Decepticon Institute
Arya sat on a stone bench in the room where she took her sword lessons with Syrio, her short practice sword laid on her lap. Today, though, she did not feel like practising.
"Is there something wrong, wolf girl?" A voice called her, she turns to see Nesse looking at her with her practice sword.
"It's nothing, I just... I don't want to practise today." Arya said, not looking at Nesse, she blinked before sitting down next to her.
"What's wrong? Your old man's alright, the Decepticons were able to reach him before things got more shit then normal, is this about your men your house losses or something" Nesse asked
"It's not that. It's just…I just feel like a burden." Arya said, staring at her feet, depressed.
"A burden? What are you talking about, wolfy?" Nesse asked, to Arya annoyed.
"What have I done to help? What can I even do to help?" she asked as she started to get frustrated with herself, Nesse watched her.
"You can say that I am getting better with a sword, but it's not enough to make a difference, I know I would just get in the way if I tried to jump into a fight. I don't have any loyal men I can call upon if there's trouble. I can only go and run to other Decepticons or Father for help!" Arya hits herself in frustration as she lowers her head
"Why can't I learn to be more useful?" Arya said to herself, Nesse shakes her head.
"You are really stupid stark" Nesse said as Arya glares at her.
"What? You think you're the only one that has doubts; you think you can fight off those blonde bastards' guards? Please you did the smart thing and went to the higher ups and got the right help to save your father" Nesse explains encouraging her, standing up and facing her.
"Decepticons look out for one another, you fuck with one of us you fuck with all of us" Nesse said looking at her.
"Your skills with a sword are improving, not much but better then Locke, at least" Nesse said as they both smile, out of everyone Locke is the worst with the sword.
"You've only been doing this shit for a few months now, the rest of us have been doing this for years now" Nesse explains the differences between them.
"But," Arya tried to reply, but Nesse poked her with his bokken on the chest.
"You wolf girl needs to get over yourself, you can't take on big problems in the future, right now face the problem right before you" Nesse said as he jabbed his bokken into her again.
"Cut it out!" Arya gets annoyed at the jabs.
"Stop me!" Nesse said with another jab.
"Stop it!" Arya said, getting up to avoid another jab.
"Come on wolf girl. Fight! Maybe you'll win this time," Nesse said, continuing to poke her.
"That's it!" Arya said, she finally deflected his jab and swung her bokken at her, jumping forward at the same time.
"Now, that's more like it!" Nesse said, grinning as she danced back, while parrying her strikes.
"That's the wolf girl who I always beat!" Nesse grins as the strike.
Arya sprung around and low, using what she knew of the Water Dance style as she swung her sword at her left foot. Nesse lifted her foot up before unleashing an overhead strike to pin her on her knees.
"Tell me something, Arya. Do you honestly think you will fight like Lord Mychal in a short time?" She asked before Arya shifted her sword to the side and attacked again.
"You just need to grow and train, like he did. No one can become a master in a few months. Plus, you are almost three-and-ten. While I'm five-and-ten" Nesse explains, she jumped away from her and smiled as they both settled in their Water dancing stances.
Suddenly, Nesse attacked, slashing with her wooden sword. The two continued to trade blows.
"There's more to fighting then just swordplay you know" Nesse said, the two clash together as Nesse pushes the sword down, Arya lowers her sword to avoid the slash.
"You need a strong mind as well" She continued as Arya carefully approached her.
Nesse points at Arya as Arya drives the sword forward as Nesse blocks the attacks as she pushes forward, holding the sword and locking it with Arya.
Nesse holds the sword as she uses one hand to hold her sword and punch Arya in the body.
Causing her to grunt in pain as she jumps back to avoid another strike.
"While our teachers teach us to fight it is our own instincts that keep us alive, use all that you have to survive and win" Nesse said as they both got into another dance, blow for blow as they both tried to win.
The fight kept going as Arya slowly got used to using her body to fight as she used her arms and legs to punch and kick when she had the chance.
"That's it, wolf girl, now you're fighting" Nesse replied, happy she getting the hang of his as she drives forward, Arya remembers a move some of the decepticons showed her when coming to king's landing, she spins around, avoiding the jab as she swing her sword around on Nesse legs, knocking her legs under her, Nesse falls on the ground with Arya jabber her practice sword into Nesse stomach on the ground.
"I think I win!" Arya said proudly, as she heard a clapping. They both turn to see Syrio and their other classmate watching the fight, clapping at her victory.
"Very good girl, very good, I believe it time for Syrio to teach you how to fight without the blade" Syrio said as he now starts class with a new direction in mind as Arya and Nesse help each other as they join the others.
