The night was silent as Loren fastened his sword belt and prepared to usurp his nephew's regency. Not a bird squawked outside, the wind was still. It was so quiet that he could almost heard the lapping of the waves in Blackwater Bay.

"Are you going to need that?" Alysanne asked.

"If the gods are good no," Loren said, turning back to his wife. They spoke quietly, so as not to wake Lelia. "But I am gambling enough already, I will take what sureties I can."

Alysanne nodded. "Gods be with you my lord."

Loren wanted to say more, but there was no time. It would be dawn soon. "Be safe." He told her.

She nodded again, as Loren turned and opened the door to his chambers.

His knights were outside, clad in plate and mail, wearing swords and grim expressions. "Come." He said simply. There were only twenty seven of them, all he could bring into the castle with arms without raising suspicion. They would have to do.

They marched quickly through the castle before it became a hive of activity. They encountered one servant on the way down. He bowed and muttered 'm'lord' before he realised that it was an entire force of knights, none of whom should be bearing arms. Loren grabbed him and forced him against the wall. "Where do you work?"

"The-the woodstore, m'lord," the servant gasped.

"Return and stay there. Count to one thousand and then you may return to your duties. Am I clear?" He touched the pommel of his sword.

"Yes, m'lord, most gracious m'lord!"

He relaxed his grip and the servant sprinted away, almost tearing his shirt in his haste.

At the base of the Red Keep's great hall, Loren found a score of Lannister guardsmen waiting, as he knew they would be. "My lord?" One of them said, surprised to see him. "Is something wrong?"

Loren looked at the man. "You are Tabann, yes?"

"Yes my lord."

"Are you my man, Tabann, good and true?"

Tabann puffed out his chest. "Yes my lord."

"Then open the door, and fall in with me."

The guardsmen, clearly unsure what was happening, obeyed, lifting the great oak beam that held the door shut and forcing it open. Loren could hear them fall in behind him and when he glanced back he saw taht they had taken up their weapons. Good.

The eastern tower, where the Tyrells were holed up, was surrounded by a hundred goldcloaks. They outnumbered Loren and his men. He touched his sword. Some of them had noticed his approach and were waving at him or raising their spears in salute. Loren came up before the gold cloak captain Jaromyn. "My lord, it's good to see you. I didn't know you would be joining the attack on the tower."

"When is the attack to begin?"

"Shortly, my lord. Lord Commander Darke is bringing up more men from the city, when he arrives, we're attacking."

Loren nodded. "The Lord Commander went himself?"

"Yes my lord." Good. Jaromyn glanced at Loren's men who had spread out in a crescent behind him. "My lord, is something happening?"

He stood firmly before Jaromyn. "There will be no attack on the tower."

Jaromyn, clearly confused, asked, "has the queen-regent changed her mind?"

"What the queen-regent wants no longer has any bearing here. There will be no attack."

Jaromyn stepped back, his hand straying to his shortsword, in response, Loren's men drew their own. "My lord, what's happening?"

"Nothing that need concern you, Jaromyn. I see a good man when I look into your eyes."

"I don't understand."

Loren fished a pouch of silver coins from his belt and hung it from one finger, letting it sway in the crisp dawn air. "The city needs patrolling, Jaromyn. Something is about to happen in the Red Keep, but you need not be involved."

Jaromyn looked at the pouch of coins. The goldcloaks were coming together now, spears held tightly in shaking hands. The air was heavy, thick. "My lord-"

"Jaromyn, I have no time. You can patrol the city and take this pouch of silver with you, or you can stay here and take our steel." One of Loren's knights tapped the naked steel of his sword on the flagsones. Tap tap tap. The goldcloaks looked to each other, fearful and uncertain. Loren tossed the pouch of coins to the ground. "I will count down from three." He held up three fingers. "Three." One finger down, the goldcloaks started backing away. "Two." Another finger down, one looked around, desperate for an escape. "One."

Jaromyn snatched up the coin pound. "Come on men, we're to patrol the city." Loren's men parted and allowed the goldcloaks to hurry away.

