[In the throne room of King's Landing. Ned sits upon the throne as a fill-in for Robert, as he is the Hand of the King. Baelish is at his right and Grand Maester Pycelle to his left. The room is filled with people.]
"You're looking like royalty sitting on that thing" Lyanna teased.
"I could do without it," Ned said stiffly. He wasn't all too thrilled with seeing himself on that blasted thing.
"They burned most everything in the Riverlands, our fields, our granaries, our homes. They took our women and then they took 'em again. When they was done, they butchered them as if they was animals. They covered our children in pitch and lit them on fire."
Everyone winced, some outright gasping and sobbing at the story the man told. Who could do something so cruel and disgusting?
"Brigands, most likely."
"They weren't thieves, they didn't steal nothing. They even left something behind, your Grace."
"It's the King's Hand you're addressing, not the king. The king is hunting."
[A second man walks forward and empties a sack onto the floor. It's a pile of fish.]
"Ah," Tyrion said in realization and feeling slightly bad. "My father's retaliating."
"He'd go to such lengths? All for arresting you?" Catelyn asked in shock.
"He's ready to do worse, Lady Stark. You dared to throw dirt at House Lannister by arresting me. My father is not the most loveable father, but he will not sit quietly if anyone insults the House. He is capable of worse, trust me on that."
"The sigil of House Tully."
[Whispers to Ned]
"Isn't that your wife's House - Tully - my Lord Hand?"
"These men, were they flying a sigil? … A banner."
"None, your… Hand. The one who was leading them… Taller by a foot than any man I've ever met, saw him cut the blacksmith, saw him take the head off a horse with a single swing of his sword."
"Always hm spearheading these atrocities" Oberyn spat venomously.
"Strange isn't it? How Gregor seems to do the same thing over and over again?" Doran questioned.
"What do you mean?" Elia questioned.
"Gregor threatened to cut Ser Renly and then Sandor in half after he lost the tilts, and he did slice the head of his horse clean off."
"An animal like him will do what he does best, over and over again" Oberyn waved them both off from overthinking it.
But Elia was thinking, and she was doing so with her elder brother.
"[Whisper] That sounds like someone we know. The Mountain."
"You're describing Ser Gregor Clegane."
"Why should Ser Gregor turn brigand? The man is an anointed knight."
"A dog is a dog, no matter by what name you call him" Oberyn muttered in disgust.
"I've heard him called "Tywin Lannister's mad dog." I'm sure you have as well. [whispering to Ned] Can you think of any reason the Lannisters might possibly have for being angry with your wife?"
Oberyn blinked and then narrowed his eyes.
"All of this sounds a little too convenient, no?" Margaery Tyrell commented. "You have Ser Jaime attacking Lord Stark so brazenly, and now you have Lord Tywin doing the same but to a whole region of the Kingdom."
"Father rarely sees right from wrong if he perceives an insult," Tyrion told her bluntly. "This is not surprising."
"Of course, Lord Tyrion," Margaery said smiling.
Joanna frowned. She agreed with her youngest that Tywin was capable of this. Yet young Margaery's comment did make her wonder.
"If the Lannisters were to order attacks on villages under the king's protection, it would be -"
"It would be almost as brazen as attacking the Hand of the King in the streets of the capital."
"I cannot give you back your homes or restore your dead to life. But perhaps I can give you justice in the name of our king, Robert. Lord Beric Dondarrion. "
[Beric Dondarrion steps from the back of the room forward.]
"You shall have the command. Assemble 100 men and ride to Ser Gregor's keep."
"As you command."
[Ned stands up with the assistance of a cane. He steps forward.]
Catelyn winced at seeing her husband this vulnerable. He wouldn't be able to protect himself with his leg like that.
The guilt hit her hard.
"In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, I charge you to bring the king's justice to the false knight Gregor Clegane and all those who shared in his crimes. I denounce him and attaint him. I strip him of all ranks and titles of all lands and holdings, and sentence him to death."
"Perhaps it would have been wiser to summon Ser Gregor and Lord Tywin to answer for the accusations" Jon Arryn said pointedly.
"And have Lord Tywin say the same thing he did when asked to answer for the murders of Rhaegar's children?" Ned challenged.
"He is still a high Lord and a Warden at that. You do not want to give him more cause to make his atrocities worse than he's already making it."
"How much worse can he get than raping and killing innocents?"
Jon Arryn did not have an answer to that.
Ned Stark took it as his victory.
"My lord… This… This is a drastic action. It would be better to wait for King Robert's return."
"Grand Maester Pycelle."
"My Lord."
