Chapter 7: The Mad King

Karlyn

-Kings Landing-

Kings Landing, the stench of it was kept away from the Red Keep by the sea breezes. Standing by the window in the room she had been assigned, Karlyn looked down at the dress, Lady Joanna had helped her choose. It was a simple dress made of dark blue silk and damask. The contrasting materials showed her family wealth and Karlyn had spent the night and early morning with Mira sewing small dire wolves along the hem. Mira's work was 10 times better than hers, and for that Karlyn was very grateful.

Mira stepped up. "Are you ready Karlyn?"

Karlyn took a breath. "Yes. I am." She tried a giddy smile. "I am going to meet the King, and deliver my father's missive. Then I am getting out of here." She added the last in a low tone of voice. Karlyn had not slept well. Her sleep had been plagued with dreams. Dreams of wolves running through thickly forested woods and fire burning behind them. Other animals fled around the wolves, a deer, a lion, a flock of birds screeched overhead. She had woken gasping and wanting to cry. She had, in the darkness of her room, wanted her mother. But she had lit a candle and sat on the window ledge until dawn had touched the sea.

Mira nodded and waved her to the screen off to the side. A bath tub waited there. A group of maids had just finished filling it with hot water. Karlyn stepped behind the screen and stripped out of her nightdress. Mira checked the water and added Karlyn's favourite oils to the water as the young girl climbed into it.

Karlyn bathed quickly not wanting to waste time nor to be late. Lady Joanna had said she would be by in the 3rd hour after dawn. As Karlyn was climbing out of the tub, and into a warm towel held by Mira, her chamber door opened. Mira frowned and peered around the screen.

Then she turned back and said in a low voice "Lady Cersei."

Karlyn winced.

Dinner the night before had been chilly between Karlyn and Cersei, and Jaime barely acknowledged Karlyn's presence until she had been speaking with Tyrion and Jaime had wanted to spend time with his baby brother. But Cersei had been cold, as close to rude as she could get without bringing down her parent's ire on her head. Karlyn's response had to been to treat her like Lyanna when Lyanna was throwing a hissy fit. She had ignored her and responded with sweetness and light. But now she was in Karlyn's room! She waved Mira to go out and speak.

Mira stepped out, and gave Cersei a polite smile. "My Lady, can I help you?"

Cersei had only moved two steps into the room and had been looking around it casually. She sneered down her nose at the older girl, a servant no less. "I am here to see Lady Karlyn."

"Of course. Lady Karlyn is just getting dressed. If you would like to have a seat…" Mira waved to a low couch by the wall, well away from the dress Karlyn would be wearing.

Cersei flounced to the couch, her dark pink skirts swishing as she did so. And there she slouched and glowered around the room.

Karlyn exited the screen from the other side and was dressed in her smallclothes. Her long black hair was bound in a towel as she and Mira had washed it carefully. She glanced at Cersei. "Lady Cersei" She said over her shoulder. "What brings you to my chambers?"

"Oh nothing. Just came by to see how your… preparations were going" The Blond girl replied.

Karlyn was glad her back was to Cersei so she could roll her eyes in private. Mira bustled over and began to help Karlyn dress in the new gown.

"Blue?" Cersei sniffed. "Didn't Mother tell you that Blue is the king's least favourite colour?" the tone was sly.

Karlyn shrugged and unwrapped her hair and sat so Mira could comb and style it.

Cersei watched them work in silence. The maid had a talent for hair, she would tell, but she would never let anyone know she was jealous that Karlyn had such a talented maid. She was about to make another snide remark when there was a knock on the door.

Mira put down the brush and walked briskly to open it. She curtseyed deeply as Lady Joanna entered.

"Lady Joanna Lannister, My Lady" Mira announced.

Karlyn turned and smiled standing as she did so to curtsey in greeting. "My lady."

"Karlyn" Joanna paused at the sight of her daughter slouched on a couch. "Cersei… what are you doing here?"

"Nothing." Came the reply. Cersei looked at Mira. "I'd like a drink. Fetch me one." She ordered dismissively.

Mira paused. Karlyn however held up a hand. "Mira, just ask one of the other maids to do that please. I need you here."

"Of course M'lady" Mira said and did so before returning to Karlyn's hair.

