The discussion lasted for no more than half an hour before we were summoned back inside. Father didn't meet Eddard's eye which probably meant Joffrey would face little consequences. Mother could be persuasive when she was thinking clearly and it was likely she marshaled her wit while we were gone.
"Sandor Clegane, you were accused of carrying out the murder of Mycah, a lad of three and ten." Father began. "There is no proof that you were ordered to murder the boy, nor was there proof you set out that day to kill him."
Arya began to speak but I could see Eddard tighten his grip on her shoulder and whisper something to her. She settled down and struggled to compose herself.
"You are also a man grown and a veteran of several conflicts. I find that you were careless and reckless and hold you responsible for the accidental death of Mycah. You are to be fined the equivalent of 20 years labor of a butcher in King's Landing, to be paid to his family. Should you not have the coin the crown will supply and take it out of your future wages as Joffrey's Sworn Shield."
The Hound grunted but didn't gainsay father. I didn't know exactly how well he was paid but he probably made as much a year, or more than the fine that was levied.
"You are also a hairsbreadth away of being dismissed from service. You are not here to obey Joffrey or act as his servant. You are not here to follow his instructions or bend to his whims. You are his Sworn Shield; you will protect him until he is of age. Before you attempt to arrest or detain someone you will consult with a member of the Kingsguard, the Small Council or myself. Am I clear, Clegane?"
The Hound dropped to one knee and bowed his head. "Aye Your Grace."
Our new Hand's face was stony and solemn. Joffrey's foolish actions had created an unfortunate rift between father and the Warden of the North. How this would change things for myself I did not know. Would I be blamed by the Starks for not fully siding with them? That really wouldn't be fair, I had named them truthful but I could tell Arya especially was furious.
Robert looked at Ned and sighed. "As to Joffrey's actions with your own children there is little to say one way or another. I do not believe my son would harm you and yours. I do believe your children truly believed they were about to be attacked. I will see to ensuring Joffrey understands when his blade should be drawn and when it should not. See to making sure your children keep their wolves under control Ned."
Eddard bent his neck. "If that is your command, Your Grace." The words were stiff and forced.
Mother smirked. "I believe there was more, Robert."
"Seven Hells, I was getting to it." He sighed. "The Queen is worried, for the sake of our children, the behavior of these wolves. Your children are welcome to have them however they are not welcome to be near the royal children. They can stay in the Tower of the Hand but not be brought to Maegor's Holdfast, the Great Hall, the Royal Apartments, the Maiden Vault, or the training yard. Until we get to King's Landing they will travel in the rear, furthest away from the wheelhouse."
Cersei added, "And should they actually harm anyone I'll have their hides for a rug."
This was so poorly done; mother's spite was made clear to the Starks. Mending any sort of bridges in the future would be much more difficult. It was troubling how much animosity existed between the Starks and mother now. I felt I had to somewhat soften this.
I spoke up, "I assume that is only if they harm someone without cause. If they attack someone who tried to harm the Hand's children that would be acceptable?"
Father rumbled, "Of course."
The King had made his decree and the Starks dispersed. Father returned to the inn while mother approached me and had me follow her to the wheelhouse. Two Lannister guards were outside and they opened the doors to the oversized carriage for us. Upon entering the wheelhouse Cersei turned toward me and slapped me across the face.
I was caught completely by surprise. The last thing I had expected was my mother to strike me. I was but 70 pounds and she had not stinted on the force. Surprised as I was, I nearly fell over and had to brace my hand on the carriage seat.
"What is the matter with you Myrcella?" She hissed.
I was shocked. I had never been struck by her before. The pain of a stinging cheek was not anything at all in comparison to the hurts I took in my 2nd life, what was more concerning was what it represented. A fundamental lack of emotional control in Queen Cersei.
"I do not understand, mother."
"You don't understand? Why did you go against your family? Why did you not back your brother when they lay down their accusations?"
"I did back my brother. I lied and said he too sounded truthful, when it was obvious that he spoke false."
Cersei shook her head. "Do you think me a fool? You tried to please both sides instead of showing your loyalty to the family. You should have called the Stark children liars and held your tongue about the butcher's boy, or better yet say how he scared you and you were too terrified to tell anyone."
I could see a certain logic to her view. If I had done that it would have lent Joffrey's story some credibility. The problem was that it would have destroyed all credibility I had built up with the Starks. It was also not very believable based on the dutiful and poised way I carried myself. Fearful of Mycah? Too fearful to even advise the Kingsguard of the threat? Ridiculous.
"I have created good bonds of friendship with them and that would all be wasted effort if I did that. I thought you wanted me to keep an ear out and pass along anything I learned about Lord Stark's intentions."
