(Littlefinger's Brothel, Street of Silk, King's Landing, Blackwater Bay, The Crownlands, Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Westeros, Planetos)
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(Lady Catelyn Tully POV)
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The Gold Cloaks left them quickly, but that was a good thing. Once Petyr sent the whores away, she dropped any pretext.
''You little Worm!'' She growled, throwing the note at him. ''You take me for some back alley Sally, you can drag into a-'' Her increasing volume had attracted attention, and Petyr shooed two whores away.
''I meant no disrespect. Least of all to you of all people.'' He said, but that mattered little to her.
''How dare you bring me here! Have you lost your mind?'' She demanded.
''No one will come looking for you here. Isn't that what you wanted? I'm truly sorry about the locale, but realistically this is the absolute last place one would expect to find you.'' He explained calmly.
She swallowed her indignation, because she would concede that point. Not that she'd tell Petyr that.
''How did you know I was coming to King's Landing?'' She asked a little more calmly.
He gestured behind her and Ser Rodrik.
''A dear friend told me.'' He said simply and out stepped The King's Royal Spymaster.
''Lady Stark.'' He gestured to her with a kind smile on his face.
''Lord Varys.'' She greeted though her surprise was evident.
''To see you again after so many years, it is a blessing.'' He greeted her.
''How did you know that I was coming?'' Asked Catelyn.
''The Crown Prince once said my currency is neither a Gold Dragon or Silver Stag, but information. He was right, Knowledge is my trade, and secrets my currency, my lady. My little birds are as well placed as the Crown Prince's own people, but more experienced. And they exist even in the North. Did you bring the dagger with you by any chance?'' He asked.
She glanced at Ser Rodrik.
''As I said, my little birds are everywhere.'' Says Varys, a little too proud, but she doesn't doubt the authenticity of his words. Not those words at any rate.
Ser Rodrik hands him the blade, which He unsheathed.
''Valyrian Steel, and a Dragonbone Hilt. Very rare combination.'' Varys notes.
''Do you know who this dagger belongs to?'' She asked, and he looked at apologetically.
''I must admit I do not, but the Crown Prince might. He's a collector of such weapons after all.'' Varys said and Petyr started chuckling.
''There's no need to bother the Crown Prince. Because this is a historic day. The day something you don't know, that I do.'' Says Petyr, as she and the others look at Petyr.
''There's only one dagger in all of the Seven Kingdoms like this one. It's mine.'' She didn't really know what to say.
''Yours?'' She asked, confused.
''At least it was.'' Petyr clarified. ''But the King held a Tourney to celebrate the Crown Prince's Knighthood six months ago. I bet on Ser Jaime in the Jousting as any sane man would. But when the Crown Prince unsealed him, I lost this dagger.'' Petyr explained, and she was glad of it.
''To whom?'' She pressed him.
''Tyrion Lannister. The Imp. Ordinarily the Imp never bets against his elder brother. But where his favorite nephew is concerned, the Imp has been known to bet against his brother.'' Petyr explained.
''He's not wrong. Lord Tyrion has been known to bet on his nephew over his brother.'' Varys admits, and Catelyn feels her heart harden.
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(POV Shift: Laxus)
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Laxus had the distinct honor of being one of the original recruits of the Hidden Ones. The Mentor pulled all the original recruits from the gutter. Gave them a new life, food, shelter, education, a new name, and a purpose.
His old life didn't matter anymore. Part of the recruitment process was gaining closure. Everyone got it differently, but in the end the choice they made defined them and their starting path in the Hidden Ones.
Part of the appeal of the order was the fact that there was no Judgment unless you asked to be judged. You wanted that Judgment to stop, it stopped as soon as you asked.
His job was to oversee the operations in the Crownlands. And he had the distinct honor of working directly under the Mentor. Only the Original thirteen knew the Mentor's identity, and their oath was absolute.
Only one person had ever broken their oath, and it cost them their life.
''Grandfather, we have confirmation from Diamond. Littlefinger has sprung his trap.'' He absorbed that information for a moment.
''Then, we begin stage two. We stop impeding Lysa Tully's journey here as planned.'' He said. He didn't understand why Mentor wanted this to happen, just that he did. And that delaying Yohn Royce's journey as long as possible was necessary. More to the point, that justice would be done.
''Yes, grandfather.'' He smiled lightly. Grandfather was his informal title, but it's what all the other founding twelve called him. He was the oldest of the original Hidden Ones recruited by the mentor, the first of the originals was the youngest and started calling him that. Mentor gave him the name, Laxus, calling him swift as lightning and very lucky.
Grandfather bothered him at first, now no longer.
He was a fatherly figure to the recruits in the Crownlands.
His age just made him grandfatherly.
Little shits.
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(POV Shift: Sansa Stark)
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Joff had explained himself.
