chapter 15

It was time to meet with father and mother and make sure there were no misunderstandings. When it came time to broker my betrothal, I would be given a choice between multiple valid candidates. Mother had agreed and as part of our deal she would back me here. Father was a difficult man to corner for serious conversations but it was done and now I was in father's chambers with mother.

"What's this I hear? You want to pick out who you marry? Who do you have your sights set on?"

I withheld a sigh. "No one yet father, however I do wish to have some say in my eventual marriage. When I am closer to my maturity, I want the option to pick from a short list of suitable candidates and not be married off without any say."

Mother spoke up as we had agreed. "I believe she should have a say."

Robert took a large swallow of wine. "You know I hadn't really thought about it."

So incredibly shocking of such a wise and foresighted King…

"You being such a tiny thing I thought it was at least a decade away!" He let out a rumbling laugh.

It really wasn't fair. Being X had screwed me somehow. I was only fractionally taller than what I was in my 2nd life and I had enough food this go around. Why was I still such a midget?

"This is serious." Cersei snapped at Robert.

I managed to still the twitch in my facial features. Why must you antagonize him needlessly mother?

Robert huffed. "I know it is serious, I'm talking with you two, aren't I? I still don't know what purpose this talk is about, its years away."

I pressed again. "I would like to have some assurances, given that my entire fate and fortune will be tied to whoever you pick for me. I'm not asking that I be allowed to marry anyone I wish, only that I have a slight bit of agency here."

Father looked at me working through the words I used. "Ehh if that's all, seems reasonable enough. I'll tell Ned and he'll remind me if I forget. Hah, happy now Myrcella?"

Well, yes, I was. I just didn't like the cavalier attitude he had over my future. But this was exactly what I wanted so I would be pleased. I smiled gracefully.

"Thank you, father, I do appreciate this greatly."

Robert gave himself a nod and I suspect he felt a bit of proud in a task well done.

"Now that's done, who do you have your eye on?"

"Father! I don't have anyone; I haven't even had my first moon's blood."

The King belly laughed. "Fine, don't speak on it. I'm just surprised you'd find anyone impressive. You have your mother's haughtiness, good to see a fire does burn in you, even the womanly kind."

Ugh. How can someone go through life with such ridiculous misunderstandings? Well, I had what I came for so I thanked father again and made my exit.

***

Jaime Lannister had heard the same rant, or close enough for the third time this week. His beautiful lover, his sister, Cersei Lannister simply would not let it go.

"Are you even listening? Do you not understand the peril were are in?"

Jaime shrugged. "You've been over this before. Yes, the Starks are a threat to us. Yes, the Starks are investigating Robert's bastards. Yes, if we are found out we will be executed. I know."

Cersei's fiery green eyes raked over him. Gods, even when she was angry with him, she looked ravishing.

"If you get it, then why aren't you doing something about it!?"

Jaime spread his hands helplessly. "What exactly do you want me to do?"

Cersei shook her head in disgust. "Nothing, I'll handle everything, like always."

Jaime flashed his white teeth in a smile and advanced on her, grabbing her pert bottom. "I handle quite a few things around here, and there are few complaints."

He saw lust war with anger in her eyes and lust won. They embraced and then began a quite enjoyable time. When they were both spent Jaime wondered about the recent soured mood. It seemed that whatever her quarrel with Myrcella was had been resolved, at least for the most part. Why then did she flip from rage to terror so frequently?

The realm owes me their thanks, without our lovemaking she would likely explode from all her tension.

His beloved sister was fearful of the Wolf Lord. What made him so dangerous? The man was only slightly more tolerable than Stannis. Both lacked imagination and both were utterly clueless about Kings Landing. No, their position was stronger than ever. Women worry far too much, he hoped it wouldn't give her premature wrinkles, he loved her flawless features.

"I am curious sister, what do you intend to do?"

Cersei stretched, allowing full view of her form.

"Better that you don't know for now my love. What I intend to do will solve all our problems and allow us more freedom to be together without a blade above our heads. I will do this for us, worry not on my earlier words. It is just that until the pieces are in place, we are yet vulnerable. But only for a short time longer now."

Jaime was idly curious but not overmuch so. The Kingslayer was not a man to enjoy intrigues, set a foe in front of him and give him a sword and he would act. Until then he'd let Cersei play her games. He planted one last kiss on the Queen and began robing himself.

***

I had made it very clear and mentioned it multiple times that I would be going on an outing to the city proper. Four Lannister guards would be accompanying myself, Brienne and Rosyn. I didn't want to place the younger girls in danger, poor Rosamond was still distraught from the trauma at the hands of Ser Meryn.