"Ser Aldar, when they're gone, take ten men and secure the gate, no one enters unless I give the word."

Loren hammered on the door and it opened immediately. Garlan and Mace Tyrell left, bedecked in armour and at the head of the knights of House Tyrell.

"You actually came?" Margaery said. She had followed once the knights had all come.

Loren gritted his teeth to bite back a retort. "Of course. I gave my word." He said instead.

"What's our next move?" Loras asked, limping up behind.

"Hold a moment. The others should be here shortly."

"Others."

Loren nodded. "I am not the only Lannister dissatisfied with my sister's rule."

Sure enough, soon Kevan and Tyrion arrived, flanked by Lannister men. "Were there any problems uncle?"

"None, nephew," Kevan said. "We have secured the armoury and postern gates."

"The goldcloaks guarding them surrendered without trouble," Tyrion said.

"Not so loyal are Cersei's soldiers." Loren muttered.

"Perhaps. But Rennifer Darke and his fellows are more hardline in their loyalty."

Loren nodded. "Well, it seems that the Lord Commander is within the city, not the keep, he will not stop us, and if the rest try, they die."

"Kingsguard!" Loras cried, his hand going to his sword. The Tyrell knights had their swords in their hands in a heartbeat and looked ready to charge.

"Hold!" Loren shouted, quickly stepping between the Tyrells and the approaching knight. "My brother is not our enemy in this."

Everyone looked as Jaime approached in his white plate, his golden hand shining in the dawn light. "Brother," Loren nodded at Jaime who nodded back, his face fair and stern. "Is all in readiness?"

"It is. The Kingsguard are fulfilling their responsibilities. They stand guard over the king and his sister."

"And what of Cersei?" Margaery demanded.

"Tonight is my duty to guard the queen mother. But the king and his heir come first." He fixed Loren with a stare. "Ser Loras, you will come with me."

Loras held his sword in a ready stance. "Why?"

"Are you not a knight of the Kingsguard?"

"Yes."

"Then your duty is to protect your king. We do not participate in the politics of the Red Keep."

"Go, Loras," Garlan said after a few moments. Loras looked to his family, nodded, and followed Jaime away, limping after the one handed knight.

Margaery turned to Loren. "How did you convince him?"

"Is it not enough to know that I did?" An uncertain pall had hung between the two of them as they had talked about Cersei. It had taken many hours, during which Loren had sent Alysanne to speak with the Tyrells. In the end, Loren promised that no harm would come to Cersei, and Jaime swore that the Kingsguard would stand aside and permit the change in regency. 'Take her to the Rock to live out her days in peace. Give me your oath on this and the Kingsguard will not oppose you.' He shook his head. "We need to go, now."

Their path through the Red Keep was uninterupted. Few crossed their path, and those that did got out of it immediately, whatever they thought might be happening, they wanted no part in it.

They made it to the council chambers quickly and everyone took their old seats, apart from Loren, who stood behind the seat reserved for Cersei. "The rest of the council?" Garlan asked.

"My knights will bring them," Loren replied. Kevan produced a document of heavy vellu and smoothed it out on the table. The decree stripping Cersei of the regency, inked in a neat hand and sealed at the bottom already with Loren and Kevan's seals. "Lord Mace, if you would." Green wax was produced and quickly warmed. Mace poured a healthy dollup onto a strip of parchment and pressed his signet ring into it. Kevan took it and tied it to the document.

"Sould we not have waited for the council to do that?" Garlan asked.

"I would rather have them see that this matter is already decided than try to be stubborn and sit on the fence." He wrapped his hand around his sword pommel. "I would rather not have our first acts be looking for a new master of whispers or coin." He had given enough to the Tyrells already, no doubt they would demand a say in who was named to those positions.

It wasn't long before the doors opened. Pycelle was guided in and helped to the nearest seat. "I see, my lords, you have decided to take action," he said huskily.

Loren nodded. "Indeed, Grand Maester. Loren leant forward and gripped Cersei's chair tightly. "Do you wish to add your seal to this document?"