First, he'd never been in the type of situation where he only had Prince Lyonel as an example of how to respond, second was that he felt shamed by what had happened and Prince Lyonel's response to it only worsened it. As a compensation, he'd offered her the first of many promised gifts. A Lion's Pendant. Only one other existed, and it belonged to Queen Cersei, Lord Tywin had gifted it to her on her wedding to the King.
She understood the value immediately.
It was unique, and the giving of it was just like out of a story.
It was unfortunate that Joff was not the Crown Prince, he was so much better than Prince Lyonel. Much better looking as well.
To be honest Joffrey's explanation shed light on his perspective. He found himself in uncharted territory, lacking examples other than Prince Lyonel's questionable conduct. The shame he felt was magnified by Lyonel's response, exacerbating the situation. To make amends, Joffrey presented her with a meaningful gift: a Lion's Pendant, a rare treasure with only one other known to exist, adorning Queen Cersei. The pendant's significance wasn't lost on her, its uniqueness painting a tale-like gesture. Despite not being the Crown Prince, Joffrey's actions spoke volumes about his character, eclipsing the superficial charm of Prince Lyonel.
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(POV Shift: Queen Cersei Lannister)
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She placed the blade before Robert and Jaime.
''Is that what I think it is?'' Robert asks, his voice a low whisper.
''I checked the royal armory. We're missing a dagger that matches this one from the inventory of weapons returned to it after our return from Winterfell. Only people with access to these weapons are Kingsguard, the Hand of the King and members of the Royal Family. Ser Barristan and I were largely either with yourself, your grace, or Lyonel. But Joffrey? To be completely honest… there is a period of time in which he was unaccounted for for more than an hour. I've checked.'' Jaime explained.
''I'm inclined to believe Joffrey arranged the attempt on his brother's life with this, but there is the matter of Ned's youngest. Someone attacked him. Tried to kill him with Lannister Gold as the payment, and now I hear that before his death, Jon was working on something very secretive with Stannis and Lyonel. Where is my eldest now?'' Robert asked Jaime directly.
''Let me think. I'm with you, Ser Barristan is presently guarding Lady Margaery at Lyonel's request, Ser Arys was guarding Myrcella and Tommen, but he rode out to bring back Lady Lysa, while Ser Mandon is keeping an eye on Joffrey. That Leaves Ser Corbray. I imagine he's the one guarding Lyonel right now. Which means that they're likely still at Lyonel's estate.'' Say's Jaime. ''I imagine that's where Tommen and Myrcella are as well.'' Jaime added.
''Have the Hound ride there, take Ser Barristan with him. Bring Lyonel to me, and you, Kingslayer, take this blade and return it exactly where you found it. No sense putting Lyonel or Joffrey on the defensive until we know more.'' Said Robert.
''Right away your grace.'' Says Jaime, bowing his head to both of them before departing.
''Well? What do you think?'' He asked her.
''What I think matters little, what we can prove does. Joffrey's whereabouts are unaccounted for for at least an hour, only Kingsguard, yourself, Lyonel, and Joffrey have access to the Royal Armory. We know Jaime would never harm Lyonel, father and you would kill him. And Ser Barristan only ever left your side if you commanded him to, which you didn't do once. Lyonel is the victim, and there are no discrepancies of where he was, nor are there any for the Bastard of Driftmark of Lord Rolands second son, who almost never leave Lyonel's side under normal circumstances anyway. If they had, Jaime would have mentioned it.'' Says Cersei, getting slightly emotional at the prospect of what it meant.
''I have no desire to think about the consequences of what this would mean, but it makes me wonder. Jon Arryn, strong as an ox that man was, and just as stubborn. No normal illness could have done him in. What if someone tried to poison him? What if they're still plotting against us, and they used the attack on Lyonel as an excuse to lay one on Rickon Stark?'' Robert asked her.
''But what would be the end goal?'' She asked him, desperately hoping that it hadn't been Joff.
''War.'' Robert said simply. ''I chose Ned because he's uncompromising where the law and honor is concerned. And you and I both know that attacking a man or woman's children is an easy way to disrupt their normal responses. I wonder if Jon Arryn was murdered, and now I'm also wondering if in the event he was, that the person who did it is playing Lannister and Stark against each other.'' Said Robert.
''Joffrey isn't smart enough for something as far reaching as that.'' Said Cersei.
''No, he's not. But he's also extremely bitter and resentful of his brother. Lyonel and Joffrey hate each other. Joffrey brings out the worst in his brother, we've seen countless examples of it before. But unfortunately, we've done too well a job of keeping his past indiscretions under wraps in the interests of protecting him. Which means that it's likely someone at court who's pulling the strings.'' Says Robert.
''We should question Lyonel.'' Cersei says, not daring saying her true thoughts aloud.
''Aye.'' Robert agreed.
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(POV Shift: Crown Prince Lyonel Baratheon)
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He'd severely underestimated his father.
That much was clear.
Father and mother wanted a word, and they couldn't send a simple message, but an armed escort led by Ser Barristan and Sandor?
He leaned closer to Aurane.
