So due to some personal reasons recently, I won't be uploading on the 24th or 31st December. This is so I can use the Christmas period to get further ahead, as these personal reasons have meant I really haven't been able to write as much as I like so the chapter after this one is my last buffer. I'm sure the vast majority that read this will be plenty busy anyway!

Onto the actual chapter however, and it's a long one as Luke needs to settle into his newly official position. I'm using the book Targaryen family tree, as I think ignoring Jaehaerys II was stupid.

I own nothing but the OC's, any other characters or locations are the property of George R R Martin or HBO.

The first thing he saw was a funeral pyre. A headless body was burning on the pyre whilst the severed head was being boiled. He flicked his blue hair out of his eyes and noticed that he was crying as the skinless skull was retrieved and dipped in gold.

Then he was suddenly in the middle of a circle of men, facing off against a lone knight wearing an orange surcoat, three black castles on his chest. His sword felt heavier than Blackfyre did, but he fought the fight anyway, holding the Peake's head aloft in the air to chants and cheers after his victory. The men in the circle quickly turned into a dozen burning pyres all around him. As he stood watching the flames die out he noticed the banners in front of the pyres, all of them loyal to the wrong dragon, the black dragon.

Then he was in a city of red bricks, watching as a lion jumped from the top of the wall and fell, laying broken and whimpering on the ground before all of a sudden he was moving again having been hoisted high up into the air, soaring through the sky as he crossed rivers and mountains before he suddenly stopped, hovering. He didn't know where he was other than that he was hundreds of feet in the air. Below him he could see nothing but bogs and lizard lions roaming around, until he spotted a lone hill jotting out of the marshland, with nothing at its peak but a wolf and a stag snarling at one another.

He kept going however, and after a while he saw a castle sitting proudly in the snow. Flying closer, he could feel himself getting tired as his wings ached and he looked to figure out a landing spot when the castle erupted into ice blue fire. Startled, he simply began hovering in the air as from out of the cold flames and the rubble, a grey dragon began to climb out. The pair locked eyes, and then the only sound that was heard was knuckles rapping on wood.

Jumping awake, it took Luke a good few seconds to remember exactly what had happened. Breathing heavily, he began to remember the events of the past day. He remembered Oberyn killing the Mountain, taking Joffrey Waters prisoner and sitting the Iron Throne, fully securing the castle and reuniting with Jon Connington before finally making his way to the room he had once called his own back when he was nothing more than a child. He could vaguely picture it back then, his toy dragons lining one of the shelves by the wall and the painting of Balerion the Black Dread that had hung above his bed. Now the painting was of a sleeping cat, and the toys that lined the walls were more feline than dragon, though he chuckled as Valaxes was sleeping nestled in between a pair of cat toys.

Another knock on the door sounded, and Luke shouted over. "I'm awake!" He rubbed his eyes as he thought on the dream as the door opened and Ser Caspor's head appeared around the oak.

"Your Grace, Lord Connington has summoned the Small Council to meet in an hour's time." The Kingsguard knight stated. "Your breakfast has been tested and is awaiting you, as is young Edric Dayne."

Luke nodded. "Thank you, Ser Caspor. Send them in." He said calmly, waiting for the young serving girl to put the tray down on a table before departing and shutting the door behind her, leaving Luke alone with Edric Dayne. "How are you this morning, Ned?"

"Fit and well, Your Grace." The Dayne stated. "Most of the fighting was ahead of me."

Luke saw him move nervously, and immediately he could see what Ned was thinking of. "Who was it?"

"Pardon, Your Grace?" Ned asked.

"Your first kill." Luke stated, lifting the covers off of himself and walking over to the plate to grab some bread. He was naked and allowed Ned to begin to dress him in an undershirt as he spoke. "We always remember our first. Mine was in the Disputed Lands years before I took over command of the Company, we had been contracted by Myr to break the Tyroshi stronghold in the region. We came up against the Maiden's Men and I was part of the mounted warriors. I was 14 and the only thing I remember from the entire battle is the sight of the old man's face as he stared down at the war lance I had stuck in his chest." He sighed. "Brown eyes, he had. Brown eyes and a greying beard down to his chest."

"It was a Gold Cloak." Ned admitted as he moved over to hand Luke a pair of fine black trousers. "It happened so quickly… one minute he was rushing at my horse, the next I had opened his throat with my sword, and I had moved away from him. I killed more, but I remember him more vividly." Ned then held a golden doublet open for Luke to slip his arms into before going to tie the front.

"That will likely stick with you, but the important thing to remember is not to dwell in sadness." Luke explained. "He charged at you and wanted to kill you, so you got there first." Once his shirt was on, he placed a hand on Ned's shoulder. "You did well yesterday, Ned. You're still young yet, but once you are old enough I will knight you myself and one day I am sure you will wield Dawn itself."

