3

A Throne Nobody Wants

Chapter 3

***Volantis, Daenerys***

'Brother...'

Daenerys once more sighed in her brother's bed, inhaling his scent. She missed him as surely as the sky could miss the sun and stars. Her brother had been gone for a month now, back to the land of Westeros. Very few things could take him away from her side for this length of a time, but a blood debt was one. There was only one person that her brother had ever sworn a blood debt against: Gregor Clegane, the one they called the Mountain who Rides.

She had no doubt that her brother would defeat the feared Lannister knight. He was her brother after all! She had seen him practicing, training. In her mind, her brother was the greatest fighter in all of the known world. Still, she had been disappointed when she was left behind. Unlike her brother, she could not pass for anything but Targaryen blood. In fact her brother and her features were so different that it was surprising they shared the same mother at all, but Ser Darry had confirmed to that be true.

'Brother...'

The Dorne were still loyal to the crown, prince Oberyn of Dorne confirming as much. Her brother had been surprised but she could tell that the Prince of Dorne and his 'Sand Snakes', as he introduced them, had been very impressed with her brother. Who wouldn't be? Her brother could have been king if he wanted to, of that she had no doubt. What, did they think her brother would be some Beggar King going around demanding people to help them just because he was royalty? Her brother had instilled in her a very firm set of working ethics as they grew up.

Never ask someone to do anything you wouldn't do yourself. She had seen him fight with the best of them, his companions in the Eagle's Brood had spoken of how Arthur would always be at the fore front of any battle, the rock for the men to rally around. To hear them speak of her brother with awe filled her chest with overwhelming pride.

'Brother...'

The mercenary company was as good as his, they no long even considered themselves Sell-swords. In just a few short years, her brother had gained complete ownership of the Eagle's Brood. He was just too dense to realize it.

Of course... he was also too thick and dense to realize that there was no way in any life that she would be annulling their marriage. She belonged to him as surely as he belonged to her. That was the Targaryen way so it was frustrating how he refused to take what was his by birthright! The wives that she associated with spoke of how she grew more beautiful every day. She could see desire fill men eyes whenever she walked the market place and even the Eagles that guarded her constantly gave her admiring glances from time to time. Yet her brother had refused to touch her and kept bringing up possible suitors for her hand!

'Brother you idiot!'

She'd never take another man to her bed. It was her brother or nobody at all. That was why she had a plan. It wasn't very honorable but honor was her brother's thing. She looked to the table and saw the flask of the strongest aphrodisiac in all of the Free Nations. It had taken her a while to discreetly inquire about it but her Unsullied body guards had done so without question.

Pursing her lips and brushing a lock of silver hair from her face, she smiled. When her brother got back, they would be true husband and wife. After all, there was no way her brother would reject her after he had bedded her, his code of honor would never allow it.

'I will not be denied either brother.'

*** King's Landing, Cersei***

While the small council was in session to bring their new Hand up to speed, the Queen could be seen elegantly seated, her thought a mystery to all present.

Cersei was frustrated, sexually frustrated, and it was ALL Mordred's fault! The girl knew of her and Jaime relationship, of that there could be no denying now. Thankfully, her daughter never confronted her about it, but during their stay in Winterfell her daughter had shadowed her. She was certain of it!

Oh the girl made it seem like she had casually found her and Jaime alone, but she knew! Whether it was walking next to Jaime on the lower floor and seeing Mordred looking in from a window or being alone in the woods with Jaime, only to have Mordred barge into the forest with the excuse of looking for her arrow. The twins had been effectively stopped from pursing anything amorous.

She wasn't alone in her frustration. Jaime had been showing signs of extra stress in the past few days. He had been a lot more aggressive lately in everything he had done but masked it better than she did. The closest they had come to being able to release their pent up lust was when they made their way to the isolated tower in Winterfell Keep. Yet, somehow, her daughter had beaten them there! They found the girl in the company of two of the younger Stark children. How had the girl known?!