LINE
The Eyrie, Vale of Arryn
Lord Holden of House Melcolm laughs as he listens to the Imps confessions; Lady Elyn Grafton of House Grafton wasn't impressed with this so call 'trial'
"I flogged the one-eyed snake! I skinned my sausage! I made the bald man cry! And into the turtle stew!" Tyrion 'confessed' to the men and women around him, through himself.
"Which I do believe my sister ate... at least, I hope she did." Tyrion hopes with various lords and ladies in the room gasping in disgust, Holden laughs to himself as he listens, Elyn gives him an annoying look.
"Must you make this anymore any less tolerable then it already is" Elyn Grafton said, was originally hear to talk about some issues with the mountain men with the temporary lord of Arryn but sadly Lysa return with her son on her breasts, then her sister showed up with the imp of all people and now they're dealing with this 'trial'.
"Oh calm down my lady, this is funny hearing about the imp" Lord Holden was here to talk about increasing patrols but this is more entertaining.
"Out of all the lords, you are the only one who went to the institute, '' Elyn said, looking at the Decepticons symbol on his armour, like her own on her dress. Elyn and Holden both join the Decepticons institute to learn new skills and learn how to manage their lands better, since they finished their education their lands have prospered under their rule, much to the dismay of other lords who don't approve of the Decepticon ways. Not that they care about some lord's opinion.
Tyrion explicitly described the various 'crimes' he had committed. After waiting for too long in the sky cell, he thought to get out of the mess Catelyn Stark had put her in: he had told the jail guard he wished to confess, and soon he had been dragged to the Eyrie's main hall, in front of Lady Stark with her sister Lysa, the latter's son, Robin and the Vale nobles that had been there when he arrived.
"I also once tried to corrupt my nephew, Mychal, by telling him that a sure way to please a girl from each kingdom was to-"
"SILENCE!" Lysa Arryn yelled, having had enough.
"How is it done?" Robin asked, curious. Tyrion smiled at the comment.
"What do you think you are doing?" Lysa continued, ignoring her son's question.
"I am confessing my crimes. Though, now that I think of it, I did fail to corrupt my nephew, so that may not count," Tyrion answered, as if it were the most obvious thing.
"Lord Tyrion," Catelyn spoke up before Lysa could retort, "you stand accused of hiring a man to slay my son, and of conspiring to murder my sister's husband, Lord Jon Arryn"
"Oh. I'm very sorry, but I don't know anything about all that," Tyrion replied in an innocent tone. Both Decepticon lords watch this trial as they talk to themselves.
"Why would the Lannisters kill Lord Arryn anyway? They own the capital and the throne at this point" Elyn asked, not really listening to Tully, no evidence or anything to prove the imp did anything.
"I doubt the Tully's know Tywin won't let this go" Holden said, having once met the lord and know how much pride he takes in his family name.
"What do you mean?" Elyn asked, watching as Tyrion demands the king's justice for imprisoning him without reason. He has a point there.
"Tywin takes great pride in the Lannister name, attacking Tyrion is the same as attacking the Lannister's" Holden explains gravely as the moon doors open, everyone feels the cold wind of the mountains blow into the room.
"But he hates the imp" Elyn recalls the rumours, more like facts has everyone knows how much Tywin hates Tyrion.
"Doesn't matter, like it or not, Tyrion's a Lannister, and Tywin shows no mercy when slighting his house" Holden said, recalling the song of Tywin destroying his vessel house as Tyrion calls for trial by combat due to the judge being Robin Arryn. What fool lets a child judge the innocent or guilty, both of them shake their heads in disgust as the Tullys stupidity.
"Lord Melcolm, Lady Grafton a message from the Decepticon rangers" A messenger ran around the room avoiding the lords and ladies avoiding the drama as both of them thanked the massager as they read the message.
Both of their eyes widen as they read the message; if this is true then war is starting soon.
"I hate it when you right" Elyn growls, leaving straight away with Holden right behind her.
"Hey I wish I was wrong too" Holden said as they both walk down the stairs while few people see the Decepticons leave the room including Lysa.
"Where are you two going?" Lysa said to them as all the knights were volunteering to be a champion to kill the imp, like that's a fair fight.
"Unfortunately some grim information has come to our attention that requires us to leave immediately" Elyn said in a cold tone as she doesn't look at Lysa when talking.
"More important than the trial of my husband's murder" Lysa said, trying to make this trial important to the lords and ladies present but not to the Decepticons.