Ned's eyes gave away how much the boy desired the famous sword, but he quickly coughed, and his face returned to its previous concentration as he picked up a black cloak to wrap around Luke's shoulders. "Only if I am deemed worthy will I wield Dawn, it is not like other swords, Your Grace."

"If you keep up with your training, you will be as skilled as Ser Arthur once you are of age." Luke genuinely believed that. "But for now you're still my squire, fetch my boots and my weapons."

"Your Grace." Ned bowed and moved away to do as he was asked while Luke finished his breakfast before allowing Ned to strap his sword and dagger belt to his hips and then to tie his boots.

"How do I look?" Luke asked, his mouth half filled with his meal.

Ned looked the Targaryen up and down and nodded. "Regal, Your Grace."

"Good." Luke clapped his hands together to rid himself of crumbs. "I'll be busy most of the day most likely, so the day is yours to do as you wish, though be sure to write out a letter for your Father and tell him of your experience."

Ned bowed his head. "Thank you, Your Grace." He said, before the young Dornishman left Luke alone again. The Targaryen took a deep breath before he looked over at Valaxes, still snoozing in the corner. Chuckling once again, he then left the room to see Caspor and Rolly outside of his chambers.

"I know Jon wants to see me, but there is somewhere I want to go first." He told his protection, and he started walking. He led Ser Caspor and Ser Rolly over the Traitor's Walk towards the squat, half-round tower that housed the dungeons. Luke hadn't made his official appointments yet, but he was glad to see the familiar face of a battered and bruised Chains at the entrance.

"Your Grace." The large commander of the elephants bowed.

Clasping forearms, Luke greeted the man. "I'm glad to see you alive my friend."

Chains simply grimaced. "They took out four of my beauties, these fuckers."

"They will pay." Luke promised. "Thank you for taking command here though."

Chains shrugged. "Someone had to."

Chuckling, Luke walked passed Chains and went up the stairs. As much as he would have loved to have put Tywin Lannister in the black cells, the Lannister had been placed on the top level, where the highborn and the knights were placed in small comfort. Outside the door were two men of the Golden Company who bowed their heads and unlocked the door. Luke stepped inside with Ser Rolly, and he wasn't surprised to see Tywin Lannister stood facing the barred windows of the cell, despite them being much taller than even the Lannister was.

"Your mother would be very proud of your survival." Tywin said bluntly. "Your Father would only care about you putting me in chains, he would be proud too."

Luke felt ill. "I care little for what my Father was proud of. I know what he was."

"And here you are, back to bring more Targaryen madness to Westeros." Tywin commented, turning to face Luke. The Lannister was examining him, Luke could tell, as he raked his green eyes over the Targaryen. "You should have stayed in Essos."

"Not a chance, not while the memory of your betrayal was fresh." Luke growled. "I can accept my Father's murder, though as he was an anointed King it cannot stay unpunished I accept he needed to die for his crimes against the realm. But Elia? The children?"

"Necessary." Tywin admitted. "Necessary to convince Robert Baratheon that I was fully invested in his rule. Necessary, to ensure that something like this wouldn't have happened. If you had still been in the Red Keep you would have joined them."

Luke's eyes flared in anger. "A pity for you then, that my brother was one step ahead."

"A pity for the realm." Tywin countered. "Robert Baratheon was a terrible King but he was safe, we had peace. His death should have brought about a Lannister dynasty to last eons."

"Your son and daughter certainly saw to that." Luke smirked.

Tywin just frowned. "My legacy." He scoffed. "But do not try and hold the high ground over incest, Lucerys, for you are just as much of an abomination to the realm as my grandchildren are."

Luke knew that. "That practice is over." He admitted. "Soon I will wed Margaery Tyrell and Daenerys will marry Trystane Martell. The Targaryen dynasty will spread in a way it should have done from Jaehaerys the Conciliator's thirteen children."

"You say that, but it's in your history as well as your blood." Tywin noted. "I knew Aerys before he wed your Mother. They held no love for one another it is true, but he lusted after her as much as every man did. Your Grandparents were due to marry into Great Houses, yet they defied their Father the King and eloped. You will be the same."

Luke had a vision of Daenerys in that translucent dress she had worn as they sailed the Rhoyne, but quickly shook it out of his head. "I am here as a final curtesy, Lord Tywin. You have admitted to me that you ordered the murder of my kin, and for that you shall die. Your daughter will die too on charges of regicide for ordering the murder of the Usurper. And Joffrey too will die. He didn't surrender when I asked him too and if I leave alive a boy anointed by the High Septon then my rule will always be contested."

