Chapter three (LBHP) Revision Two

Lyonel's family would arrive back in King's Landing very soon and Lyonel had been very busy securing his position and protecting his objectives... his mothers spies were all banished from King's Landing and were warned not to return on pain of death and the replacements would answer directly to Lyonel; Lyonel used threats and promised annihilation of their families to keep them in line, those that agreed to give Margaery moon tea on Cersei's orders were all quietly executed for their treason, and the Tyrell's were all secured and protected to safeguard their new alliance. Sadly, Lyonel couldn't purge the Kingsguard of his mothers taint yet, but he would eventually.
It seemed that it was time for Lord Stark's first meeting of the Small Council... Lyonel had already entrusted Pycelle with the Hand of the King broach.
"Lord Stark," Varys said in greeting, catching everyone's interest.
"Lord Varys," Ned returned.
"I was grievously sorry to hear of your troubles on the Kingsroad. We are all praying for Prince Joffrey's full recovery."
"A shame you didn't say a prayer for the butcher's son," Ned replied, upsetting Varys. "Renly! You're looking well."
"And you look tired from the road. I told them this meeting could wait another day, but..." Renly said.
"But we have a Kingdom to look after. Welcome to King's Landing, Lord Stark. I've heard great things about you... I thought you'd be taller though." Lyonel said, amusing the council.
"I humbly beg your pardon, my Lord Stark," Pycelle said.
"Grand Maester."
"How many years has it been? You were a young man."
"And you served another King," Ned said.
"How forgetful of me. This belongs to you, now." Pycelle handed Ned the Hand of the King broach. "Should we begin?"
"Without the King?" Ned asked.
"Winter may be coming, but I'm afraid the same cannot be said for my brother." Renly replied.
"His Grace has many cares. He entrusts some small matters to us that we might lighten the load." Varys replied.
"My father is eating, sleeping, drinking, whoring, and amassing more debt for me pay off," Lyonel explained, amusing the council and shocking Lord Stark. "It's unfortunately true. Even I can't keep track of all of his bastards and have them provided for anymore. Still, we should move onto business so that you can rest from your trip."
"My brother instructs us to stage a tournament in honor of Lord Stark's appointment as Hand of the King." Renly said.
"How much?" Lyonel asked in dread.
"40,000 gold dragons to the champion, 20,000 to the runner-up, 20,000 to the winning archer." Ned replied.
"Can the treasury bear such expense?"
"The treasury can bear that amount, but we can reduce costs with entry fees and can temporarily increase taxes on brothels, armorers and blacksmiths, and inns as usual. Even then I would suggest cutting those prizes by half or more to prevent another deficit and having to start borrowing money again."
"How much debt is there?" Ned asked in concern.
"None anymore. We paid it all off, but it was four million gold dragons until I took over Master of Coin duties. We have 1,500,000 million gold dragons in the treasury, but it took extremely hard work on my part."
"I'll try convincing Robert to take your advice, Lyonel, but we will do the entry fees and increased taxes since this seems to be an established practice." Ned said.
"Good. As for the increased crime during tournaments, preparations have been made to reinforce the City Watch with loaned personal guards from Houses Baratheon, Tyrell, and Lannister, but we do need your approval to actually proceed with the plans." Lyonel said.
"You have it," Ned replied.
"I understand that you're tired but we should meet soon to discuss Joffrey and Sansa's future holding and its construction or reconstruction... my father tends not to involve himself much and I end up doing the work when the Hand doesn't have the time." Lyonel said.
"Perhaps tomorrow or the next day?" Ned questioned in reply.
"Sure. My schedule should be mostly free." Lyonel replied.
"If that is all... Forgive me, my Lords. I had a long ride and I need to rest."
"You are the King's Hand, Lord Stark, we serve at your pleasure." Varys said respectfully.
----
Lyonel was working on the Iron Throne's finances; devising new ways to profit, save, invest, and regulate where needed, when his spying spells alerted him to Lady Catelyn Tully-Stark's arrival. Lyonel sent word to Lord Stark and Lord Varys, and had Lady Stark and Ser Rodrik escorted to a safehouse.
Lyonel met up with Varys and Lord Stark to travel there together.