"Of please, this trial is nothing but a mummer play, the imp has nothing to do with Lord Aryn, there are no evidence or truths he done anything, all I heard is an accusation and a denial, nothing more than a waste of our time" Elyn said as she continue to walk with Holden.
"You think you can walk away from an important trial?! The Lannister's killed my husband and nearly killed my nephew" Lysa said in outrage as someone deified her as she brings up the crimes against the Lannister's.
"Please you hate you husband and honestly this is the first time you ever mention your sister, this prove nothing but to antagonised the Lannister's" Elyn said as a few lords and ladies started to mutter about the trial, a few knights looks a little unsure about fighting the imp. Tyrion smiles at the support and happy to see someone is using their brain, Catelyn Stark sees everyone doubting the trial and tries to help.
"Lady Grafton, I have evidence that Tyrion owns a Valyrian steel dagger that nearly killed my son from a dear friend" Catelyn explains getting their attention.
"And who gave you this information?" Holden said, wanting to know, Elyn gets angry at him, even Tyrion wanted to know as well.
"Petyr Baelish" Catelyn said, as soon as she said that Holden laughed.
"hahahaha Little Pecker told you hahahahahaha" Holden laughs as few other lords and ladies laugh with Tyrion as well, even little Robin laughs at the joke, Elyn smiles at the humour and Lysa gets pissed.
"Silence all of you Silences!" Lysa screeches out as everyone quiets down as she glares at the two Decepticons.
"Leave, out get out, this is no place for fail lords and ladies" Lysa yelled in rages as they shake their heads,
"Would you please volunteer for me?" Tyrion asked them, seeing both the young lord and lady have the Decepticons symbol on them and have weapons, seeing Holden in armor and Elyn have a sword on her side.
"Sorry imp, I would love to help you out, but I have a wife with a child, she'll kill me if I die, I hope you understand" Holden apologised as Tyrion nodded before looking at Elyn who narrowed her eyes.
"You'll have to forgive me Tyrion, but I don't feel in good taste to help you, nothing personal to you though, but I hope you survive, can't have Tywin feel satisfied with your death" Elyn said as Tyrion let out a little chuckle.
"No we can't my lady, anyone else want to volunteer against this injustice trial" Tyrion asked everyone else as the two Decepticons leave as a sellsword steps forward, few other lords and ladies leave as well.
"Why are we always the last to be informed?" Elyn said, annoyed to be the last about the news.
"Well we do live on a mountain" Holden said, knowing the distance they have from King's landing and the time it takes to get to their location.
"Now we've fallen behind," Elyn said, knowing everyone else has already started to get ready for the war that is to come, they have a lot of work to do.
LINE
Mychal looks at the reports in his room in King's landing, normally he is at the institutes but he has a few important pages he keeps secret in his room in Red Keep. Mychal already sends ravens to all the Decepticons in the seven kingdoms, having them store extra food and getting space for any other Decepticons that need it.
It is going to be hard for the next few solar cycles given it has been at peace for quite some time now, 'Robert's peace' they call it. Mychal scoffs at that, it been nothing but summer during Robert's reign, no plagues, no food shortage, even the IronBorn Rebellion was so short nothing major happen, at best a few ports been raise until every other kingdoms react to the ironborns, ending it before it could kick off.
His door opens; Mychal looks up to see one of his guards.
"Lord Mychal, your siblings are here to see you" Ormond said, Mychal nods.
"Send them in" Mychal said, Joffrey never visits, Mychal watches Myrcella and Tommen come running in, both smiling.
"Big brother" Both called out as Mychal catches the two of them before lifting them up to give them a big hug.
"Hello my young siblings" Mychal said smiling as he spun them around as the two laughed, feeling their big brother lifting them in the air.
Unlike Joffrey, Mychal has a better relationship with his young siblings, actually a better relationship compared to every other family member. Mychal sees both his younger siblings as innocent and new to this cruel world. He cares for them as they do.
To Myrcella and Tommen their big brother Mychal has always been there for them, whenever they have problems Mychal would always help them and will always make Joffrey pay for ever hurting them. Mychal will teach them how to live and thrive. They hate it when their mother and father keep telling them to stay away from him.
"Big brother I saw you out fighting the mountain, you were amazing" Tommen said, loving seeing his big brother Mychal fight, Mychal chuckles as he ruffles his head.
"Why would you do that Mychal? you could have been killed" Myrcella scowled, not liking her brother in a dangerous situation.
"It will be very hard to kill the little one, but someone has to stand up to that animal," Mychal explains as he sits them down at his table.