For the first time in almost 40 years, Tywin Lannister cracked a smile. "You call him Usurper, yet you execute my daughter for charges that legitimise his reign."

"He won by right of Conquest." Luke admitted. "My personal feelings aside, he was the anointed King of Westeros and to plot the murder of the King means death."

"A smart move." Tywin admitted. "Though the West will never love you after murdering three of their own."

"I don't need them to love me." Luke countered. "But they will know what happened here, they will know that the Lion of Lannister has fallen at the hands of the Dragon, and when the region recovers and if they try to cause trouble, then my Valaxes will be large enough to ride by then. The Westerlands will feel the words of my house."

Tywin nodded. "Would that my own had your conviction." He mumbled. "I have accepted my fate. But as a final request, you will hear my will. I don't know where he is as you didn't name him to die, but Tyrion will never inherit the Rock. Give it to Tommen if you legitimise him or give it to Kevan's eldest son I care not, but never to the dwarf."

The statement was spoken with such conviction, but Luke wasn't about to give the cause of his niece and nephew's brutal murders any last request. "If you die, then by rights Tyrion is your heir." He said firmly. "Goodbye, Lord Tywin."

He didn't wait for the Lannister to say any more, instead turning on his heels and marching out of the prison cell. He didn't even see the wry smile of Tywin Lannister as the door slammed shut once more.

From the dungeons Luke made his way to the Tower of the Hand. While traditionally the Small Council meetings happened behind the Throne Room, all of the relevant information on the state of the realm had been moved when Tywin Lannister decided that the Council should meet nearer to his chambers. The Throne Room and the majority of the Red Keep was also too Baratheon for Luke's current liking, so until renovations could be made he was willing, if unhappy, to continue the Lannister's decision.

He was the last in the room. Jon Connington was already sat at the end of the table facing away from the glaringly obvious Lannister Lion steel decorations. On Jon's left sat Mace Tyrell, Varys and Lord Velaryon, whilst to Jon's right-hand side sat Prince Oberyn and Ser Barristan. Luke's small council wasn't perfect by any means, but it would do for now whilst they were still revelling in victory.

Everybody stood up as he entered the room, and so Luke walked over to his seat facing opposite to Jon and sat down, allowing everybody else to follow suit. "Welcome everybody, sorry for my lateness."

"Your Grace." Jon bowed his head. "I have already taken the liberty of confirming the roles of the Small Council as per your decisions before the battle. Lord Tyrell as Master of Coin, Prince Oberyn as Master of Laws, Varys as Master of Whispers and Lord Velaryon as Master of Ships. Lord Barristan of course is here as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard."

Luke nodded. "Very good. Welcome everyone." He greeted the room. "Do we have an idea on casualties?"

"Aurane." Lord Velaryon muttered firmly from his seat. "He led the fleet… there were barely any survivors from there… Lord Celtigar's brother too…"

"Lord Redwyne is making a list of the surviving ships and fishing out what little bones left from the Blackwater." Jon Connington explained. "Then there are the searjants and Lords from within the city, Lord Cole, Ser Marq, Old John Mudd, Duncan Strong…"

"Numbers wise, the ships took most of the damage." Oberyn explained. "But we lost some 3,000 men taking the city."

"And 4 elephants." Luke added mournfully. He sighed, looking around the table. "Taking the Iron Throne was the easy part, as cruel as it may sound to the dead, the hard part will start now as we look to keep the city as well as bring back peace to the realm."

"On the note of keeping the city." Varys stated, and Luke realised that he was meeting the man that had allowed him to rise as high as he had for the very first time. "Stannis Baratheon was last seen in Braavos attempting to align himself with the Iron Bank. I am led to believe that the venture failed, though the Braavosi did allow him to resupply and set sail again, to where I will not know until his ships are spotted."

"Keep an eye out." Luke stated coldly. "Stannis Baratheon is a traitor and a usurper, and he must die as well." A quick silence of nervousness filled most of the room, but Luke quickly alleviated that by turning to Oberyn. "It will fall on you to replenish the City Watch. The Golden Company will serve for a time as we go through the survivors and decide who will remain or who will be sent to the Wall, but we will need a suitable commander to begin the process of recruitment."

"I have one in mind." Oberyn nodded. "My former squire, Ser Daemon Sand. He will do well there."

Luke didn't really know enough about the Dornish bastard to judge, but he nodded his acceptance of the appointment and then turned to the rest. "Other appointments, I want Maar in as Lord Confessor and Ser Jon Lothston as King's Justice. Lord Tyrell, you will have assistants in your duties as well from my former paymasters in the Company Gorys Edoryen and Harry Strickland. The Golden Company helped me across the Narrow Sea and into the Iron Throne, those that wish to stay will be well looked after by us all." Mace Tyrell simply nodded at the news.

