(Bastion, The Kingswood, Blackwater Bay, The Crownlands, Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Westeros, Planetos)
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(Crown Prince Lyonel Baratheon POV)
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Lyonel stood within the Bastion, it was a small fort within the Kingswood, constructed two years ago to serve as a small outpost within the Kingswood as well as a supply cache. The Bastion had its own Maester, and also a small garrison of twenty members of the Antlers and Claws. The outpost housed a greenhouse as well as extensive underground facilities. He came here when he needed to get away from court, but when he was King, it wouldn't be feasible, so he'd need to look into maybe rebuilding Summerhall.
Father had gone out on a hunt, and Lyonel had come to the Bastion to think.
The Small Council needed to change. No more fawning sycophants, or fools. He needed able men. So aside from getting rid of Littlefinger, he'd get rid of Uncle Renly. Not an easy thing to do, given Renly was his favored Uncle.
Lyonel didn't find him a particularly useful Councilor, though… he'd be a halfway descent Hand in peacetime, just not overly effective. Lyonel needed to decide quickly who to add and who to remove from the Small Council which is why he came to the Bastion.
He'd also need to expand his Council, but for the moment, he needed an immediate alternative to the Master of Coin. Off the top of his head, he could think of many options. Grandfather, Uncle Tyrion, Wyman Manderly, Paxter Redwyne, Gerold Grafton, Monford Velaryon, Willas Tyrell, Anya Waynwood, Anders Yronwood, Regenard Turner, Mathis Rowan, Alester Florent, and Franklyn Fowler. He supposed, depending on uncle Stannis, that Grafton, Grandfather, Redwyne, Manderly, and Velaryon could also be a suitable candidate for Master of ships, but Lyonel was loath to focus too much influence on one particular family or region.
He'd invested in Loras Tyrell as a potential Kingsguard, and his bride was supposed to be Loras's Sister. Ser Arys was also from the Reach, as were Lords Paxter, Rowan, Florent, and Willas, with Willas being the eldest brother of Loras and Margaery. Heck, Lord Paxter was both Margaery's Uncle and second Cousin. Grandfather had ruled as Hand of the King for twenty years, not easy given the mad cunt he served. Having him as Master of Coin would be extremely valuable.
Alternatively, Grandfather would be a fantastic Master of Laws as well, not to mention a good Hand of the King again. Uncle Tyrion would be a capable Master of Coin or Hand. And He was of a mind to appoint him to the Council anyway. Appointing Yronwood and Fowler would potentially make allies of one of the Martell's two most influential and powerful Bannerman, while Regenard Turner was a powerful and rich lord of the Stormlands.
Regenard Turner was also a name and a man whom Lyonel was intimately familiar with. After all, in another life, Lyonel had married his eldest daughter Jayne to Regenard's son and heir Devan Turner. And if he was here, so too were Victaria Wisent, Jaehaerys Harrow, Jon, Jayne, Ella, and Odette… which begged the question…. How many Baratheons were out there that he didn't know about.
Something to ponder… later on…
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(POV Shift: Robert Baratheon)
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He'd usually be relaxed after a hunt.
He wasn't.
They'd found tracks that shouldn't have been in the Kingswood, and the beast they belonged to was likely scaring away or killing his usual prey. It was this mood that led him to Cersei. Though rocky at first, their marriage had gained a warmth he'd never expected thirteen years past.
After coupling with his wife, he turned his attention to the estate in the distance.
Lyonel's estate.
Built upon the ruins of the Dragonpit.
''What's the matter?'' Cersei asked him.
''There's a bear in the Kingswood, but… that's not what worries me. A rider came in the night, someone attacked Ned's youngest three days past. The Gold they had on them was Lannister Gold.'' He watches Cersei keenly.
''W-what?'' He's not the brightest, but he feels her surprise is genuine.
''Someone's trying to pit you and Ned against each other.'' He surmised. ''The cunt who tried to Kill Lyonel? We never found the weapon he used. But Lyonel rode out to the Bastion during the hunt. Odds are it's there now. But if it is, why would Lyonel hide it?'' He questioned.
''Lyonel wouldn't hide such evidence… unless the implications of the weapon were dire.'' Cersei says gravely, and she opens her mouth several times, closing it just as many, before steeling her expression. ''Before Jon Arryn died, Jaime came to me. He said he'd overheard two things. First that Jon Arryn, Lyonel, and Stannis were investigating something with help from Lord Varys. He couldn't say what it was, but considering the deaths of the City Watch Commander, and the Kingsguard Knights I suspect it was connected. The other thing he'd overheard was Joffrey.'' Robert frowned.
His second son was one big disappointment, a stain on his house by all accounts of himself thus far. He motions for her to continue.