"Now have you been studying lately?" Mychal asks them as Myrcella nods and Tommen shrugs at his response.
Myrcella and Tommen get there education from Maester Pycelle at their mother orders, however Mychal had Garth give reading material and other such studies for them to work under Pycelle eye, while Mychal doesn't trust Pycelle as far as he could throw him, he trust Garth. Seeing their mother forbid her children from learning at the Institute, Mychal will ensure they are prepared for the real world without their mother trying to control them.
"I find numbers hard Mychal" Tommen said, having struggled with his numbers as Mychal nodded.
"We all have our strengths young one, so come tonight with your work and Garth and I will help you" Mychal said, needing to see Garth tonight anyway so why not help his younger brother. Tommen smiles as Myrcella looks at him.
"Mychal, when can we join the institute?" Myrella asked, seeing children all going to learn and play with each other after class, something Myrella can't do due to her status as a royal.
"I would love nothing more than for you to join but your mother forbids it" Mychal said while rolling his eyes, while normallay he world ignore any thing his so your mother the queen's orders Mychal doesn't want any of her abuse to effect Myrella or Tommen, knowing he can't always be there to protect them.
"She is your mother too big brother" Tommen said, always seeing Mychal never call his Mother with any love.
"enough about that tell me about your day" Mychal said giving them his full attention as the two smiled, times like this are rare as the Queen always get in the way of Mychal been with his siblings so Mychal spends has much as possible with his siblings as there all go about their days talking and being with each other.
King's Landing
Ned listened to one of the smallfolk of the Riverlands, as the poor man described the brutal pillaging and burning of their homes and fields, with the other members of the Small Council present with Garth Flowers and a few others taking notes. By the description made by the man, it was obvious that the one behind the attack was the Mountain, who had apparently left behind a bag of dead fish.
"Your wife's family's symbol, isn't it?" Baelish asked. Eddard gazed intently at him: he knew not if he was asking or just being obtuse.
"I hear some call the Mountain Tywin Lannister's mad dog." Baelish whispers as Garth rolls his eyes hearing this, anyone who knows Gregor knows his relationship with Tywin
"But why would Ser Gregor turn brigand?" Pycelle spoke up. "The Lannisters would not dare threaten lands under protection of the King's-"
"Indeed, it would be as brazen as attacking the Hand of the King in the streets," Baelish sarcastically interjected. Garth cures Mychal's mother's impulsiveness and his Tywin's need to answer to anything he considers as an insult, Garth sees that the hand will need advice, as he gives Pycelle a look who looks unsure but nods anyway as Garth walks behind Ned Stark.
"Whatever you do lord hand, I advise you do so cautiously" Garth whispers to him so no one else could hear.
"This is an attempt to lure you out of King's Landing. Gregor Clegane wouldn't do anything without protection from Tywin Lannister, and accusing him without more proof will not help you. Gather more information about the situation before any actions" Garth advises, Ned considered Garth's suggestion and turned to the Riverlands man.
"I cannot restore your homes, or bring your dead to life. But perhaps I can give you justice, in the name of our King." He glanced at the crowd.
"Lord Beric Dondarrion, you shall have command of one hundred men. You are tasked to investigate this matter, and find out whether Ser Gregor Clegane is truly behind these crimes. Whether he is or not, you have permission to arrest the culprit and bring them here to answer for these crimes."
"As you command, Lord Hand," Lord Beric replied, leaving as they all watched him.
"Grandmaester Pycelle, send a raven to Casterly Rock," Eddard announced.
"Lord Tywin Lannister must answer to these accusations made against his bannerman. If Ser Gregor is indeed behind these attacks, then Lord Tywin must explain himself if he ordered them. And if he does not make any attempt to clear himself of this, then he will be branded an enemy to the Crown, and a traitor to the Realm."
Eddard turned and began to walk away from the Throne, the daily issues judged now, Baelish and Garth following behind him.
"A bold move, my Lord Hand, but is it wise? Tywin Lannister is the richest man in all the Seven Kingdoms," Baelish noted.
"Riches does not mean powerful," Garth interjected. "Lord Tywin is well aware that attacking the Riverlands, directly or not, would be seen as treason. He will deny any involvement and claim this as Gregor Clegane's actions. He's not foolish enough to risk being named enemy of the Crown, Clegane is just the puppet he can sacrifice" Garth explains Tywin's actions from his point of understanding.
"Which is why I took your advice, Maester Garth," Ned stated, walking out
"With Gregor Clegane captured, Tywin will have to respond to these summonses and come to court." Ned's reason to them.
