Heads starting to roll

Lyonel POV

We were resting in the Inn at the Crossroads, the journey back to the South was easier and faster. I was reading a book about Lomas Longstrider and his adventures. It was one of the more interesting books in Westeros. Well, most of the books here are histories from different perspectives, but I like history so it's fine. I was interrupted from my reading when I heard a whelp of pain, I looked up and saw Bran clutching a wooden sword with a frustrated look, while Arya had a triumphant smile.

"Don't let it get to you, Arya is older than you and that means she is stronger." I comfort Bran.

"But she is a girl." He exclaims with a pained expression.

"And you are boy, it does not make any difference, just like you she has two arms, two legs, and two eyes, so tell why should you be better than her." I scold him a little, as Arya laughs "Do not be so happy little girl, once he grows up, he will be bigger and stronger than you."

"I am sorry" I hear them apologize.

"Don't worry, want me to tell you what is the most powerful weapon in the world?" I ask them and they already running towards me like puppies to a snack.

"Yes, yes, please" Both of them start begging.

"It is your mind," I say and poke their heads with my fingers. "Do not look at me like that, it is true, no matter how sharp a sword you have you won't cut anything if you don't put your mind to it."

"What? that makes no sense," Arya yells.

"Really? Pick up your sword then young lady, I will show." I tell her and stand up.

"Won't you take your sword too?" She asks confused when I walk up without a weapon.

"I already have a weapon, the most powerful one," I say with a smile. "Now come at me with an intent to kill me."

She did not understand my private joke and instead runs at me with a raised sword, I just step sideways and thrust out my leg and she trips on it. Frustrated she stands up once again and swings her sword at me, I just extend my hand and catch her wrist then lift her while Bran is laughing at the side.

"You see, all one needs it's to think how to respond to other's attacks," I tell her and let her go. "Most fights are won through predicting your opponent's moves and responding with your own."

"I still don't understand." Exclaims Arya.

"You will one day when you old enough to pick a fight." I cheer her up. "Now let's go it's already getting dark and don't want to face your father when he is angry."

Eddard POV

The city's smell reaches me first, only then I could see the city. It has not changed much from the last time I been there. The heat is as uncomfortable as it has been before and now I have to worry about the conspiracies against the Crown as we enter the gates to the Red keep, there is already a messenger there waiting.

"Welcome Lord Stark, grandmaster calls a small meeting, they are awaiting you." He delivers his message with a bow.

"Alright then, get the children to settle, Jory will come with you" I order septa Mordane.

"As you will, my lord" Jory answers

"If you like to change into something appropriate…" He shuts up at my stare.

As I enter the throne room I see ser Jaime sitting on the stairs, when he notices me, he comes to me with his shining golden armor. It will be another long day it seems.

Lyonel POV

Ah the smell of the city, it always reaches you first only then you see it. The journey surprisingly was quite peaceful, even though lord Stark was tense the whole trip, well he probably worries about his son back home left to deal with Ramsay Snow. Still, I can't comprehend why would he take his three children with him to Kings Landing. Bran, I understand he is to squire to ser Barristan, but his daughters are here it's beyond me.

As we enter the Red keep I see lord Stark is taken inside, probably a small meeting is in session, well I have work of my own to do. Firstly I should meet my "informants" to know what been happening in the city while I was gone. Then plan how to kill Janos Slynt and other officers of the city watch, Sandor would do fine as commander of the city watch, maybe Bronn will help with it too.

The next day I hear about the tourney of the hand and its generous rewards, it will a good time to get rid of few heads. If I remember correctly the Mountain will show up too, Sandor has served me well over the years, I think is time to reward him, the Mountain will do fine as a gift.

"Sandor, you will enter the Hand's tourney and win" I order him with a smile on my face, 40 000 gold dragons would do nicely for reforming the city watch.

"As you command, my prince" He nods his head and leaves to register for the tourney.

"So nephew, what it's I have to do for you," Tyrion asks.

"Go check on the shops, if they have the materials start building the printing machines and start selling paper." I request him.

"So it's time to make more gold." He nods and leaves too.

…

The days began being hectic as the Hand's tourney nears and it seems Littlefinger has already tried befriending Lord Stark, showing the city to him and of course places where the bastards of my father seem to be. Even when I start sending them out of the city, I can't rid of them, there just too many of them.

It would be a nice evening, with a sky full of stars, if not the drunken and boisterous knights that are everywhere. I think as I sharpen my saber in the alleyway waiting for the person of my interest to show up. At about midnight, Janos Slynt shows up as he walks out of the brothel, so drunk he barely can walk, as he nears me, I stand up and ready my saber.

"What do you want, you shithead, get out of my way, do you know who I am." These are his last words as I slit his head off his shoulders.

It will only in the morning that his body is discovered, as the night is still young I go to my next target. After I am done, I still have to climb the Red keep to get in my chambers. It seems it will be a long night for me.