Pycelle nodded weary yet also relieved. "I have my seal here somewhere," he fumbled in his robes, pulled out the seal of the grand maester and affixed it in dull grey wax, handing it to Kevan who stitched it to the paper. When Pycelle sat back, he seemed more relieved than Loren had seen him since Tywin had died.

Aside from the escort, Varys did not look at all surprised by what had happened. Is that an act? Did he know and do nothing to warn Cersei, or did he not know but wants me to think that. When Loren questioned which side he would stand on, Varys tittered and bobbed his head, but quickly and quietly put his seal to the document. Lord Baelish was much as could be expected, thanking them for making the choice to act, and assuring them that a reliable regency would be better for the finances of the crown than Cersei continuing, before affixing his seal to the same document as well.

"It's done, lord regent," Mace Tyrell turned to Loren. "What do we do first?"

Loren pulled out the regent's chair and sat in it, resting his hands on the table. "Bring me the king and the queen mother."

The council waited in silence. Loren drummed his fingers on the wood. Thankfully, the kingsguard opened the door first and brought Tommen in. The king was dressed but clearly tired, with shadows under his eyes and his hair was unkempt. He looked around the council table, taking in the faces of everyone there before sucking in a breath and trying to stand tall. "My kingsguard say that I am to have a new regent."

Loren nodded. "Yes, your grace. Your mother…. Is losing control of her mind. Her commands are based on falsehoods and in direct contravention of the good of the realm. The council has decided that I shall take over the regency until you come of age to assume power in your own right."

Tommen cast a furtive glance at the Tyrells and Loren feared what Cersei had told him. "Mother says that you killed Lord Sebaston." He bit his lip. "I didn't believe her."

"And already you show a wisdom your mother lacks," Mace Tyrell replied with a smile. "You may rest assured, your grace, House Tyrell will ever stand at your side as your loyal followers."

I pull out Tommen's chair and direct him to sit in it. "Your mother will be here soon, my king, we will formally remove her from the regency when she arrives. You do not need to say anything, I will take care of it."

Tommen looked up at him and nodded. "Thank you, uncle Loren."

It was not long after that Cersei arrived, escorted by Sandor Clegane and Mandon Moore. Where Jaime was, Loren did not know, but he was not surprised that Jaime elected not to witness this. "What is happening here?! Cersei had clearly been woken from the middle of sleep, her hair was towselled, her eyes bleary. "I did not summon the council and- you!" She screeched the last word like a spurned siren, pointing at the Tyrells. "Traitors, who brought you here, traitors!"

"Enough." Loren cut across her. "Enough, Cersei."

"You… You did this! You freed them!"

"I did."

"Where are my goldcloaks!" Kingsguard, seize them, seize them all!"

"The Kingsguard will do no such thing." Loren said. "You have danced from one blunder to another Cersei, you jump at shadows and make enemies of friends. The council has determined that you cannot continue as Tommen's regent." At the mention of her son's name, Cersei seemed to realise that Tommen was present for the first time. "You are hereby stripped of your power of regency, to be confined to your rooms until provision can made for you to return to the Rock."

"You- you can't!" She shrieked. "Tommen!"

Tommen shifted uncomfortably. "Mother, please do what they say."

Cersei staggered like she'd been struck. "Tommen!"

"Kingsguard, remove the queen-mother back to her quarters."

Cersei did not go quietly. She was not strong enough to break the grip of the Kingsguard. "Traitors! Traitors all! You will die for this. You will every one of you die!" And some choice words for him personally. "I was right about you, brother. You have lusted after Tommen's power! You are no true Lannister, you betray your own blood!"

I did. But not tonight.

"What happens now?" Lord Baelish asked.

"We get to work. My sister has left this realm in a terrible state, and we need to start patching it together. If any of you feel you need to use the privy, do so now, we begin immediately."

"Uncle… can I go back to bed? I didn't sleep well last night."

Loren stroked Tommen's hair as affectionately as he could. "I fear not my king. You need to learn what it is to rule, and that is best done by observing your councillors." Tommen looked crestfallen, so Loren called in one of his guardsmen. "Have princess Myrcella summoned to sit with the King." Tommen's smile was enough to show that he had made the right choice.

