Author's Note:)
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This will be a short chapter because I expect more content in the ninth chapter. Enjoy!
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(Winterfell, The North, Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Westeros, Planetos)
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(Crown Prince Lyonel Baratheon POV)
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The return home had been delayed by about three days. Two days of bed rest, one to be used for walking about to get some mobility back. He suffered flare ups every so often, but the pain was manageable. He'd kept quiet about his suspicions, and had hid the weapon he'd taken from the cutthroat. He planned to confront Joffrey eventually, and only when he was in a position to do so.
If there was one side effect to the attempt on his life it was that Uncle Jaime it was that Uncle Jaime and about fifteen guards were assigned to him permanently. Lyle and Aurane - as always - were his constant shadows.
It was honestly a little suffocating, but at least the blame wasn't on Lord Stark. Mother was outraged of course, but she was positively apoplectic when the cutthroat was identified as a member of House Lannister's own guards, her guards. Suffice it to say, Captain Vylarr and Lord Varys would have their work cut out for them.
However an expected side effect of this attack had Ned Stark seem more eager to get to King's Landing to fulfill his duties as the King's Hand. He did legitimately wonder if it had been Joffrey. Alternatively, Littlefinger was another possibility. He sincerely doubted Varys or House Martell. He doubted the latter two because he'd been using Varys to arrange a secret dialog with Doran Martell.
He'd offered two things, a public apology regarding his father's callous words the day he was presented the bodies of Aegon and Rhaenys upon his ascension. And Ser Gregor Clegane's life. It was an easy enough thing to promise, since Clegane had very limited uses and honestly they amounted to little more than intimidation and war crimes.
He'd also broached the topic of betrothal, but stony silence thus far on that front was all he'd gotten. He suspected that Doran was going by the stance words were wind until anything with weight to it was offered. Right now it wasn't within his power to do anything but talk. But now that Ned Stark was hand, that would change.
His time was fast approaching.
Still, there was the matter of uncle Tyrion.
''I want a thorough report of what you saw when you get back uncle, as for you actually going, do try not to fall off it, you're my favorite dwarf uncle.'' Says Lyonel to Tyrion.
''I'm your only dwarf uncle.'' Tyrion pointed out. ''Though I do appreciate the sentiment, dear nephew. Rest assured however if I do fall off, it will only because of my manhood.'' Tyrion japed.
''Keep him safe.'' Rather than answer his uncle, Lyonel leveled a stern look at the guards accompanying uncle Tyrion. Night's Watch included.
A chorus of 'aye your grace' followed. ''Let the Lord-Commander know.'' He didn't need to tell uncle Tyrion what specifically, his uncle knew well enough what he was referring to.
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(POV Shift: King Robert I Baratheon)
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If anyone asked one more time if he was alright he was probably going to punch them in their face. His son and heir, almost killed? How the fuck was he supposed to be alright?
It's one thing to die in battle or in a Tourney. But to hire one of his wife's own guards to stab him and leave him to die? Someone wasn't playing around, but it made him wonder.
The City Watch Commander dead, suspiciously. Then the Gelding of two Kingsguard with the Knights also being beheaded. And another Kingsguard gutted unlike anything he'd ever seen before.
Someone was out for blood. He'd be the first to admit, he wasn't the smartest. But he suspected someone was making a point, and someone targeted Lyonel as either collateral damage or to prove a point.
Though what that point would prove to be, he didn't know, nor did he particularly care frankly. Whoever sent that blade after his son, would pay with their life, as the cutthroat had.
It was admittedly a shame they didn't get to question the bastard, but he wouldn't blame Lyonel for seizing the advantage and making sure that if he died, he outlived his attacker. But there wasn't any real substitute to hearing the truth from the mouth of the attacker.
Ah well, if all went well, they'd be back on the Kingsroad by tomorrow.
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(POV Shift: Eddard "Ned'' Stark)
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Part of what drove him to accept the position of King's Hand was to find out if Lysa was wrong about her accusations, and whether or nor someone was manipulating events. The attack on Crown Prince Lyonel could have been so much more damaging if it had been a northerner who'd done it. Instead whoever had sent the blade had severely miscalculated.
Hiring someone from the Lannister's own guard. The Queen's at that. What logic was that? Unless the person begind it hadn't counted on the Crown Prince?
