Chapter 18

POV Change- Alexander Baratheon (18):

Watching my brother be embraced by our mother hurt in a way I never thought would, I mean with my mental age and knowing a possible future and how she felt about all things none Lannister, but I guess at some point throughout the years I really did think of her as my mother and wanted the same love from her that my siblings seem to get in excess.

But there's nothing I could do to change how my family felt about me, I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard Robert's voice. "Speak and speak true."

Leaving my place to stand I the middle of the Starks and the royale family, I looked into each of their eyes for a brief second to see what they wanted, Robert wanted this over and done with as soon as possible so we could retire for the night, but his thoughts were mostly filled with the whores in the capital that he thought were waiting for him.

Eddard Stark on the other hand really wanted to know the truth of the matter but he was hoping that the boy he had betrothed his eldest to hadn't really attacked his youngest daughter, but beneath all that his mind was drawing comparisons to myself and the other royal children he had seen.

Sansa was hoping that I paint her in a good light in front of the royal family and she really had no thoughts on the fact that Joffrey had almost killed her little sister, it was like that didn't mean a thing to her. While Arya just wanted the truth much like her father but mostly for me to defend her actions and the actions of her dire wolf.

Cerci wanted me to tell the same story as Joffrey and have the Starks punished to remind them of their place and who their betters were but at this moment, I couldn't give a fuck and just wanted to sleep so I said fuck it and told the truth.

"If you want me to speak true then they are both at fault. Arya was playing with the butcher's boy, Mycah, when myself and my men arrived and we showed them a few tricks, all was well when Joffrey and Sansa arrived."

I could see my mother's eyes implore me to tell Joffrey's side of the story and by the way Joffrey's body tensed and his eyes darted all around the room looking for an escape he knew I wouldn't be taking his side especially after what he did earlier that day.

"When Joffrey arrived, he immediately drew steel and proceeded to reminded me of being a 'Dragon Spawn', then when he felt that I was sufficiently cowed he set himself on the butcher's boy Mycah. Where he cut the boy because he was pretending to be a knight and that's when Arya acted and struck the prince from behind, while Mycah took off running and Joffrey turned to deal with the girl."

I could feel the people tense in the room when they heard the Dragon-Spawn part as many had stopped calling me that after I came back with an army and made it clear that I was not to be called such anymore even behind closed doors. But when I spoke of the prince attacking an innocent boy for pretending to be a knight you could feel the disappointment in the air as people shook their heads in disapproval and begun gossiping. I do believe I even heard the words 'Mad Prince' and 'Illborne' whispered amongst the crowd.

"Arya showed a great deal of agility and managed to avoid all of Joffrey's attacks and even parried a few using her stick before it was cut in half by the sword. I think amongst the screaming of her siter and the threat of being cut down at any moment the girl panicked and tripped over herself. That's when Joffrey gained some clarity and advanced on the girl and he was about to slit her throat when I intervened and tried to calm him down by explaining the consequences should he kill the Stark girl, but he was determined to cut the girl down and brushed me off reminding me of our positions."

I could see the disbelief and shock wash over the crowd at my words, the north men even prepared to draw steel as the room slowly divided itself as I retold events, the Lannisters moved closer to the royal family while Lord Starks men moved closer to their liege lord to protect him. Tension grew and at this point I knew there was no point in continuing the story as Lord Stark looked ready to pounce on Joffrey for what he did, and Robert looked thoroughly pissed as well. It looked like the war could start sooner than I thought but I was ready, so I pushed on to finish the retelling of events.

"As Joffrey was about to kill the girl, her dire wolf came out of nowhere and attacked Joffrey's sword arm and that's when Arya took up the sword he had dropped and moved in to kill Joffrey, but she calmed down after I had explained what exactly would happen should she follow through, so she threw his sword in the river and ran back to camp."

The tension was thick and palpable after my tale ended with battle lines drawn Starks to my right with their hands in their swords ready to draw steel and do battle and the Lannisters to my left ready for battle as well. While court ladies had discreetly moved off to the side and away from possible danger and then there was me and my men off to the side and ready for battle as well but who we would join was still a mystery and I could see by the way both parties warily threw glances at us that they weren't sure either.

I looked at Robert to see how he would deal with this, even he could feel the tension and if the glare he sent my way was any indication to how he felt I knew he wished I had lied or just kept my silence, but what's done is done and there was nothing to be done about it. Everyone now waited with bated breath to hear the King's verdict, if he favoured one side too much then there really could be a battle here that would soon lead to full blown out war.

"Damnit enough, children fight its over!" Robert Baratheon roared slamming his fist onto the arm of his chair.

Cerci turned and faced Robert in a show of defiance, "Joffrey will bear these scares for the rest of his life."

Robert gave her a glare that seemed to silence her before casting a disappointed gaze at Joffrey who visible shrunk and buried himself in his mother's embrace trying to escape the attention of our 'father'. Once he was done with his family Robert turned to look at Eddard Stark in the eye, "Ned, see to it that your daughter's disciplined and I'll do the same with my son."

Watching the entire exchange, I was genuinely impressed at how my father managed to turn attempted murder by both Joffrey and Arya into nothing more than a squabble amongst children and at how everyone just seemed to accept it but then again, I guess that is the power of a king.

"What about the wolf? What of the beast that savaged your son?" it seemed that Cerci wouldn't be satisfied unless she saw the Starks lose something of theirs be it their heads or their precise dire wolves.

"Nearly forgot the damn wolf," he turned to look at a Lannister guard asking about the beast in question without voicing anything.

"We found no trace of the dire wolf your grace," the guard answered the unasked question.

"No? So be it," Robert seemed to want to put everything to bed and make a quick exit, but Cerci wasn't satisfied.

"We have another dire wolf…"

Seeing the king pause and think I thought maybe for a moment that with my testimony he would see that the beasts were innocent and was only protecting its partner and that killing one that had nothing to do with the incident was unnecessary but when the king spoke next, I knew somethings couldn't be changed. That and I think Robert knew that Ceric wouldn't leave the matter alone unless she had someone, or something killed.

"As you will," with those words Robert made his exit from the gathering.

But before he could get very far Lord Stark stopped him, "You can't mean it..."

"A dire wolf's no pet, get her a puppy she'll be happier for it." Robert spoke in dismissive tone, brushing aside Lord Starks concern for the animal.

Hearing that Sansa's dire wolf was about to be executed for no reason the girls couldn't keep silent any longer protested and shouted the innocence of the animal. Lord Stark seeming unable and unwilling to kill the animal that represented his house shouted after the king as he walked away.

"Is this your command…" Lord Stark wanted to hear his friend command him to kill the animal that represented his house and the north because he could not believe that his sworn brother would suggest such a thing. "Your grace…"

Seemingly done with the entire matter Robert gave his friend one last look before walking away without saying a word, it was at this moment that Robert Baratheon left the lone wolf amongst lions.