Cersei was taken out of her thoughts when Robert laughed again, the booming sound saturating the room. Putting on her best facial expression she turned to look at her lord husband.

"By the grace of the Seven Ned, You becoming the Hand was the greatest thing that could have ever happen to this shit hole of a kingdom!" King Robert Baratheon, first of his name, laughed again jovially. There was an excited gleam in his eyes as he looked to his newly appointed hand.

"I do admit, this tourney seems to be unprecedented in scale at the least, and it should bring a lot of revenue to the kingdom itself," The Master of Coins, Petyr Baelish , a scrawny man with a trimmed beard agreed.

"By the Sevens, Ned! Can you imagine all of the best knights in the entire Seven Kingdoms, and warriors from the Free Cities here for your tourney?!" Robert boom again looking to his friend.

"It is a great honor," Ned shifted uncomfortably in his seat on the small council. The man was too stern and grave looking by half yet, he was the only one among them that had honor. Of that Cersei could attest to. They'll swallow him whole within months.

"The Dorne contingent would be here tomorrow as well as those from Reach. There no way Mace was going to let those fucking Dornish cunts out do them!"

"Robert!" Ned Stark chided his friend but nothing could be dampened his friend's mood.

"And already the so call Knights from the Free Cities are here, my god! This is like the grandest tourney in existence!"

"We just received words that Lord Tywin is sending a larger contingent here to represent House Lannister and the Tully's were coming too when they learn of the gathering. The first time since the rebellion it appeared all seven kingdoms would be at King's Landing in full force your majesty," Varys, the Master of Whisper announced, reading a message.

"And which of your little birds told you about that?" Petyr asked smoothly, his tone portraying his tension.

"Oh, there are so many, I am not sure which one myself," the perfumed eunuch laughed away lightly before he turned to the king.

"I am going to join in the jousting and the melee too. It's time to show them what the King of the Seven Kingdoms is really all about." Robert said suddenly.

Cersei could see the wide alarm in all of the gathered people faces. Robert had once been a great warrior, but he was no longer the same man she married. Still for propriety sake, she had to make an effort to appear wifely if nothing else.

"My love, perhaps it is best you not...join. It would be unfair for the King to join after having such a clear advantage over everyone else," Cersei tried to intone as much affection into her voice as possible. It wasn't hard, she just imagine she was talking to Jaime.

"No way in the Seven Hells woman! I will be joining and you will let me have this Ned," Robert threatened, his face beginning to redden, a sign that he had made his mind and was set in his intentions.

Cersei sighed and beckon a servant closer to her. With a quick whisper, the servant nodded and left searching for the person that could reign in Robert when he was like this, in the mean time she enjoyed watching Eddard Stark fumble his way around Robert, trying to find a way to talk him out of his folly diplomatically. A comical sight really.

Varys and Littlefinger also chimed in to talk the king out of his folly but it appeared his 'warriors spirit' have been aroused and an aroused Robert would never take no for an answer. She should know.

The squabbling continued a bit more between Robert and Eddard while Cersei sip the wine in her golden goblet.

"Damn it, Ned, I am king and I am telling you drop the matter, there is no way anyone will de-"

Anything Robert wanted to say was halted as the door opened and in strolled Mordred looking beautiful in her Lannister red dress and her hair braided in the northern style. It made her stand out from the southern ladies of the court and exotic at the same time.

'The Sansa girl must have done it for her.'

"Princess," Eddard stood up as did the rest of the council to greet the crown princess of the kingdom.

"Damn it woman, you had to call her here didn't you?" Robert growled as he glared at Cersei. "Well, I'll have you know there is nothing even Mordred 'King's Bane' could say that would stop me from joining!"

Cersei smirked when she saw Mordred bristle. She did not know why but that little nickname for Mordred by her husband, appeared to really needle the girl. Mordred and her made eye contact briefly and exchanged a look before her daughter turned to the King's Hand.

"Perhaps Lord Eddard, you can tell me what is going on here? Your daughter is making this wonderful new dish called... Pete Zah and it's simply smelling divine right now."