Or…
Maybe someone else made an attempt on the life of the Crown Prince, and had simply used people within their means. That was both treasonous and worrying.
Few people could convince a Lannister soldier to kill the Crown Prince. If they survived Robert's wrath or Cersei's, they wouldn't survive Tywin's. It was a slap to the face he wouldn't tolerate. Never mind his grandson dying or being neatly killed. To have either done by a soldier of his own house.
So becoming Hand of King was as much about getting justice for Jon Arryn as it was about finding out who was trying to kill the Crown Prince. And if he could figure our who'd killed Ser Meryn Trant, Ser Boros Blount, and Ser Preston Greenfield, maybe just maybe he could expose a murderer as well.
As for Sansa and Joffrey. As much as the young prince rubbed him the wrong way, he'd let Robert have his wish. It was a shame the Crown Prince was unavailable, but it was still a good match.
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(POV Shift: Tyrion Lannister)
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Tyrion observed several men led back with their hands bound by Benjen Stark, he recognised one, he'd had his cock cut off on Lyonel's order, and sent to the Wall. Not that he could blame his nephew.
He observed Jon Snow watching the men.
''Rapists. They were given a choice no doubt. Castration or the Wall. The fat one had his cock cut off anyway, terrible man that one. Most choose the knife.'' Tyrion noted, as he turned briefly back to his book. ''Not impressed by your new brothers?'' He asked Jon Snow. ''Lovely thing about the Night's Watch. You discard your old family and get a whole new one.'' He noted, before turning back to his book.
''Why do you read so much?''
''When people look at me, they see a dwarf. Had I been born a peasant they might have left me in the woods to die. Alas I was born a Lannister of Casterly Rock, things are expected of me. My father was Hand of the King for twenty years.'' Tyrion said.
''Until your brother killed that King.'' Snow interrupted the ton almost accusatory.
''Yes, until my brother killed him. Life is full of this little ironies, my sister married the new King and my beloved nephew will be the new King after him. I must do my part for the honor of my House, wouldn't you agree?'' He asked, before quickly moving on. ''But how? To that I say this, when people look at my brother Jaime they see his white cloak and know he's one of our Kingdom's best Swordsmen. I will never realistically be able to be a Knight, so what does that leave me with? The answer is simple. It leaves me with my mind. My brother Jaime requires a good whetstone to keep his blade sharp. I require books to keep my mind sharp. That's why I read so much Jon Snow.'' He explained.
''What about your nephew, what's his story? Father speaks more of the King.'' Asks Jon.
''Lyonel is special, he has the Baratheon strength and robustness as well as their fierce temper when provoked. However his temper is controlled by the wit and intellect famous to House Lannister.'' Says Tyrion.
''He seems so… I don't know, different from how I'd expected.'' Jon says.
Tyrion sighed, and closed his book.
''There was a time in his life that Lyonel was happier. But the Greyjoy Rebellion changed everything. Houses Drumm and Harlaw defied Balon's orders, though the Harlaw's also defied their Liege Lord. They docked at Lannisport and attacked it. They tried to take my nephew. He killed the late Lord Drumm, and took up Red Reyne for himself. When my father learned that Houses Reyne and Harlaw had done this, his rage was only overshadowed by that of my sister and the King. And in that moment, Lyonel became a completely different person. Barely six namedays and he's helping plan the invasion? They say death changes a person. I say piss on that, the Burning of Lannisport simply allowed my Nephew's true nature to rise to the surface.'' Tyrion said.
Jon Snow says nothing, merely grunts.
''And you, What's your story bastard?'' He asked Snow.
''Ask me nicely and maybe I'll tell you Dwarf.'' Snow replied, and to that, Tyrion flashed the Bastard of Winterfell a knowing smile and opened his book again.
''The Bastard of Winterfell with no chance to inherit anything, off to join the ancient order of the Night's Watch with his valiant brothers in arms.'' He says almost mockingly.
''The Night's Watch protects the Realm from the-''
''Ah, yes from Grumkins and snarks, and all the other monsters your wetnurse warned you about. You're a smart enough boy, you don't believe that nonsense.'' He says, even though the boy clearly holds some lofty notions about the watch. ''Here, everything's better with some wine in the belly.'' He says, tossing the boy his wineskin of Dornish Red. He smiles lightly when the boy coughs from the heat of the beverage.
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