"You witless fool. That was always an unlikely chance and just a reason to cease your prattling on your foolish desire to match Joffrey with your own Sworn Shield. Nothing you could have learned is worth the potential harm Joffrey faced. Renly tried to push for Joffrey to go to the Wall! The Wall! Your grandfather would never have allowed it but could you imagine the shame if Robert had given the sentence and then took it back later? All because you didn't back your flesh and blood."
"Perhaps next time Joffrey will not act with murderous stupidity."
This time I saw the slap coming. I almost chose to avoid it however that didn't serve any long-term purpose. I did keep my balance this time.
"Do not speak about your brother in that fashion!"
"Mother, there is no one around to overhear. You need to do more to curtail Joffrey's urges. He antagonizes our allies and…"
Mother slapped me again. This time I had to tilt my head so she would hit my cheek and not clip part of my ear. Having lost part of my hearing in my 2nd life I had no desire to repeat the experience.
"They are not our allies you idiot child. The Starks are our enemies."
I was starting to get annoyed. Was mother drunk? No, she had wine but her coordination wasn't impaired and her speech not slurred.
"As you say, my point though is that Joffrey needs to avoid these types of situations in the future."
"No. Stop this. You are a girl who has not yet flowered. You do not concern yourself with what your elder brother does. You do not seek to counsel me. You smile. You dress pretty. You mind your courtesies. You follow your family's lead. And do nothing else."
This wasn't an argument I could win. "Very well mother, if that is what you wish."
She looked at me closely, finally she shook her head and gathered me in a huge.
"I did not mean to harm you child but this is a perilous time. I will keep you safe but you must be loyal to your family. There is only us, the entire world is against us and would tear us down."
I disagreed but didn't reject her words and instead returned the hug, somewhat stiffly. I didn't give or receive many hugs save from Tommen.
"No more willfulness from you. You will also apologize to your brother and beg for his forgiveness."
This was the exact opposite of what should be happening. Joffrey needed to be brought in line by mother, not be given a 'win' of having me apologize to him. Cersei may be wise in many ways, but clearly, she had a tremendous blind spot for Joffrey and I could not depend on her to do what was necessary.
"Yes Mother, I will do so on the morrow."
She gave me one last look and then told me I would be staying in the wheelhouse instead of the inn.
***
Despite his formal Small Council position, Renly rarely had any dealings with the law or an opportunity to sit in judgement of someone. Oh, as Lord of Storm's End he could be called upon to make a decision for his vassals but Ser Cortnay Penrose, his loyal and able castellan, handled all that while Renly was in Kings Landing.
Myrcella reminding everyone he was Master of Laws came as a surprise. He dimly recalled her visit to him. She wanted to talk about the foundational premise of the laws of the Kingdom… he had little interest. History could teach you lessons, sure, but there was a limit to how much boredom he could stand. Philosophical underpinnings of justice did not lead to justice, only power did.
In the end he had accomplished little. Despite Barristan, tactfully, lending some weight to the idea of Joffrey facing some form of punishment the Queen would not be budged. Her badgering made his brother give in and there were no disciplinary actions. Renly knew Joffrey likely ordered Clegane to murder the boy, he had a twisted nature. This had been the perfect opportunity for something better for the future of the Seven Kingdoms and Robert had let it slip through his fingers. He just wouldn't allow himself to believe his son was a monster.
And now Myrcella had ridden up next to him and asked what precedent the decision had been based on. Robert's only daughter was such a serious and studious child. It was a pity Oldtown was such a hidebound lot, if anyone was suited for scholarly work it was her.
"Princess, do you really think my brother would be swayed by historical example? I love him but be realistic."
Myrcella nodded at that.
"An idle curiosity uncle. The situation has brought some matters of personal safety to light. The Stark children and myself have gone here and there without much oversight. I had asked my mother for a Sworn Shield and she didn't think it necessary. With your knowledge of the law and the dangers a highborn would face, do you think it would be appropriate if I had one? And if so as a knight, who would you recommend?"
Renly stroked his clean-shaven jaw thinking it over. How much was Myrcella Cersei's creature? It was impossible to know as Myrcella was hard to read. The Queen was a royal bitch who had hated him before but now after he had suggested sending Joffrey to the Wall, she would despise him utterly.
"It would be a great honor for a knight to serve as your Sworn Shield. It should be one that is brave, dutiful, loyal and can represent you well at court." Renly replied.
"Like Sandor Clegane?" She quirked an eyebrow at him and he laughed. Myrcella telling a jape? Maybe his niece wasn't as boring and ponderous as he had assumed.
"Savagery has its own benefits, I'm sure. If you are interested, I could give you a few names from the Stormlands that would likely desire such a role." More positions of some importance, even a minor one, that didn't go to the Lannisters could only be a good thing. This made it likely Myrcella was coming to him on his own and not as some scheme from Cersei.