If the person or group that wanted me dead wanted to strike this would be opportune for them. A target lightly protected in the middle of a still crowded city would be an ideal. Unbeknownst to anyone save myself and Brienne, I would be having Lum follow us incognito as an additional pair of eyes and ears. The man's talents were more adept outside of the city but there was quite a bit of overlap in an urban environment. He had an eye for detail and a good memory.

Brienne herself now moved properly, her head on a swivel. I explained the importance of constantly scanning for potential threats while on guard. It was gratifying to see that she took those words to heart. Having not only a meat shield but a competent guard focused on my safety was wonderful.

And she was good. Her reaction time impressed me. Her size and strength were only matched by a few people like father and the Clegane brothers. Oh, I'm sure there were other likes the Strong Boar and the Greatjon but here in Kings Landing she had little competition. Her speed was what was crucial for her protecting me. I of course would also be on guard and be ready to give myself a magical edge. While no plan was perfect, I felt this struck the right balance. At the same time, I did have genuine business on the Street of Steel.

I wanted some smaller throwing knives, items easier to hide upon my person that were properly balanced for throwing. A more modern design where the handle is made of the same material and without a proper hilt. The more uniform the design the more accurate my vector-based push of force would function. Experimenting with my small knife had shown it wasn't as accurate as I had hoped when I added the extra power with my magic. With the extra magic it would fly faster, a critical component in its lethality so a dodge or block was unlikely to work, but its penetrative power was still limited.

Testing my current knife, steel plate, mail and even boiled leather showed the limited utility of a thrown weapon, even enhanced with magic. Instead, the ideal target was someone not fully armored. That was a large portion of the population. Most guards wore open faced helms and mail. The eyes and neck being excellent targets, the gap between boot and where the mail ended could also work in a pinch but it wouldn't be lethal.

That was one reason I wanted to visit Tobho Mott's shop, the other was to make inquiries about the dragon bone hilted Valyrian steel dagger. Three birds with one stone was quite the act of efficiency if I do say so myself.

As we slowly meandered Rosyn asked why we were here.

"Why are we here? Why don't we look for some nice dresses or jewelry? These smiths don't make anything we can wear."

"I am shopping for potential gifts for my brothers. I can't very well give them a dress for their name days!" I retort.

Rosyn couldn't say much in response and so she quieted down. Occasionally she tried to strike up conversation, I answered but did not prove to an avid conversation partner as I asked questions to Brienne or a smith about a particular weapon.

Hmm I had been at this an hour and no sign of an attack. Perhaps four guards and a guard in plate was too hard a target?

"Rosyn why don't we hurry this along."

She smiled. "That sounds lovely Myrcella."

"You go down that way and look for a scabbard for an arming sword and I'll go this way. Try to find something with stags and lions. Take two of my guards with you."

"But…" She tried to object but I had already issued the commands to the guards and she went with them. Being royalty was almost as good as being a battalion commander, it was hard to directly object when I spoke. While I was now more vulnerable, I was also eager to find out who was after me.

Lum came into my field of vision and he scratched his chin and after making eye contact, he then blinked three times. Our very brief signal correspondence told me there were now three people following me. Excellent.

I walked at a quicker clip and led my guards through a few turns and off towards Flea Bottom, as we grew closer the shops and merchants grew less organized and more haphazardly arrayed, dwellings jutting against the shops and created small alleys. Finding one with limited ability for people to see it from a distance, I turned a corner and ordered the guards to go left wait two minutes and then follow. Brienne would stay with me.

Like a charm, it worked. I stood waiting at the end of the alley with Brienne as three men cloaked came down it. They looked at me and their eyes widened, Brienne drew her blade.

"Why are you following me?"

Two of them looked to the center figure. They all wore basic clothing, two had short blades at their side while the one in the center had boiler leather and a proper sword. Their cloaks were somewhat ragged with use and dirty but not fully filthy.

The man kept his head down and avoided showing his features. "Meant no harm, was just curious who you were."

I tilted my head. "Oh? You know it is a great crime to lie to the royal family. You can either answer my questions or you can deal with my mother. I assure you that is not what you want."

On cue my two Lannister guards arrived, hemming the three in. I palmed my knife and Brienne advanced a step.

The two looked ready to bolt but the lead one dropped to one knee. "Forgive me Your Grace, I was not honest. My name is Allard and I swear to you that I mean you no harm. May I speak to you alone and explain."

Brienne spoke, "Do you think us fools?"

I paused considering. "Disarm yourselves, your two friends can wait with two of my guards while we speak, Brienne remains."

Allard looked hesitant but finally nodded. He slowly took out his sword, and a hidden dagger and dropped them to the ground while the two others dropped their own weapons. Allard moved forward and Brienne checked him for further weaponry.

In a low voice he said, "My father is Ser Davos Seaworth and has come on behalf of Lord Stannis. He believes you are in danger, though we know not what the danger is. We were to wait and if you were to become threatened, we were to smuggle you out of the city and take you to Dragonstone."

