment it was a plethora of shouting voices cobbled together in a chaotic mess. I didn't think King's landing even had street sweepers, so poor was the city's hygiene, it stunk there as if the whole city was a butcher house.

The area of King's Landing was 3 quarters of oldtown while its population was more than twice of the city below me. A congested mess of vipers waiting to strike each other down. Maybe I am being a little harsh because I don't think the smallfolk are capable of being wipers, not even in that city. And even if they were, I couldn't blame them. When their betters set examples such as those set by the local lords there, what could I expect from the smallfolk?

I hoped to never be like the lords of King's landing. For they were the worst sorts, noblesse oblige seemed to be an extinct concept there. I think half of the lords there didn't even think about the feudal contract while going about their duties. The discussions among the high-born there were set up around issues so meaningless that I was surprised there hadn't been a peasant uprising there. Maybe the fear of dragon kings was still working. A good thing I thought because peasant revolts set up a bad precedent, even if the lords of king's landing deserved it.

Maybe the fault lied with the royal family I thought, a treasonous thought but it was just that, a thought. Even if septa Lorraine would disagree. She'd probably quote "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh, on a woman to lust after her hath committed, adultery with her already in his heart" but I disagreed with that line of thinking.

Lust was a sin, treason was not. For treasons were sins only when they were caught. Weren't King Robert's actions treasonous against the Targaryens? The hierarchy among the lords and the royalty was an important social feature of civilization but it wasn't sacred. My mother would agree with me, so would aunt Leyla, Father probably wouldn't. Dutiful as ever.

The reason I would put the blame on the royal family for King's landing's well being was simple. They were supposed to be the lords of lords and that city was in their direct control even if there was some middling nobility there. Oh, what would old King Jaehaerys think if he was here? Would he despair? probably. To see how far the royal institutions he had created and polished had fallen. Sure, he didn't create the small council itself but the duties and powers of its members were refined in his reign.

Lord Arryn was at fault too. King Robert had squired for him. It was disgraceful to act as King Robert did for a former squire of an Arryn high lord, did he learn nothing about Andal chivalry from him? Arryns were said to be the pinnacle of Andal chivalry, maybe the saying was exaggerated or maybe King Robert was a special case of hedonism. For that is what King Robert is, a hedonist. A man full of lust and hunger. I had seen him during both tourneys acting worse than a hedge knight. During feasts he almost always had a whore on his lap to fondle with, in front of everybody, even his wife.

I did not understand why and how Lord Tywin suffered through these humiliations. I had heard that the Lannister family was devoid of love, even if that was true it did not make sense. Lord Tywin was said to value his family name above all else and what his grace was doing was the biggest humiliation to the Lannister name that could be given without outright hurting his family.

But Lord Tywin was nothing but pragmatic, he was probably just waiting for King Robert to die from his excessive drinking and then mold his grandsons as proper Baratheons (Lannisters)

I am not sure I could have waited if the lady getting degraded was from my family, king or no king. But these were just empty thoughts because what could I even do against the lord of the seven kingdoms. Sure we Hightowers can easily field 12 thousand men, maybe even double of that if push comes to shove but that is no comparison for the whole of the seven kingdoms. I would probably have to challenge his grace for a duel but that was just asking for retaliation on my house. No, that was not an appropriate response either.

I'll have to think about this. Mother taught me to always be ready for issues that I could or would have to face as lord of my house and this was an issue I should probably be ready for.

Before I could continue thinking about more and more negative scenarios I heard a knock. "Come in" I said. The door opened and the attendant curtseyed. "m'lord" She said.

"Good morning Jenny" I said, she worked for my mother. "Morning m'lord, your lady mother is asking you to join her". Thought so. I sent her back with an assurance that I was coming.

Time for bathing and scrubbing.

After dressing myself in a red tunic with a black velvet overcoat, I put on my seven pearled bracelet. As was appropriate for a scion of Uthor Hightower and Garth Greenhand.

My lady mother's chambers were on the same floor. So it took me about a minute to reach her quarters. Knocking and entering after a quick "come in" I bowed as was appropriate. I had forgotten my manners yesterday but I was loath to repeat that.

"How many times I have to repeat that you do not need to bow before your mother" was her expected response. "You know as well as I do that sons and daughters should bow before their lady mother and Lord father the first time they see each other every day". Rather than further arguing, she asked me to join her on the couch.

"Have you eaten?" She asked. Didn't even let me answer and said "Of course you haven't. Start" She's a funny lady, my mother. After I completed it, she asked "Have you decided?" "Decided what mother". "Have you decided on who to marry?" Ah, straight to the point today. "Yes, I have" I said a little too slowly. "Continue" Lord, this was awkward.

"Lady Elinor" I said, hoping that my cheeks weren't red. "Good" said mother and then asked with knowing eyes "Any particular reason".

"Tarlies are reliable" I replied while putting my head on my mother's lap and folding my legs over the edge of the couch. "That they are…any other reason?" She asked leadingly. My game was probably up, so honesty was the last resort. "She's pretty". Mother didn't reply and started to run her hands through my hair and started humming.

I hoped I wasn't going to fall asleep with my head on my mother's lap this early in the morning. Lord, that would be embarrassing.

Leyton Hightower (64) married with Rhea Florent (54)

Sons and daughter of Lord Leyton hightower :-

1) Baelor Hightower (41) married with Rhonda Rowan (38)
Children of Baelor Hightower :-
i) Edmure Hightower (16)
ii) loren Hightower `(11)
iii) Alaric Hightower (9)
iv) Alicent Hightower (5)

2) Malora Hightower (the mad maid, 39)
3) Garth Hightower (37,twins with Lady Alerie)
4) Alerie Hightower (37)
5) Leyla Hightower (35)
6) Denys Hightower (33)
7) Alysanne Hightower (32)
8) Gurthor Hightower (29)
9) Humphrey Hightower (27)
10) Lynesse Hightower (25)

Note: Please review. This is my first fan-fiction. So, I'll be very thankful if you can help me improve.