"That would be kind of you uncle. Mother has disagreed with the need but perhaps you could arrange it with the Hand or my father. And one for my little brother Tommen as well. While I am certain Mycah was true and not a villain, anyone could have come upon us and there just isn't enough Kingsguard to keep track of the entire royal family."
"Your mother likes me not so I don't mind being the voice that puts the thought in Eddard's head."
"Thank you, now tell me more of these knights you would suggest…"
***
Authority ultimately rested with my father. Mother's influence and power were due to her ability to influence the king and the backing of the wealthiest house in Westeros. It had been made painfully clear that my mother thought little of my abilities and her desire for me to back Joffrey in everything was not sustainable. If I wanted any influence at all I would need to begin to obtain it more aggressively.
And from her perspective she was not wrong. I was a girl of 11 who was attempting to wade into dangerous waters. As a mother she wanted it stopped and used physical force and sharp words to try to shock me into compliance. Not unlike a drill instructor would use to break down a recruit into some malleable and able to be shaped into a useful asset. Had I been a normal, or even just a precocious young child, it would have likely worked.
The problem is that I am not. I have lived more years than she has if you count all my lives. I have advanced knowledge of how to use human resources, how to lead soldiers and a deep understanding of the school of economics. I was useful but had no way to prove it just by dialogue. If I wanted my mother to take me seriously as a potential contemporary, I needed to make some moves. And I needed to show that I had steel in my spine by defying her.
Renly was a good first step but I knew father didn't take him that seriously. I would continue to work on the Starks and ultimately Lord Stark himself. Next to mother, Eddard had the most influence on father. I also would reach out to others who may have some sway. Thoros from the city of Myr was a regular drinking companion. The man was technically a priest of R'hllor, one of the smaller religions outside of the Seven Kingdoms. I would need to meet with him once I returned to Kings Landing.
My kin acting as father's squires were other avenues to explore. Tyrek Lannister and Lancel Lannister were both my first cousins, once removed. Lancel being older and an adult by Westeros standards. He was my Great Uncle Kevan's eldest. Tyrek was poor deceased Great Uncle Tygett's son and only a couple of years older than me. My father thought little of his squires and often insulted them, another unfortunate act in a long list of foolish acts. I doubted I could use them to influence father directly however I could use them to determine where and when he will be somewhere, his moods and other details that could help stack the deck in my favor if he were to ask him for a favor.
Uncle Stannis had left Kings Landing for Dragonstone so he was not helpful to the cause. Barristan Selmy seemed to be one of the few Kingsguard that father didn't yell at, which implied a level of respect. I could also try to get him to see the need for additional guards for the royal family.
A list of things to do had been created in my head. It was time to get to work. First up was making sure the Stark children still saw me in a positive light.
***
My conversation with Sansa was simple and easy. Sansa even shared that her father had asked her if she wanted to break the betrothal, something that she had begged Lord Stark not to do. The girl was still infatuated with Joffrey despite the whole ordeal. My brother could be charming but the mask was easy to slip off. In either case it benefited me. She even asked that I put in a good word for her and to explain to her family that she was nothing like her 'dreadful' sister Arya and that Lady was also a good direwolf who would never savage anyone. Of course, I told her I would do what I could and she hugged me and I was firmly in her good graces.
Arya was a bigger problem. I had approached Arya during dinner where she sat alone with Nymeria, two Stark guardsmen keeping careful watch from a short distance away.
"What do you want?" She asked pointedly.
"I came to wish my condolences for the passing of your friend, Mycah."
"I should have killed your brother."
I stared at her blankly for a moment. That was not something you should say about the heir. While she was just a child that sort of talk was literally treasonous.
"Arya, I understand you are grieving but speaking that way about Joffrey will only lead to ill. My mother wanted Nymeria and the other wolves slain or at the very least removed from camp and barred from Kings Landing. Further talk about wishing harm on Joffrey could lead to that."
She glared at me but couldn't think of an adequate come back.
I sat down next to her and waited. Being silent is one of the great power plays in business. In my first life I knew the proper value of haragei. Westeros seemed to have similar cultural traits of Anglophones and for them silence yearned to be filled. Sure enough, Arya spoke up again.
"How can you stand it? How can you stand to live with a monster like Joffrey?"
"Practice. I try to avoid him, when possible, he's all together unpleasant."
Arya seemed taken aback when I spoke that simple truth. "You do think he ordered that monster to kill Mycah? Why didn't you say so to your father! He would have listened to you!"