I believed him, unless he was a master mummer, he was telling the truth. Even if it didn't make sense. If Stannis knew I was the target of an assassination why not tell father? And how would smugglers being on hand help prevent an attack on my person? None of this fit.

"Allard, your story is quite difficult to believe. Does your father have any proof of his claims? A letter from my Uncle Stannis with his seal? Or am I to just believe him?"

The man looked discomfited, "I'm not sure, I don't think so. We were sworn to secrecy, the only reason I told you is that I did not fancy being arrested and have the truth pried out of me."

Hmm… this was vexing.

"Allard, I believe you" Brienne shifted her weight in surprise, "but I have no intention on leaving King's Landing. I'm displeased there is no specific threat I can look to and try to prevent. I'm also curious why this threat wasn't brought to my father, the King. I have been corresponding with Shireen, in my next letter I'll ask her for confirmation of your purpose here."

"Princess Myrcella, surely, we can't just let them go. They were stalking you!" Brienne protested.

"We can and we are. My uncle surely wishes me no harm and his words had the ring of truth to them."

And that was that, I had business to attend and I'd prefer Rosyn not find out about it. We quickly made our way to Tobho Mott and his smithery. I instructed Brienne to guard outside and ensure no one bothered us, that included Rosyn and the other Lannister guards if they showed up. She nodded her head and I went to speak with the proprietor.

The man looked up and took one glance at me and shook his head in bemusement. "Two Hands and now the princess, are you here to see him too?"

I had no idea what he was talking about, so I simply nodded.

He returned with a sweaty young man with thick black hair and blue eyes. His jaw was classic Baratheon, in fact he looked a bit like Renly and… oh. This is one of father's bastards. Why would Lord Arryn and Lord Stark have bothered to visit. Was part of their duties as Hand seeing and caring for father's by-blows?

"This here is the princess, bow your head boy."

He did and I smiled at him. "What is your name?"

"Gendry m'lady."

He was muscular and obviously the smith's apprentice so well fed and trained. A respectable middle-class lifestyle as a craftsman awaited him, one could do far worse.

"Thank you, Master Mott, my curiosity is sated."

The boy retreated and I turned back to the master smith. "I would like some throwing knives made to my specification." I went over what I was looking for and he discussed some details regarding their weight and styling. He was knowledgeable and did not condescend based on my age and gender so he was already in my good book. He did want to add filigree but I had no desire to waste the husbanded gold and silver I had.

After settling on the price of a dozen throwing knives, six of one weight and six of another I produced the assassin's dagger. The smith widened his eyes in surprise and I handed it to him hilt first.

"I understand you know how to work this sort of steel. I am curious if your knowledge extends to who may have made this and what the lineage of this dagger is."

He looked it over. "This sort of piece is not my work, I don't work with dragon bone, likely forged sometime early in the Targaryen reign. I can make inquires in Essos but using precious Valyrian steel for a lesser weapon like this is now frowned upon, and such a plain setting, no this may have even been crafted in Old Valyria where the metal was less scarce. It is doubtful anyone cared about the fate of such a piece."

I frowned, that was not helpful.

"If you could make those inquires, I would be in your debt Master Mott. Please be discrete and not mention my name."

He nodded and we concluded our transaction. The knives would be ready in a couple of days. Now to collect Rosyn, I doubt there would be any attempt on my life after being in the open for a couple of hours. Back to the Red Keep and then visit with Sansa and Arya.

***

Robert's youngest brother glanced up as Brienne entered his chambers.

"Punctual as always Lady Brienne." Renly smiled at her. As normal Brienne averted her gaze from his and could not keep the pink from her cheeks. Her ardor for him had not cooled, which was for the better in Renly's eyes.

"My Lord."

"Please, have a seat you need not always stand."

Brienne hesitated but took the chair that sat across him, between them a small table with wine and a tray of cheese.

"Help yourself, it is Arbor Gold and quite lovely." Renly gestured at the empty cup and bottle. Once more Brienne hesitated but ultimately filled her cup to the brim and took a long drought.

"How fares my niece?" Renly chose the word purposefully to reinforce his kinship with the person Brienne was spying on.

"She is well as always. I… I do have much to report. I do not understand the games that are played in Kings Landing. I will begin with the lesser things and then address the larger."

Renly nodded his head and gestured for her to continue.

"Princess Myrcella has the sharpest mind I have ever come across. Her knowledge dwarfs mine, and not only in noble lady pursuits." She licked her lips. "She knows things. Where to cut on the human body to release blood quickest, what will disable muscles, where joints are weakest and more. She… questions me after sharing bits of knowledge to ensure I've learned them. The princess watches me spar with Lannister guards and then picks apart what I did well and what weaknesses I display."

