After his discussion with Littlefinger Ned dispatched Torrhen to send his sister to him while Torrhen himself was to meet with this Ser Hugh. Upon investigating where the newly anointed Knight would be he was sent to the tournament grounds where the Knight may be preparing for his upcoming joust. The boy walked through the crowds of people running around setting up for the joust that was to start soon. Men tilled the dirt while others were setting up the dividing fence between the lanes. Banners from many of the great Houses whose members would be participating hung all over the grounds. Torrhen looked around to find the Knight.

This tournament was a waste of money the realm could not afford. Tournaments were fun and all and who didn't like a good Tourney? However if the realms debt was as bad as Ned said it was then this event should not be allowed to continue to save as much coin as possible. Thousands would not only be spent on the champions purses but thousands would be spent on the set up of the grounds and the food and other things. If Torrhen were the Hand he would have put his foot down and tried to save as much money as possible.

Soon his blue eyes fell on the knight counting the steps from end to end of the lane in preparation for his round of the tourney. It was odd that the squire got a knighthood. Most usually have to prove their valor or prove that they deserve the title however was granted the rank suspiciously after the death of his master. He approached the Night calling his name to get his attention but didn't get a response.

"Ser Hugh!" Torrhen said slightly raising his voice.

"As you can see I am busy."

"I am here on behalf of the Hand of the King."

Ser Hugh turned around looking at Torrhen with a look of anger from being distracted from his counting.

"I'm sorry I didn't catch your name Ser?"

"No Ser...I'm not a Knight."

"It just so happens that I am...tell whichever Lord you serve to come talk to me them self." He said before walking off.

The audacity of the young man. The minute he becomes a Knight he gets the notion he's the King...might not want Robert to find that out. Knowing there was no way to get to the newly anointed Knight Torrhen tuned around leaving the Tournament grounds heading back towards the Red Keep. By the time he retuned to the Red Keep Ned and Serena were mounting up their steeds to leave the keep. Ned knew there wasn't enough time so he decided to have Torrhen ride with to give the update with Ser Hugh.

On the ride Torrhen explained the situation with Ser Hugh and how he didn't want to talk to Torrhen because he wasn't a Knight. They all knew he wasn't a true Knight...he had no honor...not that most knights had any honor to begin with. There was Jamie a anointed Knight who stabbed the King he had swore to protect earning the nickname "Kingslayer". There was Ser Gregor Clegane who was rumored to have raped Ellia Martell before killing her and her children during the Sack Of Kings Landing during Robert's Rebellion. And now Ser Hugh could be added as he assumed himself better than everyone else because he was a knight.

Ned would call on the Knight later to question him but didn't expect much to come of it understanding a bit of his character from Torrhen's report. They then continued the ride through Kings Landing down to Fleabottom and onto the Street Of Steel where Lord Baelish had directed them. Torrhen nor Serena reality trusted Littlefinger and Ned had very little trust in him. He had good motives to aide Ned in his investigations but knowing Littlefinger he also had good motives to betray them. There wasn't really anyone that could be trusted in Kings Landing.

They rode down the Street of Steel until they reached the shop that Baelish had mentioned. They dismounted and approached the shop. The owner noticed them and walked out to greet them and was shocked when his eyes fell upon the badge of the Hand of the King on Eddard's tunic and realized who he was.

"Welcome My Lord...what is it I can get for you?" He asked.

"I was told Lord Arryn came to this shop in the weeks leading up to his death?"

"He did indeed."

Perhaps Littlefinger could be trusted as the information he had given them checked out.

"What did Lord Arryn want?"

"He came to see the boy My Lord."

"I'd like to see him as well."

The man nodded calling to his apprentice named Gendry. The young man set down his hammer and walked over to his master who then introduced the boy to the Hand. He also made him show off a bulls head helmet that he had made. It truly was fine craftsmanship...such a talent to craft such intricate pieces of armor.

"Fine work."

"It's not for sale."

"Gendry! Apologies My Lord."

Ned handed the helmet back to the young man.

"It's quite alright. When Lord Arryn came to see you what did he want?"

"He just asked some questions." The boy replied.

"What kind of questions?"

"How I'm doing, if I'm being treated well,if I enjoy my work,he also asked about my mom."

"And what did you say?"

"I never knew my mom...she died when I was young. She had blonde hair and would sing me songs that's about all I remember."

Ned thanked the boy and sent him back on his way before turning to the master smith.