Eddard POV

Another the small meeting, another session of lies and deceit, of cheap promises and flamboyant moves, what I hate the most is that I have become part of this. Lord Baelish enters with his false smile, he greets me as I am his friend and seats himself at the table.

"So what's the topping of this meeting will be?" I began when I saw the master of whispers come to the room.

"I bring bad news, lord Stark, commander Slynt was killed." Varys start first, it seems everyone already knew of this by judging their faces.

"What? When was this and why I only find about now?" I ask as I am the only one who seemed to care.

"His body was found this morning, Lord Stark." Answers Lord Varys.

"We need a new commander, the city is in chaos," I say with a tired voice, damn this tourney.

"No need to worry, Lord Stark." A new voice says I look as prince Lyonel enters the room.

"My prince to what we own pleasure." Lord Baelish gives a polite bow to the prince.

"Nephew, you could have said you wanted to listen to the council, I would have brought you with me." Lord Renly stands up and gives a light hug to his nephew.

"Well, I just heard that Janos Slynt was killed and the city needs a new commander fast if it wants to survive a Hand's tourney." He says after he greets everyone.

"And you have a candidate for the position?" I ask already tired of the little games.

"Well, of course, the city needs a strong hand to take control, that why my sworn shield, Sandor Clegane will be perfect for this position, of course, if uncle Renly agrees to it." He answers with his all-knowing smile.

"Well I don't see why not, the Hound has a fearsome reputation, if there is a person who could put order to the city, it would be him." Lord Renly agrees with this proposition easily.

"If there no other candidates, it is decided, is all you wanted to say, my prince?" I wonder what he wants, coming there unannounced.

"I want to inform you that I will give 50 of house Lannister men to the city watch, to keep the peace." At least some good news.

"How generous of you, my prince." Compliments lord Baelish with a touch of sarcasm in his voice.

"Well, thank you, Lord Baelish. I have said my piece I won't intrude on your precious time any longer." He replies with ease and leaves with the bow to us.

"It seems one problem was solved, what other topics we have today." Let's finish this.

Tyrion POV

For the Hand's tourney rewards quite a lot of people have gathered, knight upon the knight, watching it truly is fascinating. I have seen many tourneys, but his one is one of the biggest that I remember. It is good that I have gold to wager, otherwise, it would not as fun. My nephew is surprisingly busy and I thought he gave all work to me, it makes you wonder what he is doing.

"Thinking badly of me, uncle." Shit, it scared me, sometimes he walks like a cat.

"You almost scared me to the death, nephew," I answer Lyonel, with a hand to my heart.

"If only you were so easily killed, what have I miss?" He asks as he sits next to me, and pours some wine in his cup.

"Nothing much, the jousting only has started," I answer as the two knights come to the arena. "I thought you will join the jousting."

"I do not like it, all those knights hitting the shields and calling it skill, in a real fight you hit the head or you hit the horse and be done with it, all they are doing is playing." His answer reminds me of lord Stark's.

"So have come only to watch them play? I thought you were busy" I have not seen him much since we come back from the north.

"What? can I not spend some time with my beloved uncle and enjoy the tourney?" He asks jokingly, with a big smile. "Oh, the Mountain has shown up, I wonder if ser Hugh will be fine"

At those words I see them ride at each other and then ser Hugh is on the ground, with a piece of wood in his neck. I look at my nephew and see he is not surprised at the sight of the dead knight. Sometimes he frightens me how he can predict everything that will happen.

"It seems your gold is on the Mountain then?" I ask trying to light the atmosphere.

"No my gold is on Sandor as it is yours." He again surprises me with his answer.

"So it seems it is" I can only agree, I know how he is if he wants to do something nobody will stop him.

As the tourney passes, it turns for the Mountain again but his time it is with the Knight of the Flowers time to face him. Ha, it seems the Tyrell boy has some tricks under his sleeves, he unhorses the Mountain when he could not control his horse. Mountain does not look happy about it and there he is, facing ser Loras with his sword, it would have been bad if Hound has not interfered.

"Well I have seen enough, at least the Mountain provided some entertainment, but I have some business to take care of." My nephew comments as he stands ups.

"You been busy since we came back from the north, tell me is it a girl?" What else could keep him so busy all the time?

"If only, if only, but there is no rest for the wicked, uncle" He answers mysteriously, and then he leaves after Hound is announced the victor of the tourney, he goes after the prince too.

Lyonel POV

"Are you ready, Sandor?" I ask as I look at him and a dozen other men with us, outside the Tavern, where the Mountain is now drinking.

"Aye, I have been waiting for his moment all my life." He answers me enthusiastically.

"Remember you cannot kill him, but to as you wish to him as long he lives." I remind him, worried he will be carried away with bloodlust.

"Fine, do not worry I leave him alive." With those words, we enter the tavern.

People inside noticed us instantly, after all when half a score of cloaked men walk and armed men walk it is eye-catching. Smarter men already start to leave. The Mountain and his men too notice us when we come near them.