Joanna however watched Cersei's actions and then let her eyes narrow in suspicion. She would deal with Cersei later. Joanna turned to watch Mira pull Karlyn's hair into a half up and half down hairstyle, with several small braids, a very southeron style. That, matched with the dress which was a mix of Southeron and Northern styles and materials, Karlyn would fit well at Court. Or at least until they left for Casterly Rock. Mira Snow, was a sensible maid, Joanna had found the night before, when she had escorted Karlyn to these chambers and found everything perfectly put away, and the gown they had selected on a rack being assessed by the maid with thread and pins.

There was a sniff from the couch and Joanna ignored her daughter's antics. "She looks Southeron. But it won't disguise the North on her." Cersei said in a sing song a maid brought her a drink. "The.." she broke off as her mother turned and froze her with a glare. Cersei shrugged.

Karlyn however turned to Mira. "Mira, my daggers please."

"Of course." Mira smirked behind her hand and brought over the two daggers in their leather sheaths. She may disapprove of Karlyn's abilities but in this case she was fully on-board if it put the Blond girl in her place.

Cersei sat bolt upright. "You have daggers?!" she squawked outraged.

"Yes." Karlyn said, picking one up and removing it from its sheath. Her blue gaze met Cersei's green one. "My father ensured I know how to use them. And a bow." The point was left unsaid as Karlyn checked the edge and then replaced it in the sheath. She then handed them back to Mira. Who, a small smile on her face, placed them in a small chest by the bed.

Cersei just stared. And then she stood, curtseyed to her mother and left the room.

Karlyn stood, slid her feet into the soft slipper like shoes that were the rage at court. She personally wished for her sturdy boots. Mira helped settle the skirts and shook out the minuet creases in the silk.

Joanna nodded. "She will do. Tywin will escort you to the Throne Room."

"Thank you" Karly said softly. She fixed a pendant around her neck, a stylised wolf hung down her chest.

Mira brought her the sealed parchment for the King and Karlyn held it tightly. Her father had stressed to her the importance of this missive. "I am ready" she said softly.

Not 15 minutes later, she stood outside the entrance to the Throne room with two of her Wolf guards

Lord Tywin had left her there to go take his place with the King. Two of the Kings guard blocked the door.

They had to wait. She had a feeling that this would be a test. To see if she would be worn down by the wait. Karlyn however kept her eyes demurely downcast and the parchment tight between her fingers.

They waited and waited. She knew it was a long time but then, a servant opened the door and waved her forward. With her guards behind her, she raised her chin, and stepped into the Throne Room. She paused at the door to take stock, and curtseyed.

"Lady Karlyn Stark, First Daughter of Lord Rickard Stark of Winterfell, Lord Paramount of the North and Warden of the North." The Servant boomed.

The Iron Throne sat on a raised iron dais with high and narrow steps. A long carpet stretched from the throne to the hall's great oak-and-bronze doors, to her feet. On either side of the carpet, people stood below the many and varied size Dragon Skulls which hung on the walls.

As Karlyn stepped forward, she was aware of her guards bowing and following her down the long carpet. Her gaze however fixed on the Throne at the end of the carpet and the two men. One silver and robed in his royal robes, sat on the Iron Throne, the other golden stood to his right, dressed in his Lannister livery.

The King and his Hand.

Her head high, Lady Karlyn Stark walked past lords and their simpering ladies. She spotted Cersei off to the side in one of the high viewing galleries. Joanna was with her, though she clung to the shadows.

The Queen was not there. But then, she was reportedly still recovering from the latest miscarriage.

Karlyn stopped exactly 5 feet from the steps, and dropped a curtsey and she held it, not rising. Her guards, knelt behind her.

The voice from above, was not Lord Tywin's. It was the King's. "Ah Lady Karlyn Stark"

She inclined her head further.

"Rise child" The King continued.

She rose and lifted her eyes slowly to look up at the King. "Your Grace." She said, her voice level and almost reverent in its tone. "You honour my house by allowing this audience."

The King was tall, thin with his long silver hair, held back by the elaborate dragon-emblazoned Crown of King Aegon IV. His robes were blood red with black trim. And they had his family emblem boldly embroidered on them.

"Yes. My Hand tells me you have a missive from your father for me."

Karlyn curtseyed again. "Yes your Grace." She held it out. A Servant came, took it and carried it up to the king.

Aerys took it, cracked the seal and began to read.