"If the day should come where that boy would rather swing a sword than smith one send him to me."

The trio then walked back to their mounts. Serena and Torrhen saw the look on their fathers face...it was the look of someone who had just figured something out.

"What is it?" Serena asked.

"We just found Robert's bastard son."

They then mounted up and rode back to the keep. Why Robert's bastard being a big deal didn't make sense to them. Robert was a known whoremonger and most likely had dozens of bastards running around so what was the big deal? Why did Jon take such a big interest in Robert's bastards? Did Robert want them looked after? Or was he acting alone just wanting to protect what may as well be his grandchildren as he raised Robert from childhood. There was a lot more than meets the eye going on and they were going to get to the bottom of it.

Finally the tournament was to start and the city couldn't wait for the festivities to begin. People from all over the Kingdom arrived to witness the tourney. Some were common people and others were knights and noblemen. The first round of the joust was a very interesting matchup pitting Gregor Clegane and the newly anointed Knight Ser Hugh of the Vale. Two dishonorable Knights taking each other on. The entire Kingdom could predict how this joust would end...it would end with Ser Hough on his arse and Gregor claimed the victor.

Torrhen and Serena sat in the stands with Sansa,Arya,and Septa Mordane waiting for the joust. The King was sitting with the Queen with an impatient look on his face as he couldn't wait for the festivities to begin. Finally the contestants began to arrive at the grounds after they all drew straws to determine who would joust who. Serena was looking around taking in the scene looking at all the banners of Lords and Ladies as well as those of the Knight's. As her eyes peered around the grounds they fell on the Queen who was wearing her hair beautifully braided and a gown that covered up most of her body covering her almost like a blanket.

Then she watched as the Queen's head quickly turned to look at Serena knowing there were eyes staring at her. She smiled when she saw it was Serena staring at her causing the girl to quickly look away and back to the jousting field with her cheeks turning red knowing she was busted. There was something about the golden lioness that caused the Northerner's stomach to knot up. she tried to brush it off and for a time it would go away until she would again lay eyes on the Queen.

Eventually the two riders who were to joust for this match. The first rider to arrive was Ser Hugh of the Vale recently knighted after the death of his Lord Jon Arryn. No one truly understood his rise to knighthood. The young lad had seen no combat or truly proved himself worthy of the honor. It was also odd how a man with no land or title not only came into a Knighthood but a shiny new set of armor that did not look cheap.

The second rider was Ser Gregor Clegane or the Mountain That Rides as he was commonly known as. Everyone had heard of Tywin Lannister's mad dog but to actually see the man in person was shocking. He was taller than any man alive and was much stronger. It was a miracle that the horse he rode on could sustain his weight he was that large. His armor was black like his steed and the helm completely covered his head and face with a small hatch that could open to show his face.

Lord Baelish had leaned over to tell Sansa the story of the Mountain and the Hound. He described how one day Sandor decided to go play with Gregor's toys without asking and how Gregor caught him. He went into a frenzy believing Sandor had 'stolen' the toys and pressed his face against the fire as retribution for this imagined crime. Now the Hound wore the scars on the side of his face which scared most people away from him.

The pair pair met in the middle of the fields and bowed before the King as was the custom. Robert dismissed them and they rode off to their sides. Serena shivered at the thought of even attempting to go up against the Mountain. Sure she was a skilled warrior but even a skilled warrior wouldn't dare attempted to face someone like Ser Gregor.

The Knights grabbed their lances and prepared to charge. The steeds kicked up some dirt before a horn blast signaling the start of the match. The horses began their sprinting strides as the men brought down their lances each hoping to strike the other. It seemed like time was traveling in slow motion as the two men galloped towards each other. Finally the sound of shattering wood filled everyone's ears as Gregor's lance stuck his opponent. But things God worse when Ser Hugh fell from his horse hitting the ground.

There was a piece of the broken lance sticking from his neck as blood shot out of his mouth. Sansa quickly looked away in horror at the sight that was unfolding before them. Serena leaned over to keep her eyes covered as not to see the sight. The entire crowd was staring in disbelief at the sight yet not many were surprised. This was the Mountain and if there was one thing he was known for it was killing. Everyone had heard the tale of what he did to Ellia and her children. Men came onto the field to clean up the scene and repair the fence that separated the two lanes. Until everything was cleared the tourney was postponed.

"Come girls lets go back to your rooms." Serena said.