"The realms finances are in a bad way as well, Your Grace." Varys explained. "We have significant debts with the Iron Bank, we owe the Faith 900,000 gold dragons, House Tyrell 500,000 and House Lannister almost 3 million."

"The debts to House Lannister will be cancelled as part of reparations." Jon Connington said firmly. "Those to House Tyrell I'm sure we can think of some arrangements."

Mace Tyrell cleared his throat. "I am willing to forgive half of that in place of a dowry, Your Grace." He uttered, slowly and precisely.

Luke looked at Jon, who simply shook his head. "We can discuss the dowry arrangements once we have further settled in, Lord Tyrell." Luke said. "But given that I am to wed your daughter, can we agree that the debts to the Iron Bank and the Faith are the most important?" Mace nodded. "Good. I have significant funds with the Golden Company that we can use to help with the debt, but not nearly enough."

"Write to the Iron Bank." Oberyn input. "They have their due, but if you are strong they are reasonable. If they do not back Stannis, they may come to some arrangement as for a payment plan."

"See it done, Jon." Luke told his Hand of the King. "And I will personally meet with the High Septon. I must arrange for an official coronation ceremony with him anyway."

Jon noted that down, and then moved on to the next topic of conversation. "We should fill the Kingsguard as quickly as possible, Your Grace."

Luke nodded. "Ser Barristan, are you settling back into the White Sword Tower?"

"Slowly, Your Grace." Ser Barristan nodded. "It has been without a Lord Commander since I left the city as the Kingslayer left King's Landing before I did and never returned. The last Baratheon brotherhood was less than adequate save a couple of knights. Thankfully, all the inadequate brothers are dead."

"We have 4 knights currently sworn to you, while still living from the Baratheon regime are the Kingslayer and…" Jon checked his notes. "Ser Arys Oakheart."

"The Kingslayer's cloak is forfeit." Luke stated bluntly. "He is out of our grasp for now and I would not have him guard me anyway."

Ser Barristan nodded. "Agreed, Your Grace. Ser Arys was a good man however, perhaps he should be allowed the chance to bend the knee."

Luke felt uneasy at that. "He served the Lannisters, Ser Barristan, even after their tyranny was obvious. As ill conceived as it was, the precedent set by the bastard might serve us here."

"You mean to strip the Reachman of his cloak?" Oberyn asked, an amused smile on his lips.

Mace Tyrell and Ser Barristan both seemed uneasy. "We serve for life, Your Grace." Ser Barristan stated. "Joffrey Waters be damned."

Luke knew it would be a tough sell. "Ser Arys is currently missing as it is, when he appears, I shall decide what to do with him. For now however that leaves us with…" He counted them out once again. "4 White Cloaks in the city."

"I have an idea on new appointments." Ser Barristan stated. "Ser Taron of House Edgerton is a second son and has performed valiantly in your conquest."

Luke nodded, remembering the knight from outside of Rosby as well as standing up to face the Mountain. "He saved my life taking the Red Keep, if he would have it I would happily grant him a White Cloak."

"Ser Symon Cressey also was valiant in taking the city." Ser Barristan explained. "He personally slew Ser Kevan Lannister and was the first man into Maegor's Holdfast. He personally imprisoned Cersei Lannister."

"See it done." Luke stated. That brought the conversation on the Kingsguard to an end, though there were still dozens of items to discuss. During the battle the old Grand Maester had died and so a new one would need to be sent for. Then they discussed the refortification of the city as well as the Red Keep, the decorating of the Throne Room, the original Small Council Chamber, the Tower of the Hand and the Royal Chambers were to be funded immediately, before Luke finally involved Lord Monford again with talk on the royal fleet rebuild, something which was seemingly needed for when Stannis Baratheon made his move. Then talk went to the wider realm, as Lordships were handed out where appropriate. It would be a busy period for Luke as both he and Jon would need to talk with his vassals about alliances so that the new Lord of Erinmount Lord Will Cole, younger brother of the deceased Dick Cole, could be secure in his title. Darry had also lost its last son before Luke had arrived in Westeros without a named replacement, so the castle would be given to another loyal Golden Company searjant in Young John Mudd, with another betrothal request being sent to Walder Frey about any of his female descendants that could claim Darry descent.

Finally, hours after they had first entered the chambers, Varys cleared his throat ready to speak. "I do have word from Rosby, Your Grace, and it relates to Ser Arys. Tyrion Lannister escaped the Red Keep with the younger siblings of Joffrey Waters, as well as Sansa Stark. Ser Arys is with them."

Luke clenched his fist. "And you waited until now to tell us?"

"He needs to die." Jon stated bluntly.

"I agree, he's a Lannister." Oberyn nodded. "Leave him alive and he will fight back."