"Send a raven to Casterly Rock. Inform Tywin Lannister that he has been summoned to court to answer for the crimes of his bannermen. He will arrive within the fortnight, or be branded an enemy of the crown and a traitor to the realm."
"Ah, you're letting your personal biases get the better of you Lord Stark" Renly pointed out.
"Am I? The proof is right before us" Ned said pointedly.
"A commoner who saw a large man cut down a blacksmith and then slice a horse's head off. That could be anyone because you were not there to witness it with your own eyes. That man could have been paid to say those words and there was no attack at all! Or worse, them attacking themselves and faking it all for coin."
"And who would do such a thing? Who would pay to put Tywin Lannister in that light? Risk his own head like that?"
"Someone who has something to gain from all the chaos."
"I ask again, who?"
"Perhaps someone who holds a grudge against your family?"
Ned scoffed at that. Who would hold a grudge against him when he's been holed up in the North for so long?
[The men all bow their heads in acknowledgement. Ned steps down from the throne, and Baelish follows him, speaking only to Ned.]
"A bold move, my Lord, and admirable. But is it wise to yank the lion's tail? Tywin Lannister is the richest man in all the Seven Kingdoms. Gold wins wars, not soldiers."
"Then how come Robert is king and not Tywin Lannister?"
"Robert is also indebted to Tywin Lannister and hesitates to do anything that might lead to displeasing him. Like sending his son to the Night's Watch for his crimes, or bringing him in for attacking you as brazenly as he did. So tell me, Lord Stark, who holds the power here?"
Ned shifted uncomfortably at Olenna's question.
[Back at the Eyrie throne room in the Vale. The men again crank and the Moon Door is opened. Ser Vardis prepares himself with a sword, shield and full body of armour. Bronn refuses a shield and is only wearing leather clothes.]
"Will he be alright? Fighting an armoured Knight in… that?" Sansa questioned.
"A skilled man can fight in anything he wishes," her father told her kindly, pushing the mood from before away for now.
"And a smart man being underestimated will play it to his advantage" Brandon the elder added with a shake of his head. "This man might turn out the victor."
"Against a knight?"
"Aye."
Sansa did not believe it. A Knight would not be defeated by some… whatever this man was.
[Robin Arryn screams "Fight" and the two men move forward. Multiple times Vardis swings forward and multiple times Bronn casually steps to the side, causing Vardis to waste his energy. Bronn moves backwards as Vardis continues to swing away, eventually up a staircase. Bronn hops over the staircase railing, again avoiding Vardis' attacks.]
"Stand and fight, coward!"
"He is fighting. But your wife seems to be under some delusion that all men fight in the same headstrong manner" Olenna clicked his tongue. "She must not have seen many melees."
"She has not" Jon Arryn confessed. Lysa had always stayed away from watching violent things.
[Bronn kicks over a candle stand in front of Vardis. Vardis steps over it and is again on the offensive, moving Bronn towards the centre of the room, close to the now opened Moon Door. The men hold one another off directly in front of the door, Vardis appearing to have the edge. Robin is giggling as Tyrion looks worried. Bronn muscles Vardis' blade away from him and steps to the side. Vardis yet again goes excessively offensive and swings for the fences and Bronn keeps stepping away. Vardis moves Bronn again to the middle of the room, as he swings for Bronn's head, Bronn ducks and stabs Vardis in the belly. The room is in disbelief. Vardis moves forward, muscling through the pain. Bronn sidesteps him a few more times and slices through his back. Vardis swings once more, but Bronn shoves his body towards the Moon Door. Bronn is in complete control as Vardis is defenceless against the door. Bronn looks up at Lysa and Robin who have blank faces - faces of shock - so he thrusts his sword into Vardis' neck, killing him, and pushing him out of the Moon Door.]
Sansa too had an equal look of shock on her face. A knight losing to… that man?
"He did not fight with much honour" Sansa eventually said with a frown.
"There is no honour in fighting for your life, girl. What matters is whether you live or you die. The man fought with honour and he died. What did honour get him? Hmm? Survival is important, no matter what route you must choose for it."
Ned would have liked to interject there and tell Lady Olenna that she was wrong, that a fight should be fought honourably. But he was a man who fought in two Rebellions, he knew honour goes out the window when it comes to living. How could he refute the older woman when he'd shed his honour when fighting enemies? It was a lesson he made sure Ser Rodrik taught his sons as well.
"Is it over?"
"You don't fight with honour!"
"Besides, I don't see what was so dishonourable" Oberyn spoke. "He fought the man till he drained him before attacking. If anything it was a smart ploy by him. Shows that unlike most who prance around because they're a knight, he's actually been in fights and knows the measure of his opponents well. A skilled fighter."