"Are you sure that its my wife, Prince Lyonel?" Ned asked.
"Yes. If I weren't then I would have confirmed it first." Lyonel replied.
"My own spies informed me of her arrival just before Prince Lyonel's messenger arrived," Varys added.
They arrived at the safehouse several minutes later and entered the building.
"Catelyn!" Ned called out, having his doubts instantly disproven.
"How did you know I was coming to King's Landing?" Catelyn asked.
"I didn't. Prince Lyonel informed me when you were nearby." Ned replied.
"Lady Stark," Varys said, having been silent until then.
"Lord Varys," Catelyn returned.
"To see you again after so many years is a blessing. Your poor hands." Varys said.
"Did you bring the dagger with you, by any chance? My little birds are everywhere. Even in the North. They whisper to me the strangest stories. Valyrian steel." Varys said, accepting and studying the dagger, and not noticing the slight widening of Lyonel's eyes as he saw it... and the place where the stag sigil of House Baratheon was removed from.
"Do you know whose dagger this is?" Catelyn asked.
"I must admit I do not." Varys replied.
"I'm saddened that I can reduce your suspect pool to less than ten people; I gave several Valyrian steel daggers just like that to family members and that dagger has had the house sigil removed. By limiting the suspect pool to those at Winterfell we can speed up the resolution of this matter and find the one who gave them their dagger..." Lyonel said, shocked that any of his family would stoop to harming a child.
"You suspect someone already?" Ned asked coldly.
"Yes, but surely Joffrey wouldn't be that stupid... though he's the only one that I consider stupid of my family apart from my own mother," Lyonel replied, still shocked at an attack upon a child. "We can bring the matter to my father when he's sober and can have my family summoned along with their daggers and have them all placed under guard."
"You would work against your own family?" Catelyn asked.
"If they did this, then yes. Closing ranks would only cause a feud or war between the Great Houses or the Iron Throne and result in division, instability, and mass death in Westeros. All I ask is that you accept the guilty person being punished sufficiently and not seek a war after that." The Stark's nodded in agreement.
----
The next day...
Tyrion, Jaime, and Cersei Lannister, as well as Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen Baratheon, had all been summoned by King Robert Baratheon to be questioned about their Valyrian steel daggers... only Joffrey looked nervous and Lyonel couldn't sense any magic on his half-brother, which meant no Valyrian steel.
"This is very simple," Robert said angrily. "Show me the daggers that Lyonel gave you..."
They all nodded in confusion but Joffrey didn't have one to show.
"I-i lost mine," Joffrey lied when Robert demanded that he show his dagger.
"Is this it?" Robert asked, having Ser Barristan show Joffrey the dagger used to try murdering Bran Stark.
"Yes! Thank you for finding it, father! I feared that it was stolen!" Joffrey said, trying to grab the dagger but Ser Barristan pulled it away.
"It was used to try murdering Bran Stark... and was found in the possession of a Catspaw with House Baratheon's sigil removed from it." Robert said.
"You said that it would be kinder to put the crippled Bran out of his misery, father. Him dying would end his suffering." Joffrey said indifferently. "I removed our house sigil and paid that peasant ninety stags and lent him the dagger to end Bran's suffering."
Lyonel reduced Joffrey's inhibitions and placed a mild truth compulsion on him before all this... Lyonel wanted results and to end this crisis without any major bloodshed.
"You confess?!" Robert asked enraged for Joffrey's callousness.
"He was just going to suffer! I'm a Prince and I can do whatever I want! I can kill whoever I want!" Joffrey spat angrily, Lyonel's magic causing him to be bolder. "He was just a useless cripple anyway!"
"You mad stupid boy! You could have started a war! You violated Guest Right! You tried killing the son of my best friend! I oughta cave your fuckin skull in!" Robert bellowed and Lyonel began to calm his father down.
"He's not worth condemning yourself as a Kinslayer or the war with Tywin when he throws a tantrum. Do you want me to handle this, father? I don't want you becoming a Kinslayer and Joffrey won't be allowed in Westeros when I'm king anyway... he's too evil, mad, and unstable and he can serve no viable purpose for House Baratheon."
"Alright, Lyonel. Do whatever you feel is right. You can handle it while I have a drink..." Robert said.