Varys shook his head, turning to Luke. "He is a Lannister, yes. But the most amenable. He can take the Westerlands and keep them loyal to you, Your Grace. He hates Tywin, he hates Cersei and Joffrey. While others would continue the war when they are executed Tyrion wouldn't. He would be a useful ally."

Luke pondered the thought for a moment, knowing that he should kill all three Lannisters that had escaped, but somehow finding himself turning away from that. "Will he bend the knee? Swear away all rights to the Throne for his niece and nephew and agree to have them both stay here as hostages?"

Varys nodded. "I am sure of it."

"Then I will meet him at the very least." Luke said, causing Jon to frown. "Separately to Lady Sansa. She could be the key to peace with the North, it is better to have her in our custody and if that means treating with the Lannister, so be it." He could see that Jon was turning around to his logic, though Oberyn would be tougher to sell it to. "I will write a letter personally to him, and Ser Ronnet will ride to Rosby himself and escort the group here."

"Very well." Jon nodded. "I believe that's all we need to see to today, but we will meet again tomorrow in case of any further appointments and issues."

Luke stood up, and he was quickly followed by everyone else. Jon was looking at him as if there was more to say but privately, and so Luke allowed the Small Council to filter out before turning back to his Hand. "I think that went well." He muttered cheerfully. "I need to send a letter to Dorne tonight. Daenerys and Visenya need to be here."

"Do not trust a Lannister." Jon said firmly, ignoring Luke's last comment. "He may hate his sire, but he's the most like Tywin by all accounts. He cannot be trusted."

"You think I don't know that?" Luke asked incredulously. "I know what his family is, Jon, I live with the scars they caused my family every single day. But tell me, if I kill Tyrion Lannister what then? What happens to the Westerlands?"

"Give it to someone loyal." Jon countered.

"And then they'll be overthrown within the year by the very Lords we force to swear this man fealty." Luke shook his head. "I am King now, I've already indulged my personal feelings too much by burning the bastard of Rosby. Now I need to think of the realm before myself. Get the Westerlands under control and the entire South is ours. They'll need a regent of course, I don't plan on letting any child of Tywin free to do as they will, but as much as I hate it, the West needs House Lannister." He sighed. "I do not want to fight, Jon, but now the Iron Throne is mine, the image I portray to those yet to come to the fold is important. Would you see me hated like Maegor, or respected like the Conqueror?"

Jon frowned. "You know my answer to that."

"Then let me act as my ancestor did, to an extent." Luke asked. "If the Lannister doesn't bend the knee then I will do as you say, find someone loyal and place them in the Rock. If he does bend? Then I must help him back to his feet."

Jon shook his head. "You sound a lot like the Usurper."

Luke scowled, but he knew that Jon was right. "As much as I loathe it, he was right." The pair stood in silence for a little while after that as they digested that before Luke snorted in laughter. "Never repeat that."

"Not a chance." Jon smirked. "I did want to talk to you about one other thing though, Raymund."

Luke knew that the young Connington had supposedly done well in the battle, but he was still intrigued. "What about him?"

"He deserves a reward." Jon began. "He… when the bells began to ring I almost lost it, Luke. I was taken back to the Stoney Sept straight away and I would have died had it not been for him, he snapped me out of it, and I must repay him for that."

Luke nodded, thinking for a moment. "I will knight him myself, he deserves that honour for saving your life. Then after that, perhaps he would look good in white once Ser Arys is stripped of his cloak…"

It was two days later when news of Ser Ronnet's return filtered into the Red Keep and Luke immediately filled the Throne Room with loyal men to go with a power play. Behind him the stained-glass windows had been the first thing removed and in its place would go a new, Targaryen design, whilst the next stage of decoration would be removing the tapestries and bringing the dragon skulls back up from where they had been stored.

As the King sat on the Iron Throne, he looked around at his welcoming party. His new Kingsguard were all stood before the steps, with three on each side after Ser Taron and Ser Symon had accepted the white cloaks. Then to create a walkway between the door and the Iron Throne Luke had a dozen pikemen stood either side of the room looking inwards. The rest of the Small Council were housed in the gallery to Luke's right.

He ran out of time to think however when the doors swung open. The only person that had been summoned to the Throne Room was Tyrion Lannister, and Luke glared down at the Lannister as the distance between them narrowed. Luke let the herald announce the titles of the pair before settling into a period of silence, as he tried to get the measure of the dwarf. Tyrion looked around questioningly, before looking back up at Luke. "This is quite the welcome. I didn't realise a single dwarf was such a danger."

"Somehow, a single dwarf escaped a surrounded city with naught but a lone Kingsguard, a serving girl, a squire, a sellsword and three children." Luke countered. "Caution was advised."