Sansa's face pinched in distaste. Everything a Knight was, was honour. If that didn't matter, then what made them different from just any fighter?
None, that was the answer she told herself. There was no difference between a fighter and a knight when it came down to fighting. Only the skilled and the smart come out victorious.
"No. He did."
[Tyrion turns to Mord who uncuffs him.]
"Can I make the little man fly now?"
"Not this little man. This little man is going home. I believe you have something of mine."
[Rodrik Cassel tosses Tyrion his purse. Tyrion bows before Catelyn begins walking out, Bronn following. He tosses Mord the purse full of coins.]
"A Lannister always pays his debts."
[At King's Landing in Ned's quarters. Arya and Sansa await as their father limps forward, using his cane for assistance.]
"I'm sending you both back to Winterfell."
"This won't go down well would it" Lyanna whispered to Ned.
All Ned could do in reply was groan.
"What?!"
"Listen -"
"What about Joffrey?"
"Are you dying because of your leg? Is that why you're sending us home?"
"That is some conclusion you've come to" Jon said amused.
Arya shrugged, her face red from embarrassment.
"What? No."
"Please, Father. Please don't."
"You can't. I've got my lessons with Syrio. I'm finally getting good."
"This isn't a punishment. I want you back in Winterfell for your own safety."
"Can't we take Syrio back with us?"
"Who cares about your stupid dancing teacher?"
"You still don't know what she does?" Robb asked in exasperation. If it was him he'd at least see what dance his usually boyish sister was learning.
"Why would I care what she does?" Sansa scoffed.
"Because you're her sister and you're both in a new place and know no one" Daenerys pointed out. Viserys might have been a lot of things, but he'd make sure to know what Daenerys was doing, especially in a new place.
Sansa scoffed again.
"I can't go. I'm supposed to marry Prince Joffrey. I love him and I'm meant to be his queen and have his babies."
"Seven hells" Robb muttered.
"Seven hells."
"You Starks are all the same" Jon Snow snorted, earning a shove from both Robb and Arya.
"When you're old enough, I'll make you a match with someone who's worthy of you, someone who's brave and gentle and strong -"
"I don't want someone brave and gentle and strong. I want him!"
"Are you certain it is him you want? Or is it the title of Queen you're after?" Margaery asked with a smile. "Not that there's anything wrong with it. I too would like to be Queen in the future."
Sansa could only sink into herself at the words. She wanted to be Queen there was no denying it. Joffrey just happened to be handsome as well.
Margaery chuckled.
"He'll be the greatest king that ever was, a golden lion, and I'll give him sons with beautiful blond hair."
"The lion's not his sigil, idiot. He's a stag, like his father."
"He is not. He's nothing like that old drunk king."
"Y- your grace I-"
Robert waved her off with a constipated look.
Sansa sighed.
"Young Lady if I hear you say such words again I will have the Septa wash your mouth with soap. Or do it myself" Ned Stark gave her a disapproving stare.
Sansa blanched.
"Go on, girls. Get your septa and start packing your things."
"Wait!"
"Come on!"
"It's not fair!"
"She isn't used to being told no, is she" Lyanna asked as kindly as she could.
But even that made both Ned and Catelyn shift uncomfortably.
[The two exit Ned's room and close the door behind them. Ned slowly makes his way over to his desk, opening the book that Grand Maester Pycelle had given him earlier. The book covers the lineages of all the great Houses of Westeros. Ned turns and reviews the Baratheon page, reading out loud.]
"Lord Orys Baratheon, black of hair." "Axel Baratheon, black of hair." "Lyonel Baratheon, black of hair." "Steffon Baratheon, black of hair." "Robert Baratheon, black of hair." "Joffrey Baratheon… golden-haired."
[Ned has a revelation and closes the book.]
"And so you finally realize! You took your bloody time" Oberyn barked a laugh.
"Realized what?" Robert sat straighter and looked at the Dornishman. Ned and Jon Arryn both looked quite alarmed.
"Robert-"
"That your children are not yours" Stannis said simply, ignoring the looks thrown at him from both Ned and Jon Arryn.
Robert blinked before narrowing his eyes on Stannis.
"What the fuck do you mean?!"
"I mean what I said, brother. Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen are not yours. They are the Kingslayers."
"Watch your-"
"You've heard Lord Stark speak on that wall, what every Baratheon looked like."
"So what? You're telling me that it can't happen that all three children took after their mother?!"
"Not with us," Stannis said sternly.
Both brothers stood, as did Ned, Jon Arryn and Renly.