"Joffrey Baratheon you have not denied committing this crime against a Great House and have not shown any sincere regret. Sacrifices have to be made to keep the peace between House Stark and the North and House Baratheon and the Iron Throne... I, Lyonel of the House of Baratheon; acting with my father the kings approval, strip you of the name Baratheon, of all rank and title, of all claims on any lands, titles, and holdings within the Seven Kingdoms and I give you over to House Stark to punish. This punishment may even include your death." Lyonel said, shocking his mother and uncle Jaime, and pleasing the Stark's, the Small Council; excluding Pycelle, and Stannis and Renly. "Lord and Lady Stark... is this sufficent to avoid any conflict and resume the alliance between our families?"
"It is, Your Grace," Ned said gratefully with his wife repeating her husbands words.
"Lyonel! You can't allow your brother to be killed!" Cersei pleaded.
"He committed a crime and bragged remorselessly about it. It was Joffrey's one life or thousands during a war... this was the best course of action to avoid a war with our ally who helped House Baratheon topple House Targaryen's dynasty. He was a liability to House Baratheon anyway. He's too cruel to even marry off for an alliance... I never supported Joffrey being betrothed to anyone and I've always intended to banish him if he committed a crime while I was king." Lyonel's reply shocked everyone, but most were seeing that he would become a great king in the future. Lyonel could make the hard choices and make personal sacrifices for the greater good of Westeros.
Joffrey would be forced to take the black as an act of mercy by Lord Stark and Lyonel would insure that Joffrey made it there without being 'liberated'. Tywin opposed his grandsons treatment but Lyonel denied his appeal to have Joffrey pardoned to keep peace with House Stark.
----
Eddard Stark had been looking into Jon Arryn's last few weeks... and he was beginning to learn of Jon's investigation. Lyonel tried passing it off as Jon beginning to suspect his wife's infidelity but Stark had found Gendry by retracing Jon's footsteps... he didn't truly suspect anything yet though, but he would have to be watched.
Despite that, Lyonel was also focused on winning the Tourney of the Hand to return money to the treasury... much to his betrothed's concern.
"I'll be fine, Margaery. I'm hard to injure let alone kill." Lyonel told her kindly. "Trust me. I'll be perfectly fine."
Lyonel's first opponent was none other than Meryn Trant, a pawn of his mother Cersei. Lyonel used magic channeled through his lance to send Trant flying from his horse, landing hard, and breaking his neck in the process. Trant would be replaced by someone talented and useful. Cersei tried retaliating for Lyonel's removal of her influence previously by purging his but everyone who tried helping her was executed, sent away, or threatened into compliance. As retaliation Lyonel would have his mother removed from King's Landing once he was king.
Lyonel's next opponents were Sandor Clegane, Loras Tyrell, Thoros of Myr, and Jaime Lannister... the latter two were injured, but Lyonel's mentor Ser Barristan Selmy managed to unhorse him in the finals.
The Archery contest went much better... Lyonel never neglected his training and his archery was not only among the best but he had a dragonbone bow to further reinforce his own great skill.
The melee was where Lyonel shined though. He beat twenty competitors by himself and actually threw one craven from the battle in a display of strength that surpassed his own fathers.
----
Lyonel's time since the tournament had been spent working on and improving the economy, with a lot of progress to show for his work. Lyonel was laying the groundwork for an even strong economy during his eventual reign.
Alas it was time for another meeting of the Small Council, but Lyonel knew what it was about... Daenerys Targaryen was pregnant and she could birth a new dynasty across the Narrow Sea. She had to die. Once everyone had arrived, Robert started the meeting off on a high note...
"The whore is pregnant." Robert said without preamble.
"I assume that you mean the Targaryen whore who was sold by her brother," Lyonel stated with a smile.
"Aye," Robert replied.
"You're speaking of murdering a child." Ned said.
"I warned you this would happen. Back in the North, I warned you, but you didn't care to hear. Well, hear it now. I want 'em dead, mother and child both - and that fool, Viserys as well. Is that plain enough for you? I want them both dead." Robert said angrily.
"You will dishonor yourself forever if you do this."