Tyrion smirked. "The most dangerous dwarf in the world does have a certain ring to it."

Luke didn't find it as funny. "You are here because some on my Council believe you to be a reasonable man. The only Lannister's I have met thus far have been extremely unreasonable, so I'm curious at the feeling of wanting to be shown otherwise."

Tyrion looked up at the gallery. "Remind me to thank Varys later if I keep my head."

"I gave you terms before." Luke continued. "Tywin Lannister and Gregor Clegane in chains at my feet. Joffrey Waters' surrender. I received neither of those."

"You have captured my Father, I heard." Tyrion countered. "Gregor Clegane is dead, and Joffrey is most likely in the Black Cells. You have your wishes along with the Iron Throne. What more do you want from me now?"

Luke leant forwards. "Peace." He said honestly, and he could tell that he had taken the dwarf by surprise. "Of course, I could continue this war. I could order Lord Tarly to take Casterly Rock for me and he is the sort that would probably do so, but what would that gain me? More enmity from the West? Increased chances of a rebellion once your strength has been regained in a generations time? No, I do not wish to fight war after war as I sit the Iron Throne. I would have peace, and you can bring me that."

"I am a dwarf, uncared for in the West." Tyrion spat angrily. "How do I bring you peace?"

"It was your plan that decimated my fleet." Luke explained. "You have the internal strength that your Father used to keep the West in line for so long, yet from what I hear you lack his less moral traits. As a Lannister and a son of Tywin, with the backing of House Targaryen, I'm sure the new Lord of Casterly Rock will be able to bring these hostilities to an end."

Tyrion raised an eyebrow in surprise before audibly laughing. "You would give me the Rock?"

"Your Father's last request was that it go to anybody but you." Luke explained. "But I am not one to give last requests to men that have children murdered for political gain. The Rock will very soon be yours by right, but your decisions now will determine if that reign is only a few moments as I execute you after your Father, or for years, potentially."

"What are the reparations?" Tyrion asked quickly. "Say I bend the knee, what am I giving up, and what are you to do with my niece and nephews?"

Luke smirked. "Joffrey will die. He has been anointed as King and I cannot have that threat sitting idle and growing in resentment. I could sentence the other two to a life of celibacy one way or another but losing my entire family in an instant only made me hunger for revenge as I grew older, so should you agree Myrcella and Tommen will be legitimised as Lannisters and be my guests here in the Red Keep indefinitely, while I will require you to stay in the Red Keep only until the realm is fully at peace."

"Hostages." Tyrion corrected. "Three seems excessive."

"Guests, all of you." Luke countered, though the dwarf was obviously correct. "As for reparations, well the Throne's debt to House Lannister will be cancelled in full. I hear it's quite excessive, so that shall be enough for now."

Tyrion grimaced, it was a lot of money that he was effectively writing off Luke knew, and he could see the dwarf milling it over. "What of my brother?"

The occupants of the room seemed to all suck in a breath as Luke's face grew cold, and he glared at the mention of the Kingslayer. "Still at the mercy of House Stark for now." He said as diplomatically as he could muster through clenched teeth. "His White Cloak has been forfeited as of yesterday and his punishment will be dealt out when peace with the North comes, if he hasn't been killed by Robb Stark by then."

Tyrion sighed. "I would try and argue for his life by asking you to simply hear him out, but I fear that would be fruitless." He looked at the floor for a moment. "If I refuse, I die?"

"Unless you would prefer the Wall." Luke responded. "You have that right."

Tyrion scoffed unamused. "Then it seems I have no choice, Your Grace." He awkwardly got down on one knee before the Iron Throne. "Casterly Rock is yours for as long as I hold it, though I won't make any sweeping promises about the rest of the Westerlands."

Luke gripped the Iron Throne sword pommel in his right hand tighter in annoyance, but the important thing was that Tyrion had knelt. "Rise, Lord Tyrion." The dwarf did so. "Your father, sister and nephew will be executed at dusk tomorrow. I will spare your niece and nephew, but I would ask you to be in attendance." He knew the dwarf might hate him for it, but to Luke it was important that Tywin Lannister saw that his legacy was left in the hands of his most hated child. Standing up, he then announced. "Court is dismissed. Please escort Lord Tyrion to his new chambers." Ser Rolly was the one to step forwards and escort the Lannister back out the way he came, and he was soon followed by the Golden Company pikeman, leaving the main floor of the Throne Room quickly feeling empty. "Ser Barristan."

"Your Grace."

"Please find Ser Arys Oakheart. I wish to have a word with him." Luke stated, wanting the matter of the past regime to be settled as quickly as possible.