"I have studied the family tree well. Before you there have been two instances where a Baratheon married a Lannister. The first was Balla Baratheon, who married Ronnel Lannister. They had one son and three daughters, all of whom had the black hair and blue eyes of House Baratheon. Then there was Gowen Baratheon who married Tya Lannister. They had one son who died in infancy. He too was born with black hair and blue eyes. Even marrying Velaryons did not produce anything but black-haired and blue-eyed children. Nor Targaryens."
"You're WRONG! Tell him, Ned! Tell him- Why are you looking at me like that? Jon, why are you looking at me like that!?"
It was not just them. Everyone was looking at him with pity.
Except for Myrcella and Tommen. They were just as shocked as he.
Myrcella and Tommen who were all Lannisters and no Baratheon.
Joffrey who had all of Cersei in him and none of him… and a bit of Jaime as well with how much pride and bravado he walked with.
The world spun for Robert and he gripped the back of the chair before so hard it cracked.
"How long have you both known?"
Nobody had to ask who he asked.
"I learned it when I arrived here" Ned confessed.
"I had my suspicions, but I got my confirmation here."
"AND NEITHER OF YOU THOUGHT IT PRUDENT TO TELL ME?!"
The man's roar rocked the entire room, the volume making everyone jump out of their chairs on defence. Joanna pushed the children behind her, and Tyrion stood before her. Jaime stood before Tyrion, ready to stop a charging Robert.
And Robert looked like he was about to charge. Red-faced and panting in anger the man's wild eyes scanned the entire room. Everyone his eyes fell on either hid or jumped out of the way. The look in his eyes was something that made their insides turn soft, the killing intent behind those eyes enough to make them want to run and hide.
The Demon of The Trident, in the flesh.
And his eyes finally met Jaime Lannister's.
Robert lunged, as did Jaime.
Robert's larger reach got to Jaime first, a giant hand grabbing the man by the face. Jaime clawed at the man's hand but it seemed to cause no pain to the man. Robert lifted the man up by the face and slammed him head-first into the ground. Jaime's skull gave a loud crack. Jaime struggled and Robert kept bashing the man's head against the ground. And anyone who came to stop him was either punched aside or hit with Jaime Lannister's body like a rag doll. It was the Starks, Baratheons and Jon Arryn who came to stop him. Rhaegar was held back by Elia, while Doran and Oberyn enjoyed the scene with satisfied smiles.
Jaime finally stopped struggling, stopped twitching even. But unlike last time there were no mourners. He'd be back.
But Robert was not so easily satisfied with the death of one Lannister.
In front of him stood Tyrion, wide mismatched eyes eyeing him warily.
"Maybe we can-"
Robert grabbed him by the head and much like his brother, Tyrion was slammed continuously into the ground until he too stopped struggling entirely.
And now there was only one. Only one obstacle between him and those bastards.
"Stand aside, woman."
Joanna flinched at the venom in those words.
"Please, Robert, they are just children."
"They are BASTARDS!" Robert roared in rage. "Move out of the way and let me be done with them."
"Please!"
Robert growled and grabbed the woman by her throat.
The room exploded with renewed protests, the fallen and beaten men and boys who tried to stop Robert before jumped back up to fight again. Last time it was Jaime Lannister, someone not many liked. Perhaps that was why their attempts were half-hearted at best. But now it was Joanna Lannister, a woman, they wouldn't let the King hurt a woman.
But they all froze when the King gave a sudden pained groan.
Robert let Joanna go, grabbed his balls and fell to his side. And that was when she was revealed.
A woman the same height as Margaery, with cascading curly black hair, tanned skin and deep-slitted green eyes. She was glaring down at Robert, hissing at him. It showed off her fangs.
"You do not hurt women and children!" the woman snarled.
"Easy my dear" They all turned around and found the winged man there, an amused smile on his face.
"He was hurting the woman!"
"I know."
"And you were doing nothing!"
"I would have jumped in!"
"Couch" the woman growled and vanished, making the man sweatdrop.
"My wife, my Lords and Ladies" the man sighed.
"What… is she?" Arya asked, both excited to see a strong woman and a little terrified.
"Something far stronger and far more dangerous than I am" the man smiled.
Another flash and the woman returned, this time beside her husband.
"Is it necessary for him to be here and learn?"
"He won't improve if he doesn't learn."
"You hold out hope from the worst of them!"
"If the worst can improve, so can the best."
The woman grumbled.
The man turned to the rest.
"Give the dead and the suffering time to recover. But I will suggest you take a break and have a talk with Robert after you watch the next scene."
"Don't forget that thing!"
"I didn't! Just gimme a moment to build up to it."