''Jaime said that Joffrey had been openly praying for Lyonel to die. So that he could become Crown Prince.'' Cersei said with apprehension.
He felt his fists ball, and his jaw tighten.
''Could…would Joffrey have paid off the guardsmen to kill Lyonel?'' He asked her.
''I don't know.'' Cersei admitted. ''I don't even think I want to know.'' She added.
''The tourney's two days after tomorrow, we'll have to keep an eye on Lyonel.'' He said. ''Lyonel had informed me of his intention to participate in the Archery contest, the Melee, and the Joust. It will be a busy day, we'll have to put the new Kingsguard candidates in as well, get an idea for their skills and Lyonel's safety.'' Robert says.
''I'll write to my father, ask him to come to court. Hopefully he can help us get to the bottom of who's pitting us against each other.'' Says Cersei.
''Do it.'' He nods.
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(POV Shift: Lady Catelyn Stark)
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Lannister Gold and Valyrian Steel.
The Queen surely wanted them dead.
The question was why.
She'd find out soon enough. Together with Ser Rodrik and a half-dozen guardsmen they were riding to King's Landing. She'd sent a rider ahead to inform Ned and King Robert, but no one would know of her impending arrival.
She needed to get to the bottom of this and quickly.
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(POV Shift: Crown Prince Lyonel Baratheon)
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Lyonel was riding with Lady Margaery through the Street of Steel, it was evening, and they'd just picked up his order from Tobho Mott. The Tourney was in a few days, and Lyonel planned to participate. He'd be aiming to win the jousts, the melee, and the archery. With any luck, he'd win all three and be able to pay the payout back into the treasury. He had half a mind to depose his father on the grounds of economic self-destruction.
But he had no need to.
Father would be dead before the year was out.
If things went according to cannon.
''Do you think you will win?'' Margaery asked, and Lyonel decided to play a game.
''No.'' She turns to him in surprise.
''Pardon?'' She asked, clearly surprised.
''How can I win when I have no favor from my lady?'' He asked, and a small smile graced Margaery's beautiful lips.
''I see. I guess we'll just have to fix that won't we?'' She says coyly.
''I guess we will. Though it's bad luck to receive it before the day of the jousts.'' He says.
''Yes, it is. I'll figure something out.'' She said, as they turned onto the Street of sisters to take them to his residence, Lyonel caught a glimpse of dusky skinned woman. He felt his loins stir.
''That's Lady Taena. She's from Myr, and married lord Orton during his exile.'' Margaery informed. He quickly recovered, and pointed the other women out.
''And them?'' He asked.
"My cousins and aunt. Aunt Janna, she's married to Lord Jon Fossoway. My cousin's Elinor, Megga, and Alla.'' As if sensing his eyes, Lady Taena looked up at him, and smiled. Sure that Margaery's gaze was elsewhere, he sent her a lustful look as they passed and angled himself so that she would see the effect she'd had on him.
He needed relief.
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(POV Shift: Lady Margaery Tyrell)
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She cried out in euphoric pleasure for the upteenth time. Her hands gripped the black locks of Crown Prince Lyonel as he went down on her.
''My…my prince.'' She moaned, he was insatiable.
He'd brought her to a peak five times already, she was breathless and caked in sweat. The crown prince rose smirking as he crawled over her and loomed above her.
''Delicious.'' He crowed and she blushed furiously.
She swats his chest, but his hand catches hers and pulls her in close as her drops to the side and pulls her on top of him. She feels his sex against her. He was so big!
''You can feel it can't you?'' He whispered into her ear. ''That will be inside you soon enough.'' She felt one of his hands palm the soft and supple flesh of her arse, his other hand groped her breast. ''Daeneria can't handle me for long, and she's been mine since we were ten. She's had four years to get used to me, what makes you think you'll be different…'' The implication was clear.
She would need help.
A lot of help, or experienced help…
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(Author's note:)
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Nice small interlude before we start to kick things off in earnest. Was originally going to include the attack on Rickon, but decided not to. Also who else enjoyed the end bit with Margaery and Lyonel and the bit with Taena preceding it. Might as well be up front, Lyonel will at one point have had a total of about fourteen lovers, but only about five of them will have a distinction of being Paramours, and eventually he will fully commit to Margaery. I want lust to be Lyonel's main vice or sin, and eventually when he grows up, he'll set his indiscretions aside and as I said fully commit.
Also, just to be clear, Margaery remains a virgin after this chapter, Lyonel just went down on her. Maybe we'll see some action with someone else next chapter, maybe Daeneria since she was sorta left to the wayside in the last few chapters, but I think I have just the thing to justify her absence…
At any rate, I'll see you lot in the next chapter whenever that may be…
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