''Check in with the watchers. Find out if anybody we know has been to the Bastion recently.'' He whispered lowly.
''Understood.'' Aurane said, just as quietly.
''Lyle, get word to Margaery if you can, ask her to get a message to Uncle's Renly and Stannis, someone might have tipped off father.'' Says Lyonel.
Lyle grunts in acknowledgement.
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(POV Shift: Littlefinger)
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He'd house Cat and Ser Rodrik for a day or two until he was able to bring Lord Stark to her. But nevertheless, the game was beginning in earnest. The Crown Prince's investigations were becoming too much to ignore. A good thing he was taking part in the tournament. For Petyr, not so much for the Crown Prince.
Killing Jon Arryn had been an unfortunate necessity. He could honestly admit he liked the man, though more for the fact he was easily duped into believing the debts the Iron Throne had actually belonged to the Iron Bank of Braavos, House Tyrell, and Tywin Lannister and that Robert's prolific spending was the sole cause.
He'd been siphoning off a small sum for over a decade. He'd also been using some of the borrowed money to maintain his network of friends and connections. But when the Crown Prince started attending Small Council meetings and taking an interest in the Realm's affairs…
That's when the problems began. Eventually he'd been forced to see to it Jon Arryn died. The fact the man was looking to secret bastard children was simply a stroke of good fortune. It made the appointment of Eddard Stark as hand all the more fortuitous. The attack on Rickon Stark had lured his beloved Catelyn to the Capital, the Lannister Gold ensured that naming Tyrion Lannister as the owner of a Dagger that never belonged to him in the first place would allow the Wolf and the Lion to tear each other apart.
With any luck, Stark would die, and he could have his beloved Catelyn as it should have been from the start. He eventually would need to see Lysa dead, she was unreliable at best, but for now, she had uses.
At the end of the day, he did all of this or Catelyn, the only woman he ever truly loved in this world.
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(POV Shift: Yohn ''Bronze Yohn'' Royce)
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Finally!
Someone had the bright idea to administer Lady Lysa some sweetsleep.
If he'd been delayed any longer, he'd have knighted the lad who offered up the suggestion. Good thing too, because it gave them some leeway with the troops that had come upon them. The Crown Prince had reached the limit of his patience. The only reason Ser Arys cut them some slack, had been because they were moving when they'd been encountered.
It was also good to see Ser Brynden again. His presence would hopefully make Lysa more pliable when she awoke. Still, the sight of Lord Robin interacting with his uncle made his heart warm. Robin had grown up on stories of Ser Brynden from Jon and Lysa both. It was nice to see it.
The letter in his hands though and Ser Arys's words….
He was actively forcing his hand not to scrunch up the parchment. Ordinarily he'd be outraged at the insinuation. But he'd served at Jon's side the past five years, having ensured that Andar was prepared to run Runestone in his absence with help from Nestor. He saw the amount of time Lady Lysa insisted on spending with Littlefinger. How she listened to him, how things were only acceptable if Baelish had had words with her prior.
To think it was possible… he'd seen a little too many small events that made the idea of it plausible and the reality all too possible. More importantly, the letter contained an order from King Robert. He was to serve as the acting Lord-Protector of the Vale, and serve as Warden of the East until young Lord Robin was of age and proved he was able to handle the weight of the position of Warden.
For Lord Jon Arryn's memory, he'd do just that.
But if it was proven Littlefinger had cuckolded Lord Jon with Lady Lysa, Honor demanded the lives of them both, and it also meant there was a distinct possibility of a succession crisis brewing in the Vale.
Harry Hardyng.
A tad too proud, but then many in the Vale were guilty of Pride, and it wouldn't be fair to judge the lad based on that. His fathering of bastards was a minor issue, but the idea of a House other than House Arryn ruling over the Vale…
He found the notion of that a little too distasteful.
Hopefully King Robert had a solution for that particular problem if it was the truth. He'd pray to the Seven that it wasn't…
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(Author's Note:)
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Joffrey's not the only one who's difficult to write. Sansa is too. I'd planned for a lot more dialogue and a lot more of Sansa. But I just couldn't get the scene right, so I had to move on. Might have to look into using an AI for her early scenes as well. As a result of Sansa's lack of an extended scene, I've been forced to extend the build up to the actual Tournament. And as of the writing of this chapter, that being it's completion, I still have edits to add in on early chapters. But we're not yet in the third week of March, so it's a bit of time yet. On the bright side, those edits should be amongst the last for a while.
On a side note, who's enjoying the slightly smarter King Robert, and the dynamics between Robert, Jaime, and Cersei investigating practically the same web as Lyonel, Stannis, and Renly as well as Ned Stark? It's a fun part of the story to write, Littlefinger's web is vast and it is very complex. We'll see more of the Hidden One's next chapter if I can work it properly as well. Till then, enjoy the chapters you all have access to, I still have work to do, and a book and show to refamiliarise myself with as well, so I'll see you readers next Chapter…
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