"I don't have much ability to sway my father and I didn't know he was lying. What I suspect and what I know are two different things. If I had said that I thought Joffrey was being untruthful the best that we could have hoped for is the Hound going to the Wall, or demanding trial by combat and potentially killing a member of the Kingsguard." I paused a moment. "I think Barristan or my uncle could beat him Ser Meryn or Ser Boros would have been torn apart. I've seen him in the tournaments, he's deadly not just for his size but his ferocity and skill."
The Stark daughter mulled that over. "He deserves to die and so does Joffrey."
"Arya, you do need to be more careful. Nymeria is a beautiful and loyal companion, acting like this could get you separated. Do you want that?"
Arya looked mulish and I once again waited. After several minutes she finally asked. "What do you want? Just leave me alone."
"I wanted to comfort you in your grief. I want to be your friend and I still want to help you find someone who can help you practice fighting, if you are still interested."
Arya shook her head. "Father found the sword Jon gave me and promised to find someone to teach me."
I smiled at her. "That's wonderful! I was worried I would have to find a way your lessons could be in secret, but this is a much better solution."
Arya grinned too and then scowled, likely remembering she was supposed to be mad at me.
"I'll leave you be. At some point let me see your progress when we are in Kings Landing, I would love for you to prove me wrong about the ability of girls to fight."
She looked at me and then finally nodded. Not a complete success but progress had been made.
***
Bran still had his dreams of honor and glorious knighthood but now they were tainted. The stories were not always true, good did not always triumph over evil and a King's justice was not always delivered fairly. He had liked Mycah; he hadn't deserved to be butchered.
Unlike Arya he didn't blame Sansa and Myrcella. Arya had been enraged by Sansa and the tension was thick every time they were in the same room. Sansa was betrothed to Joffrey, that basically meant she had to be loyal to him. Myrcella was Joffrey's kin and she was right about Mycah, he did scare easily. He had been right to be scared but that didn't make Myrcella's words false.
The princess honestly confused him. On the surface she was like Sansa only even more refined. When she spoke, it was with absolute certainty like a Septa or Maester but not quite. It was hard for Bran to describe but he felt himself grow tongue tied being around her. Even feats of physical nature she was precise. The one time she had picked up a stick and matched with Arya had awed him. Her ability to ride her horse effortlessly was something he also envied. She had spoken with him and praised him for speaking bravely in the audience with the King but he hadn't known how to respond, so he had just mumbled his thanks.
The one silver lining over the whole ordeal caused by Joffrey was that he finally had a name for his wolf. His name was Duty. Bran had a Duty to protect Arya. To protect Mycah who hadn't deserved his fate. Duty would be his companion and when he became a knight, he would always do his duty. To protect those who could not defend themselves, to protect all women and children, and to fight bravely. He would do it all with Duty by his side.
Another sad result was that Tommen and he had few opportunities to play together. He wasn't going to abandon Duty and leave the wolf behind. It would be bad enough when they reached Kings Landing and he had to attend places Duty couldn't follow. Sansa did though and so he took it upon himself to watch over Lady. Not that she needed watching, Lady was the best behaved and groomed of the trio of direwolves.
The wheelhouse had halted, the massive thing was prone to breaking down. Bran scanned the area and found precious little to climb. He saw his father ride back with Barristan the Bold.
"Bran, your first meeting with Ser Barristan was cut short. I thought you would enjoy a longer conversation."
Bran grinned. "Thank you! Ser Barristan can you tell me about the time you fought the Kingswood Brotherhood?"
Ser Barristan smiled warmly. "Aye, I can. But before I do, I hear from Lord Stark you are seeking to become a knight."
"Yes! More than anything I want to protect people, to ride and joust and serve the realm with honor."
The elderly knight nodded. "A good answer. Are you prepared to speak knightly vows to the Seven? I know those of the North are not often followers." Bran had known it was expected of knights to take their vows. He held to the Old Gods like his father but he also went to the Sept with mother on high days. Bran had long since decided, well long for a boy of nine, that he could say the words and he would abide by them regardless of what he swore to.
"My mother taught me some of the Seven. I would be prepared to swear those vows to the Seven." Bran replied eagerly.
"Excellent. You have already impressed me, Brandon Stark. It took courage for you to speak before the King. You have thought about the knightly vows and you were ready to defend your sister and one of the small folk. You have the excellence makings of a knight."
Bran couldn't contain the grin that was spreading across his face. THE Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was saying that he would make a great knight!"
"I'd like to make you my page. After a time, I will then have you squire for me. But only if you work hard and obey my commands."
"Yes! Yes Ser Barristan, I will do all you ask!"
"Very good. Your duties will begin once we arrive in Kings Landing. I do have an hour or two while my brothers watch over the Royal Family, I would like to see how far you have progressed with your arms training."
For the next hour the broad smile on Bran's face never left.