Renly knew how to fight, all noble sons could. He wasn't one of the greats but he had size and strength and knew how to do battle. But why would tiny Myrcella know all of this and care to 'train' her sworn shield. He knew she was well read but this was peculiar. Did she have dreams like the Stark girl did of being a woman warrior? He could not see it; it was like imagining Stannis in motley.

"And she is… accurate in her knowledge?"

"Yes, her corrections make me better."

Renly shrugs. "What else?"

"She also reviewed basic field dressing and expanded upon in. How to recognize if someone is choking on a morsel. What to do with head injuries, back injuries. How to avoid smoke in a fire, how to treat burns and…"

Renly holds up his hand. "Yes, yes, she's quite learned."

Brienne pauses, looks down and then up.

"She is friends with Sansa, Bran, and Arya, much more so than the ladies in waiting the Queen has arranged for her. Recently she has not been as welcomed in the Tower of the Hand. Before the tourney she had free reign and I would watch as she interreacted with the Stark children, no one truly overseeing in earnest. That changed, and now two Stark guardsmen follow us and do not allow her privacy with the Starks."

Renly frowned at that. Surely Eddard didn't have cause to fear Myrcella. Had he told his children some secret that could be revealed to the royal family? Were the guards there to make sure they minded their tongue? Or maybe Brienne was the concern, Renly wondered if the Spider's eyes had seen Brienne's somewhat regular visits to the room and put two and two together and ward Lord Stark.

"This doesn't stop her from visiting, she even went alone to see if my performance in the Grand Melee was the cause and it was not."

Renly stroked his smoothly shaved chin. He was curious but Brienne likely wouldn't have any additional insight.

"The princess also believes she may be the target of an assassination attempt."

"What?" Renly asked in shock. "She's said this to you?"

Brienne shook her head. "Not in so many words but her actions are clear. Yesterday we went into the city proper and she worked with a Lannister guardsman to try to catch someone who would do her harm. I thought it another training exercise, but thinking back on it afterwards it was clear she expected an attack."

"My niece expected to be attacked and decided to go into the city and give her would be killer's an opportunity?" There was a mocking lilt to his voice. "The princess of one and ten?"

If Brienne was bothered by her tone, she hid it well. "Yes, My Lord. And while we were not attacked by an assassin we were followed. At the time she cautioned me if it came to blows to try to keep them alive. I wanted to sound the alarm but she forbade me and we cornered our stalkers in an alley."

Renly wasn't sure what to make of it all and let Brienne continue.

"There one of the men confessed himself to be Allard Seaworth, son of Ser Davos Seaworth and on a mission from Lord Stannis to provide the princess safe passage if she had a need to flee from some unknown calamity."

It was Renly's turn to drink. "That is quite the story, I trust I can question this Allard Seaworth then?"

Brienne shook her head. "Against my objections the princess let him go. However, they can be located near the docks but I beg discretion. I do not wish her to learn that I shared her confidences."

"My brother is dour and dull but also dutiful. We still don't know why he left Kings Landing so suddenly either. And now he sends the Onion Knight to smuggle out our niece?"

Brienne did not add anything more while Renly contemplated the news.

"You've done good work Brienne. I'm not sure if Myrcella is having some flight of fancy or no but I will investigate."

Brienne took a deep breath. "My Lord, I know you to be a good and steadfast liege. You are gallant and wise but this task you have set before me becomes more difficult for me by the day. The princess knowns what she is about, why not openly work with her and end this secrecy. Tell her you care for her and want to do all you can to protect her and listen to what she says. Even tell her directly you want me to discuss with you what I see during my time protecting her. Let us all act as one and keep our honor intact."

Renly kept a smile on his face even when he wanted to grimace. Brienne was a gifted warrior, her ferocity in the melee proved that. But she was a hapless novice at these things, Myrcella seemed to like him well enough and respected his position on the Small Council but she was still a child. No matter how many texts she read she too had no inkling of the machinations of the great.

"You have a kind heart and do represent Tarth well my lady. I know this task displeases you and I thank you again for doing it. What you do helps protect Myrcella just as your sword arm does, perhaps even more."

Brienne's face went through a few different contortions at the words Renly spoke. He took her calloused hand in his. "This will not be forever but now more than ever I have need of you. Can I count on you Lady Brienne?"

She shivered and replied. "Yes, my Lord, always. I only… no you are right I will continue."

Renly smiled and dismissed her. He wondered as to what Eddard and Stannis thought about his niece. She was but a moderate piece in the game of thrones, her marriage would tie a great house tightly to the throne but that was all. But was it all? If Stark was wary and Stannis focused on her instead of the two princes… hmm. He couldn't see the pattern, maybe Loras would have some ideas.