"Honor?! I've got Seven Kingdoms to rule! One King, Seven Kingdoms. Do you think honor keeps them in line? Do you think it's honor that's keeping the peace? It's fear - fear and blood."
"Then we're no better than the Mad King." Ned said in disgust.
"Careful, Ned. Careful now." Robert said angrily.
"You want to assassinate a girl... because the Spider heard a rumor?" Ned asked.
"No rumor, My Lord. The princess is with child." Varys replied.
"My own spies have confirmed this, Lord Stark," Lyonel added.
"Based on whose information?" Ned asked in return.
"Ser Jorah Mormont. He is serving as adviser to the Targaryens."
"Mormont? You bring us the whispers of a traitor half a world away and call it fact?"
"I thought he was a slaver?" Lyonel asked in confusion.
"He broke the law, betrayed his family, fled our land. We commit murder on the word of this man?" Ned replied, also explaining why he was a traitor.
"And if he's right? If she has a son? A Targaryen at the head of a Dothraki army... What then?" Robert asked angrily.
"The Narrow Sea still lies between us. I'll fear the Dothraki the day they teach their horses to run on water." Ned argued, and it was a good point.
"Do nothing? That's your wise advice? Do nothing till our enemies are on our shores? You're my council. Counsel! Speak sense to this honorable fool."
"I understand your misgivings, My Lord. Truly, I do. It is a terrible thing we must consider, a vile thing. Yet, we who presume to rule must sometimes do vile things for the good of the realm. Should the gods grant Daenerys a son, the realm will bleed." Varys said.
"I bear this girl no ill will, but should the Dothraki invade, how many innocents will die? How many towns will burn? Is it not wiser, kinder even, that she should die now so that tens of thousands might live?" Pycelle advised, though he merely wanted his Lannister masters to remain in power.
"We should have had them both killed years ago." Renly stated.
"She could cause another war. The Dothraki might fear water, but we need to end a restored Targaryen dynasty before it can begin." Lyonel began. "She, Viserys, and her child must die to achieve a lasting peace. We owe it to everyone who died to topple their dynasty to ensure that they all die... otherwise those deaths will all be in vain. I understand your feelings on the matter Lord Stark and you raise a valid point about the Narrow Sea, but their fears can be overcome and with ships they can cross it. We have several advantages as defenders and due to House Targaryen's past but the goal is to prevent war..."
"Daenerys Targaryen's son will be a raping, murdering, and thieving savage. No one will bow to that, and our Navy can easily end the threat should they begin crossing the Narrow Sea." Ned moved to talk. "But, we could still suffer as many as a dozen casualties, lost ships, money used for war... compared to killing two or three enemies relatively cheaply. In short lets kill the whore, her mad brother, and her future rapist, thief, and murderer son... and the world will be better without such degenerates. Future generations will applaud our wisdom and foresight for making this hard choice." Despite having said this, Lyonel's disdain for killing an innocent baby was visible, as was his disgust for himself.
"I followed you into war - twice - without doubts, without second thoughts. But I will not follow you now. The Robert I grew up with didn't tremble at the shadow of an unborn child." Ned said.
"She dies." Robert replied coldly.
"I will have no part in it." Ned replied firmly.
"You're the King's Hand, Lord Stark. You'll do as I command or I'll find me a hand who will." Robert said angrily.
Ned removed the pin signifying his position as Hand of the King and threw onto the table. "And good luck to him. I thought you were a better man."
"Out! Out, damn you! I'm done with you." Ned gave King Robert a slight nod, and then turned and left. "Go! Run back to Winterfell! I'll have your head on a spike! I'll put it there myself, you fool! You think you're too good for this? Too proud and honorable? This is a war!"
"Would you like me to take over the Hand of the King duties until you can find another? Or will you appoint Lord Stannis?" Lyonel asked.
"You can do it, Lyonel. It's good practice for when you're king." Robert said before leaving to get a drink.
"Very well," Lyonel replied, picking up the broach. "Varys, move forward with the assassination and keep Mormont ignorant in case he cares for her well-being. She must die for the good of realm and so must her brother... and unfortunately her children."
----
The only Targaryen that died Viserys and that was by Khal Drogo's hands. The assassination of Daenerys Targaryen was foiled by Jorah Mormont