The morning was spent undoing the most recent of Cersei's errors. Lord Commander Darke was recalled from the city and pensioned off. Varys assured them not long after that he had been seen leaving the city with his silver in hand. The debate over who would replace him went quickly, quicker than Loren had dared hope for, but a compromise candidate qas quickly found. More of Cersei's replacements were brought into line or relieved of their duties.

Messages were sent to notables of the city. Lords and ladies still within the walls, taskmasters and most importantly the High Septon. With that done, the criers were despatched to announce it to the masses.

With that they turned to wider policy.

The war came first and there was much to discuss now that Garlan was the King's Marshal: The deployment of soldiers, the timeline of the offensive, how the soldiers would be supplied and experts and sellswords paid. They debated when Garlan would depart for the front and when they could reasonably expect to be besieging Storm's End, estimating for them facing resistance light or stiff or stubborn. They then moved on to arranging the facilities to rebuild the royal fleet. With the resources of the south at their disposal, victory was only a matter of time. The islands of the narrow sea could not rebuild or repair any losses that they would face, but still, Shireen Baratheon was floating hundreds of warships, and they would need to be matched ship for ship, which meant contracts and coin, timber and sailcloth, and sailors, hundreds and hundreds of sailors. They spoke of trying to raise allies in the east, those who wished access to the market of King's Landing and the southern kingdom, but were unable to get there so long as the rebels were closing Blackwater Bay. Loren would feel more confident if they could get a Lysene, Tyroshi or Braavosi fleet to aid them, although the rumours coming from the east meant that the first two were unlikely to be sending fleets anywhere until they resolved their current war.

After the war they turned to the state of the realm's treasury. Littlefinger spoke, but with everything he said, their situation seemed to darken. Now that they were all together, rather than Cersei speaking to them one by one, this was the first that Loren was hearing of it, and Mace looked just as angered and how poorly they were doing. The incomes of the crown were down. Not only were they feeling the loss of the tax incomes from the North and Riverlands, but the Vale's taxes were not coming in, although they were being used to pay back the loans owed to the Iron Bank of Braavos. The economies of the West and Reach had been ravaged by the Stark invasions, the Stormlands was in rebellion. That left the iron islands and Dorne, the former was in civil war among the ironmen captains and the latter was far too poor to make up the difference, and the generous exemptions granted by Daeron II were still in place, with the realm in no place to revoke them. "For near on two years, the realm has survived only on the finances of the crownlands, and there is little milk left to squeeze from those teats," Littlefinger said.

"And after the Baratheon attack, those resources must surely be diminished," Mace Tyrell said.

But Littlefinger gave a smile. "Interestingly, no, apart from the toeholds still held by Baratheon loyalists, we have been able to recover the territories Lyonel Baratheon took with little damage, it seemed he was intent on preserving the lands he took. Maybe their situation was bad enough that they needed those resources themselves and couldn't chance burning them."

Even looking to the future the situation was grim. Littlefinger gave rough estimates for how much they could expect in tax income once the Stormlands were recovered. He had to guess for high and low ends, based on how much damage the stormlands would take during Garlan's offensive. And then the other problems came in. Right now the crown was in considerable debt, and a huge proportion of the crown's incomes was servicing those debts. Loren and Mace were willing to accept a pause in repayment, but the Faith was showing no such inclinations, and there was no hope of it from the Braavosi and Tyroshi.

"What options do we have?" Loren asked, his head in his hands.

Littlefinger closed his books. "With the North and Riverlands gone, the only answer is that the rest will have to pay higher taxes when the war is over. In the short term, I would propose extracting heavy duties from the rebels, maybe even taking direct control of their landed incomes for a time. After that, we may need to start selling off territories given out as tax farms to pay the debts the crown owes." He turned to Garlan. "So if you could be as gentle as possible while subduing the last of the rebels, I would greatly appreciate it."

And so they took each measure, one by one. Few had solutions, but they were able at least to divine paths to a solution and after the chaos of the last days, that was enough for now.