"What do you want?" Asked, who I presume is Amory Lorch, well it has been his last words as I slit his throat with my saber, best weapon in close quarters.

Before the Mountain realized what had happened my men already have killed his men, still, he managed to draw his sword only to be stopped by Sandor as they clash swords, I check that there is nobody inside anymore, then take out the chains and throw them on the Mountain as taking it as a signal, my men do the same soon he is covered in chains and hold him down as Sandor fought him. Even in chains, the Mountain still could fight only after stabbing him in his legs did he fall, and then Sandor was a top of him beating him with his sword handle.

"Enough, we don't have time anymore, knock him out and be done with it, you will have your fun later," I order him as I see him lose control of himself.

Thankfully he listens and does as I said, after few powerful hits to the back of the head, Mountain falls. Of course, I don't let my guard down and tighten the chains around him and then order to my men to carry him to the wagon prepared outside, which will deliver him to the harbor, where he leaves in the morning to the Dorne, but until then I will let Sandor have his fun with him.

With the package secured, I leave for the red keep before anyone misses me. I climb over the wall because I know, Varys little birds are in the tunnels of the red keep and even in all these years I still can be lost in there, better not risk it. Nobody suspects that somebody would try to climb over the Red keep, for a normal person it would be a suicide. In the darkness of the night, I have climbed to my room drank some wine, and prepared for bed.

…

The next day the news spreads to the Court about the fight of the last night, and the dead Mountain men, while The Mountain had disappeared. Sometimes I wonder when had I become so good at killing, it only been a year since my first kill. Now I can go every night to take somebody out, even though it never became easier, I can't sleep anymore without wine, I still can feel the blood on my hands, still see the eyes of my victims full of fear and dread.

"Have you heard what happened to the Mountain, what dreadful news?" Tyrion breaks me from my thoughts.

"Yes, I heard it was a massacre," I answer him absentmindedly.

"Father won't be pleased about it, I wonder who would have done this." He says while staring at me with suspicious eyes.

"There are many who would like the Mountain to suffer, the Martells are one of them, and you should remember, he tried to kill a Tyrells boy, they would not just simply let it slide and he could have made many more enemies in the Hand's tourney," I reply him smoothly with a calm voice.

"Yes, you are right, still, father will want answers," Tyrion comments with concern in his voice.

"My grandfather can want as much as he likes, he won't come to the city as long my father lives," I tell him as we walk the hallway in the red keep.

"And after your father dies, what will you tell do my father?" He asks as we are joined by Bronn.

"I tell him whatever I want to him, the city will belong to me before he arrives, he won't have any power here," I answer with a low voice.

"Are you sure it is better not cross him, you don't know what he will try to do?" My uncle warns me.

"He will try, and he will fail. He will want to be my Hand to guide me in my rule." I tell him what I think.

"And will you let him?" Tyrion asks with concern, this time for himself.

"If he only wanted to guide me, I would not oppose him, my grandfather is a capable man after all. Of course, he won't be satisfied with only this, all he knows is how to control and he will try to control me to his purposes." I answer his concerns.

"Still what if he opposes you for this decision?" Unsurprisingly, he would still feel some fear for his father after what he went through.

"Even if we disagree, what can he do? If he tries to rebel against me he will call a fool or madmen, who would rebel against his grandson. If he opposes me in every my decision he will find out that he is alone in it." I explain to my uncle as we reach the gardens where uncle Renly is with Ser Loras Tyrell.

"My prince, what a lovely surprise, you have come to join us?" Uncle Renly greets me and following him Loras greets me with a bow too.

"I have come to talk to you, uncle and Ser Loras too." I give a light bow to them too.

"Oh, is this about your proposal to my sister, my prince?." Ser Loras goes for the point.

"Yes, and please call me Lyonel, we will be good brothers soon enough, no need for these formalities between family," I answer with a smooth voice and a light smile to bring them to ease. "Have your family agreed to my terms for the marriage."

"Even though your terms were quite harsh, they have agreed and in the next moon my family will arrive at the city to seal the deal with your father, my prince, I mean Lyonel." He answers me somewhat nervous.

"I will be awaiting them, hope they have a nice trip," I reassure him with a smile.

"Have you heard anything from Stannis, nephew? I wonder why he has not come back from the Dragonstone." Uncle Renly asks with worry in this voice.

"No, but no need to worry, he will come back sooner or later," I reply to him, but I should send a messenger to him soon.

"I would worry more about Litllefinger, he was making friends with Lord Stark," Tyrion interjects in the conversation.

"Yes, he was seen together with lord Stark, looking at something." Renly seems to agree with Tyrion.

"Not only that, but he has befriended Joffrey and I hear he was seen with my mother, but no need to worry with lord Arryn supporting him, he only is trying to make new allies." I comfort them.

Still, Littlefinger's new friends won't help him, he is cornered and once he flips up I will pounce at him like a lion.