It had taken Daenerys a couple of months to get used to the Water Gardens. Initially the lack of clothing from almost everybody had made her blush, but now, almost a year into her time here Daenerys was often found in the pools with nought on, helping the now one-year-old Visenya paddle around with Talisa Maegyr, whilst the ever-present Ser Jorah Mormont stood back keeping a close eye on them all.

With Prince Doran making the Water Gardens his permanent home, her betrothed had been left in charge of Sunspear along with a host of regents. Trystane visited twice a week, a schedule that used to be filled by Prince Oberyn before his departure to war, and she found him relatively charming, but her thoughts were constantly trained further North on Lucerys.

He had written when he could from Dragonstone, but whilst on campaign his letters had ceased and all she had heard of him was from the reports sent by Oberyn to Sunspear. Even now, as Daenerys grinned at the sheer enjoyment of Visenya splashing around the pools, her thoughts were on the babe's father.

"My Princess." The soft, exotic tone of Prince Doran Martell sounded from behind her. Daenerys turned around, being sure to cover her breasts with Visenya as she looked upon the Prince of Dorne and his sworn guard Areo Hotah. She also saw Jorah perk up looking over cautiously, but she calmed him down with a smile before turning to the Prince of Dorne.

"My Prince." Daenerys greeted. "Areo."

"I apologise for interrupting your time in the pools, but there has been news of our brothers." Doran explained. "A raven, from the Red Keep."

Dany paused immediately as the implications ran riot in her head. "He did it." She whispered. "He won?"

"King Lucerys sits the Iron Throne." Doran explained. "Come, dry yourself and I shall meet you in my solar." He motioned for Areo to move his wheelchair, and Daenerys had the privacy to hold Visenya up in the air, cheering in celebration. Finally she exited the water, drying and clothing the baby before herself. No more than 20 minutes later she was sat inside Prince Doran's solar, her hair plaited like a crown to help it dry, and a light black dress pulled over her body. She let Visenya crawl about the solar as she often liked to do and sat on a comfy sofa, grinning at Prince Doran who was explaining the letter. "This is a good day." The Prince was saying, a smile upon his lips too. "The Mountain, defeated by Oberyn. Tywin Lannister due to be killed too. Elia will rest easy, as will her children."

"What is the plan now?" Dany asked. "Am I to stay here with Trystane?" She hoped not, she wanted… no, needed to go to King's Landing, to see the citadel of her ancestors and see the Iron Throne.

"No, a ship has been summoned from Plankytown." Doran explained. "You and Visenya will go to King's Landing with your party, along with Trystane, Ellaria and Tyene."

Dany couldn't hide the grin. "It really has happened, hasn't it? Luke is King, our family is avenged."

"It has, my Princess." Doran nodded. "Tonight we shall feast. Trystane is due in a few hours, and we shall celebrate our demons being laid to rest."

Dany rose to her feet and hugged the wheelchair bound Dornishman. "If you would excuse me, Prince Doran. I would change, this feels too informal for such a grand occasion."

Doran nodded at her, and Dany quickly scooped up her niece before almost skipping away down the Water Gardens. She could tell that the news was spreading as even the servants had big grins on their faces and the children splashing around in the pools were cheering. As she got to her rooms, Dany placed Visenya down in her cot before quickly checking her wardrobe. She was no longer an exile Princess nor a claimant Princess. With Luke on the Iron Throne she was officially a royal princess again, and she would do her family, and her brother, proud.

The matter of Ser Arys Oakheart had been dealt with swiftly, with the Reachman agreeing to hang up his white cloak and then arranging with Tyrion Lannister to become the newly legitimised Myrcella Lannister's sworn sword. That officially left one space on the Kingsguard open, which Luke would seek to fill in the coming days. The main focus however was quickly on the Lannister executions.

Each of the three had made numerous enemies within the city of King's Landing over different periods of time, and so Luke had tested the waters by having heralds make announcements that the executions would be held in the ruins of the Dragonpit and that it would be free to watch for the residents of the city. Even from the Red Keep as the sun began to lower in the sky he could see the small outlines of bodies making their way up the Hill of Rhaenys in their thousands.

A tense Jon Connington had tried to warn Luke against going out into public so soon after the city had been taken, but Luke had shrugged the concerns off and led the court in travelling to the Dragonpit, though a large guard was escorting them in case of any trouble. Thankfully however there were only a handful of angry people shouting abuse towards him, and for the most part the procession was simply stared at in a mix of caution and cheers until they dismounted their horses outside of the Dragonpit and led to a private entrance.

Three large stakes had been erected and tied to them from left to right were Tywin, Joffrey, and finally Cersei. Golden Company guards had stopped the public from getting too close to the condemned, but Luke did smirk at the sight of rotting fruit staining Joffrey's prisoner garb. The Targaryen personally escorted Tyrion to a spot to stand where the three prisoners could see him, each with glaring green eyes staring at the Lannister at Luke's side. When everyone was in position, Luke simply held up a hand and an official with a horn blew the instrument, silencing the crowd.