"Force him to answer to a trial? He won't allow himself to be put into that position," Baelish countered.
"He will just use his money to prevent that. After all, it is money that wins wars, not soldiers." Baelish said, Garth raised an eye at this.
"Then, how come Robert is King, and not Tywin Lannister?" Ned questioned, as he left both Baelish and Garth behind closing the door.
"I can't help but admire his bravery or his foolishness" Baelish comments to Garth.
"Sadly Eddard Stark is not with any ally to help him" Garth said with pity as Baelish smiled.
"Now that's unfair to say young maester, you and I are to his aid" Baelish tries to charm but Garth wasn't even looking at him.
"You take me for a fool given your history with the Starks, Lord Hand indeed does have my pity" Garth said leaving Baelish as he looks coy at the world youngest maester to get all his chains.
LINE
Ned stood in front of both of his daughters, knowing that what he was going to tell them would not settle well for the two of them.
"I'm sending you both back to Winterfell" Ned said to them,
"What about Joffrey?" Sansa argues as goes Arya.
"I can't leave now! I just learned my number for x's, I have a test to complete soon and I want to keep learning from Syrio" Arya argues, having been studying in the institute and training with Syrio, she is studying for a test and she doesn't want all that work to go to waste.
"Please father Please don't do this" Sansa begs her father.
"You can't, I'm nearly a Decepticon, I get to earn my own symbol" Arya begs, wanting to join the Decepticon and is so close now.
"This is not a punishment," Eddard replied. "I am only sending you two away for your own safety."
"Can't I at least join the Decepticons before I go?" Arya said,
"Who cares' about your stupid Decept-creeps, I can't go, I suppose to marry Prince Joffrey, I'm in love with him, and I'm meet to be his queen and have his babies" Sansa gushes to Arya annoys.
"Seven hells" Arya said, Ned signs.
"I'll make you a match with someone brave, gentle and strong when you are older" Ned tries to give his daughter but she won't have it.
"I don't want someone brave, gentle and strong. I want him, He'll be the greatest king ever! A golden lion, and I would give him sons with beautiful blond hair!" Sansa said Ned made to interrupt his daughters, but what Sansa had said stuck in his mind.
Blond hair.
"The lion not his sigil idiot, he should be a stag like the King but not Mychal he better then both" Arya corrects as Ned half-listened to the argument while his mind reeled.
"He is nothing like that old drunk king or that savage disgrace prince" Sansa said as Arya gets angry.
"Hey, Mychal way better than your stupid lion! Mychal is a leader, and knows how to rule, Joffrey is not even a stag! He doesn't even look like a prince ready for the crown, when compared to Mychal!" Arya showing her loyalty to the Decepticons and protecting her leader.
Ned thinks of these words, Stag, lion. Mychal, Joffrey.
"Joffrey is a wonderful prince, and will be a wonderful king! He's nothing like King Robert, and will be much better than him and Mychal!" Sansa glared back.
"You're being foolish. Mychal doesn't need a crown to rule and already people follow him more than your beloved prince, seven hells even the king" Arya said, rolling her eyes as her sister glared in frustration.
"Enough, both of you. Now, both of you, get Septa Mordane and start packing." Ned said.
Sansa looked like she wanted to protest more, but Arya managed to drag her out of the room, which allowed Ned to sit down and reflect on what he had just realised.
The seed is strong. Those had been Jon Arryn's last words, but no one had been able to tell him what he meant. He had been told that Lysa Arryn believed it was meant to refer to his own son, Robin... but his daughter's comment had pointed him in another direction.
He sat down and pulled a large book towards him: one that Jon Arryn had asked of Pycelle sometime before his death, and which the Grandmaester had given him after asking about it.
It was a book that described the lineage and bloodlines of the noble families of Westeros. As he opened it and sought the Baratheon bloodline, everything seemed to fall into place.
"Lord Orys Baratheon, black of hair... Axel Baratheon, black of hair... Lyonel Baratheon, black of hair..." he read. "Steffon Baratheon, black of hair... Robert Baratheon, black of hair...Mychal Baratheon, black of hair,…Joffrey Baratheon, golden-haired."
Every Baratheon in the book had black of hair. No matter their mother's hair, they always had the same colour. Even three previous marriages between Baratheons and Lannisters had issues with black hair. Joffrey was the first in three centuries to have a different colour, and it was blond. And so did Myrcella and Tommen. Out of all the Baratheons, only Mychal had his father's hair.
"The seed is strong," he whispered. "By the Old Gods... Mychal is Robert's only true son... and the rightful heir." Ned realised as his mind raced at what to do.