"You and your thing for dramatics" The woman rolled her eyes. "We're adding one more person here after the next scene plays. Try to play nice with him. For your own good."
The man pouted as the woman vanished after a kiss on his cheek.
"What she said" the man sighed and vanished.
"That was…"
"Something…"
They all shared uneasy looks amongst themselves and just as asked waited until the people recovered. Robert was the first to get up. He took a seat far from the rest. The rest sat where they had been, but none of them looked remotely settled.
[Back at Vaes Dothrak, in a very large hut. It is a celebration. A pig roasts over a centre fire as there are drums being played and people dancing everywhere. Viserys stumbles in, clearly drunk.]
"Oh no," Daenerys mumbled to herself. As she was entirely uninvolved in RObert's rage, she was steady enough to comment.
"Daenerys! Where's my sister?"
[Daenerys and Jorah both look up, noticing her brother on the opposite side of the hut. Drogo, on another side of the hut also sees Viserys. Jorah stands up and begins walking towards Viserys.]
"Stop him."
"Where is she? I'm here for the feast. The whore's feast."
"That fucking idiot" Rhaegar hissed in anger.
"Come."
"Get your hands off me! No one touches the dragon!"
[A man sitting next to Drogo says something in Dothraki that makes the Khal laugh. Viserys hears this and spins around.]
"Khal Drogo! I'm here for the feast."
"He's going to get himself killed at this rate" Elia facepalmed. But she didn't believe it. Daenerys was there to stop him before he got too out of hand.
[Khal Drogo speaks Dothraki, and motions to the other side of the hut.]
"Khal Drogo says there is a place for you. Back there."
"That is no place for a king."
"You are no king."
"He… can speak the common tongue?" Rhaegar blinked in surprise.
"Daenerys must have taught him" Elia whispered to her husband.
Daenerys pursed her lips. Those words would not go well with Viserys.
[Viserys draws his sword, Jorah moves forward, and Viserys holds his sword at Jorah.]
"Keep away from me!"
[The drums stop and now everyone in the hut is paying attention.]
"Viserys, please."
"There she is."
"Put the sword down. They'll kill us all."
"They can't kill us. They can't shed blood in their sacred city."
"He must be a whole other level of stupidity if he thinks you can't die without your blood being shed" Olenna snorted.
"He thinks he's untouchable" Margaery muttered, still a little unnerved by the King's rampage.
[Moving his sword over everyone in the room, stopping on Daenerys' stomach]
"But I can. I want what I came for. I want the crown he promised me. He bought you. But he never paid for you."
[The Khal is fiercely looking at the situation as Viserys has his blade to Daenerys' stomach. A woman is translating for Drogo as Viserys speaks.]
Daenerys grasped her belly protectively. She wasn't close to being pregnant yet, but to see her brother care so little for her, for her child.
Maybe he deserves to be put down.
Like a dog.
"Tell him I want what was bargained for or I'm taking you back. He can keep the baby. I'll cut it out and leave it for him."
[Khal Drogo speaks Dothraki]
"What's he saying?"
"He says yes. You shall have a golden crown, that men shall tremble to behold."
"That was all I wanted. W-what was promised."
[Viserys takes his blade away from Daenerys' stomach and steps back, smiling. Drogo stands up and walks to his wife, placing his hand on her belly as they exchange looks. The Khal says something in Dothraki, two men instantly come up behind Viserys, each holding one of his arms. One man breaks Viserys' right arm as he screams.]
"No! You cannot touch me! I am the dragon! I am the dragon! I want my crown! Ahh!"
[The two men force Viserys to the ground, still holding him by his arms. The Khal moves towards them and mutters something in Dothraki. A woman tips over a kettle that was over the fire, pouring out its contents. Drogo throws some golden jewellery into the kettle.]
Elia's eyes widened in realisation. She threw Daenerys a look, but the girl with them looked positively angry. The Daenerys on the wall looked no less angry.
No, she was wrong before.
Viserys was going to die here.
"No. Dany! Dany, tell them, make them! You can't!"
[The golden jewellery is now melted down into liquid. Khal Drogo lifts the kettle up and walks over towards the screaming Viserys.]
"A crown for a king."
[Khal Drogo raises the kettle over Viserys' head and pours out the melted gold onto his skull. He screams as the hot liquid solidifies on his skull, the two men release Viserys, and he instantly falls to the ground dead.]
"He got what he deserved" Daenerys muttered loud enough for Rhaegar to hear.
Before he could comment, there was a bright flash of light.
Balla Baratheon and Ronnel Lannister are made-up names. While there is mention of a maid from House Baratheon marrying a Lannister before Gowen Baratheon married Tya Lannister, no names were mentioned.