"For almost 40 years you have lived under the whims of these three people." Luke announced to the crowd. "Occasionally they brought you good fortune, but mostly they brought you suffering and death. Under the tyranny of Joffrey Waters you starved and were beaten if you displeased him. That ends today. Now you are all under the care and protection of House Targaryen, and I swear to you by the Seven that murder and treason will always be punished as the law sees fit! We will soon see a new year, and a new year allows us to burn away the past and look to a better future." He turned to the three prisoners. "Cersei Lannister, for the crime of Regicide and High Treason. Lord Tywin Lannister, for the crime of murder and High Treason. Joffrey Waters, for the crime of High Treason, murder and ungodly cruelty to your subjects, I, Lucerys of the House Targaryen, First of my Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdom's and Protector of the Realm do sentence you to die."

He let out a long whistle, and for a moment the crowd murmured in confusion. That was until from over the wall of the Dragonpit Valaxes flew in, landing on Luke's shoulder and posturing to the crowd by extending his wings and letting out as big a roar as the year-old dragon could muster. Some of the crowd were scared, but others found the little dragon adorable. Knowing that the illusion of an adorable dragon would be shattered any moment, he turned towards the prisoners and muttered only one more word.

"Dracarys."

Joffrey screamed first almost instantly as the flames hit him. Cersei was next, her screams of excruciating pain mixing in with her sons. Luke only had eyes for the eldest of them all however, and purple eyes bore into green ones. Initially Tywin stood strong as the flames caught his clothing. Then the Lannister man started shaking, but still no noise came out of his mouth. Finally, as the flames grew and engulfed all three entirely, Luke noticed behind the flickers that Tywin's mouth was dripping with blood as the man had evidently bitten his tongue firmly to stop himself from screaming in agony, but after only a couple of minutes the screaming stopped, and all three prisoners had stopped writhing around and hung from the stake almost peacefully.

The second instance of Dragon Dreams… kudos to anybody who can correctly work out the meanings, some were the past, others were the future.

I don't actually know the specifics of where the royal family sleeps so I thought it a bit poetic that 4-year-old Lucerys had the same room as Tommen, and also that Luke would want to sleep in his old chambers for at least one night.

So in this story Tywin has worked closer with Tyrion because of the pair of them were leading the unsuccessful defence of the city. Tywin knew about the incest of course, and so he knows that Tommen would never truly be accepted by the West for his bastardy let alone his nature. Tywin knew that Tyrion was the most likely to escape death and also by the end the most like him. While I'm sure he would still want Jaime as his heir, Jaime was both the murderer of Aerys and captured by Robb Stark so there's no guarantee at all that he was long to live, so knowing Luke's distain for Tywin, he used a bit of reverse psychology here in order to get what he wanted, his blood still on Casterly Rock in a manner that the rest of the West could end up getting behind eventually.

The Small Council scene was a long one, but with a massive change things needed to be settled. There are some that think that Luke needs to kill Myrcella and Tommen as well as Tyrion, but while the saying of 'There must be a Stark in Winterfell' is probably true for more magical reasons, the Lannisters have held the West for almost as long as the Starks have the North.

This chapter had my first written Dany scene in an extremely long time and it will be good to bring her up to King's Landing. I have a lot planned for her…

Perhaps staying quiet as you are burned alive is impossible, but honestly if anybody were to do it to the point of biting your own tongue almost clean off, then it would be Tywin Lannister.

I hope you all this chapter! Let me know your thoughts.

Next Time: The Starks are back! Sansa has an honest conversation with her new captor, while Robb has a wedding to attend…

Reviews:

Guest (Jon x Dany): There will be no Jon x Dany in this story.

Tony McNucklz: He didn't unseat House Lannister officially, only House Baratheon. And I think we'll have to agree to disagree on Jaime and leave it there, because anything I say about his fate is very spoiler heavy. Luke knows the dangers of Tommen/Myrcella, but he's also already indulged himself in burning a Baratheon bastard child and he regrets that, so legitimising them as Lannisters himself somewhat negates their claim to the Throne as they are legally severed from Robert Baratheon. House Lannister have been rulers of the Westerlands for thousands of years, so if Luke wants peace, which he does, as much as he may want to he can't simply slaughter them all. He is keeping them hostage though so any future marriages will be decided by Luke, not Tyrion.

suppes1: Wow, high praise! I hope I can keep sticking to my schedule then.

Guest (Celtigar's): I don't have any particular actors in mind, but the Celtigar's are all of Valyrian blood.