Oh Karlyn knew what was in it. Her father had told her. A pledge of Stark loyalty to the King, a request for the Nights Watch and an offer to Host the Royal family at Winterfell whenever the King wished it.

The Court was silent as the King read the letter and then handed to Tywin who read it as well. When the King's gaze fixed again on Karlyn, she tensed, and waited. Would there be an explosion?

"Tell me Lady Karlyn, are you aware of what is in this letter?" Aerys asked her, leaning forward, bracing his elbows on his knees and clasping his fingers together.

"Yes your Grace I am aware."

"And why does your father write to me of the Night's Watch?"

-Tread carefully- she told herself. "Sire, he explained it to me. He, explained that the Night's Watch is suffering from a lack of adherents and the families of the north suffer from Wildling attacks more and more each year. He requests the additional men, so he can strengthen your northern border. He and Lord Umber of Last Hearth have also found traders, coming south from the wall, having landed North of the wall to evade your rightful tax collectors."

"And how many men does he feel is required?"

"At last count your Grace, the Watch was counted at one thousand and nine hundred men. The Lord Commander and My father, believe, to better protect your northern border, an additional twelve thousand men would be required. And an additional six thousand craftsmen to rebuild the abandoned Towers along the wall." She was honest.

The King laughed. "So a total of eighteen thousand men!"

"Your Grace is very clever with numbers." She said with a smile. "It took me a lot longer to get that correct."

Aerys studied the girl before him. Her Stark features were there, tempered by the Flint of her mother. "Very well."

"Your Grace..." Tywin began but stopped as Aerys raised a hand.

"Eighteen Thousand Men, it will be done." Aerys stood and walked down the steps. Karlyn and her guards immediately moved out of his way and knelt.

Tywin followed. "Your Grace. How would you like us to complete that order?"

"Easy!" Aerys marched down the carpet. "Lady Stark, Lord Tywin, come!"

Tywin, helped Karlyn to her feet, the girl giving him a startled look as he hustled her after the king.

They followed the King, the court trailing behind, out onto the parapet. Karlyn was silent as was Tywin. Aerys looked over Kings Landing and his lips curved into a smile.

"Send out into the City Lord Tywin. Every man aged 15 to 45, married or not within the Flea Bottom is to be sent to the Wall, their families can settle in the Gift!" Aerys announced. "And the same goes for those shanty towns outside the gate. See to it. They are to be gone by weeks end. Put them under guard on boats and sail them to White Harbour!" Aerys began to laugh. "Lord Stark can have his eighteen thousand men. Let him deal with it!"

Then the King turned and smiled at Karlyn. "Thank you Lady Karlyn Stark for being a wonderful messenger."

"My honour to serve Your Grace" Karlyn stated, struggling to hide the horror she felt. This was horrible. The king was kicking the Smallfolk out of the City! They would not survive north of the neck, for they would not have any clothes for it, or supplies…

Aerys nodded and left, his Kingsguard falling in behind him as he called back "Court Dismissed" and vanished.

A hand clamped on Karlyn's elbow and she looked up at Lord Tywin. "Not here" He said in a low tone. "Do not fall apart here." He waved her guards closer and ordered them to return her to the Tower of the Hand. Then he left her to give the orders.

Karlyn was numb as she was escorted back to the Tower. Once safe inside, in her bedchamber, in the care of Mira, she collapsed into tears in her maid's arms at the horror that was about to befall innocent people within Kings Landing.

While Karlyn wept in her maid's arms, Lord Tywin was following the Kings Order's. He sent men to the harbour, and his own brother went with them to batter passage for the small folk they were sending North. Tywin knew that the King would demand Stark pay for this out of his own purse, and Tywin knew that he, would have to pay as well.

Ravens flew to Winterfell with the news of what the King had ordered.

And troops moved out into the city to announce the news. That day, Karlyn was not the only one in tears.

Author Notes and Review Responses:

Guest: Yes, Cersei is going to be a bitch from her history, from multiple sources it seems like she has been spoilt and expects such because of her family name.

Stannis was an idiot – and the Red Witch will get very short shift from me.

LadyKatherine29: Thank you for your words, they are greatly appreciated. As for Lyanna's future husband, that is still up in the air. But I do have plans for at least 2 of the Stark children to marry into North Families.

For all, I will be doing small time jumps. This current is set in 273. Next will be 274 and then a jump to 277