Her and Torrhen helped them from the stands and back towards the keep to get them away from the scene. As Ned wasn't there he had to be told of this as the knowledge Ser Hugh harbored was crucial to his investigation into Jon Arryn's death. Sansa was still very clearly shaken up and Serena rubbed at her back to comfort her. Arya seemed fairly un phased by what happened unlike her older sister. No one was really surprised at what happened as this was the Mountain and if there was one thing he liked it was killing whether it was on a battlefield or the jousting lists.

The girls were brought back to their chambers and Sansa was soothed enough. She decided to pass the time by sewing.

"If you are alright I must speak to father."

"Yes I am alright thank you I'm just going to sew awhile."

"Alright...you should make me a nice dress." Serena said with a smile.

"Alright but I know you won't wear it."

The pair burst out in laughter before Serena took her leave and set out to find Ned. It didn't take long to reunite with Torrhen and they set out together to find him. When they did he was still in the midst of a council meeting so they decided to wait as not to interrupt anything important. The wait was actually quite short and soon the King's loyal councilors were filing out of the Small Council Chambers. Once it was empty the twins entered. Ned looked up to see his adoptive children.

"How are the girls?" Ned asked.

"They are alright...a bit shaken." Torrhen replied.

"What happened?" Ned asked.

"Ser Hugh and Ser Gregor met in the joust...well Ser Gregor's lance." Serena said. "Went straight into his neck."

Ned knew this wasn't just a coincidence. Ser Hugh squired for Jon Arryn meaning he was closer to him to everyone save his wife and son. If Lord Arryn died for something then perhaps the squire knew...perhaps the Knighthood was a way to buy his silence and the Lannister's ordered his death to prevent that truth from coming out? Or it was just a pure accident as things like that do tend to happen from time to time in jousts. Ned had to get to the bottom of this and decided to investigate further.

"I will go look into it with Jory. You two stay with the girls."

Ned then took his leave and Serena decided to go take a walk around the castle to get a better understanding of the layout as this place was sill confusing to her. She found it surprising that the soldiers and guards that roamed the castle knew where to go even if they have been protecting the Royal family for years. The place was like a maze with each time you go through it you find another pathway of it. There were so many rooms this place could probably hold hundreds if not thousands of people. It was a beautiful palace and was one of the last remaining legacies of House Targaryen once the most powerful family in the world and it was now gone with one fell swoop. All that remains is the Red Keep,the sept, and words in a history book. It was sad really...perhaps the Mad King deserved to die but not the rest...especially the children.

However that was the past and the only thing to do was move forward. The girls expedition continued until she realized she was lost within the castle. She looked around for someone to help but found no one so she would have to figure it out on her own. the girl walked and walked until turning a corner and bumping into someone. They both recovered and Serena looked up to see who she had bumped into and her eyes fell upon the golden locks of the Queen.

"My apologize your Grace." She said.

"No need to apologize Serena it can be quite hard to see around these corners." Cersei said.

Looking into the Queen's green eyes Serena felt that feeling bumble up within her. Still she was unable to decipher it. Perhaps it was fear. This was the Queen after all and her father was one of the most powerful and richest men in Westeros. She then popped out of it and remembered what she was doing to begin.

"Pardon your Grace but could you point me back towards the tower of the Hand?"

"I could take you there. We wouldn't want you wondering the castle alone and getting lost again."

"Oh there's no need to trouble yourself your grace."

"I insist."

There was no point in arguing with the Queen as everyone knew he would win that fight in the end.

"If you insist Your Grace I suppose I couldn't refuse a royal escort."

With a smile Cersei began escorting the girl through the castle.

"You know it took me over a year to learn my way around the castle. I would still occasionally get lost. I'm sure you will one day learn your way around." Cersei said.

"It's a miracle anyone can learn their way around this place." Serena replied.

They walked for a little bit longer in deafening silence with the only sound to be heard was the clicking of their shoes on the stones. As they walked Serena would steal a glance at the Queen admiring her beauty and the elegant gown she wore...it bit much for Serena but everyone had their preference. It had to be very hot in all that with the southern heat. Finally they arrived at a staircase that led into a tower.

"This is the way to the Tower Of The Hand."

"Thank you Your Grace."

The pair parted ways and Serena went to her chamber to get some sleep. With the windows open there was a nice breeze entering the room. It helped keep the room comfortable and easy to fall into a nice deep sleep.