Cersei blinked as she saw the Lord Hand's eyes gleam and his hand twitched as if wanting to wipe something from his mouth but present company made him reserved. There was no need for Mordred to elaborate on which daughter it was that was cooking. It could only be that sweet red headed child that was her son betrothed.

Cersei was used to good food but what the Stark girl could do put every royal chef to shame. Tyrion, her disgusting dwarf brother, had been all but slobbering over the girl's cooking. Truth be told, a small part of her wanted to join them, but royal decorum had to be maintained.

Shaking her head lightly, she looked over to Mordred who nodded as Lord Stark explained the problem. Robert had his arms crossed, not unlike a petulant child while the other two council men in the remained silent.

"So what you are saying is the big baby want to join in a fight that is way out of his league but is too stupid to realize it," Mordred summed up what Lord Eddard Stark told her in a single sentence. Cersei smiled at the flabbergasted look on the man face. He would have to realized that Mordred somehow have become an unofficial member of the small council.

Why, the fact that Mordred decided that a great way to own revenue was taxing Petyr whore houses was a particularly satisfying moment. Robert, Jon Arry, and Varys had agreed and the motion was passed. Back to the matter at hand, she could see Robert fury rising.

"Watch your mouth you little runt, I am KING HERE!" Robert bellowed at his 'daughter' and slammed his fist on the table.

"Then ACT LIKE IT!" Mordred roared in return and also slam her hand on the council table as father and daughter glare at one another.

Mordred was the first to recover and scoffed scornfully at the King before turning to Lord Eddard.

"Let him join, I'll join his same bracket and unhorse him myself," Mordred began and saw Lord Eddard appeared shocked. "As for the Melee, let him, I'll eliminate him first and he'll be safe on his merry way while the Kingdom can laugh at the minute man king."

Cersei drank the wine in her goblet, noting how sweet it tasted, especially in the company of the slack-jawed Hand of the King staring at her daughter.

Robert was getting redder and redder in the face as he glared a hole into his daughter. "Wh... WHY YOU LITTLE-!"

"Five thousand Dragons say I unhorse you in the joust and another five that I take you out of the melee in under a minute," Mordred cut in, causing the King lose his blustered.

Even Varys and Littlefinger stayed out of this, Cersei smirked. Mordred had always won any wager she had against Robert. It gotten to the point where anyone that bet against Mordred where Robert is concern would be called 'sucker bets'. By now, the girl had won over 40,000 Dragons from Robert alone with Robert never being able to win once against her.

'Lannister cunning,' Cersei smiled into her cup, it wouldn't do for Robert to see her laughing at him.

Robert's fury was wordless as his mouth move to say something but not sound came out. Finally, after a great deal of mouth wagging, he calmed down. Then her had a twinkle in his eyes that made her concern, Cersei noted that Mordred also appeared concern. Robert rarely thought but when he did, it was a surprisingly good idea. Good thing he never thought often.

"Okay, fine. The royal family will exclude themselves from the tourney," Robert said suddenly as he viciously smiled at his 'daughter.

Mordred eyes widen and glared at the man. "Why of all the childish- Just because you can't join you are saying I can't either?!"

"You are the Princess of the Realm, act like it," Robert replied in a taunting voice as the blonde girl visibly began to tremble in rage.

"Why you fat little fu-"

"Unless, you fight by my side in the Melee," Robert offered suddenly. "I can still lift my Warhammer, and you have to promise you not come after me until we get half of the opponents down."

Mordred appeared to think about the offer for a while before she shrewdly countered Robert offered with one of her own. "Fine, but we enlist the Kingsguard too. And as soon as I can, I am taking you out of the fight."

Robert grinned. "You certainly can try."

Cersei saw Eddard was about to say something and sighed before walking up to him as father and daughter began to hammer out the detailed of their melee strategy. Placing a gentle hand on his wrist, she led him a bit away.

"It's a better compromise than the one we had."

"What do you mean, he's putting himself in danger," Ned whispered in a low voice to the Queen as he looked to the father and daughter duo.

"No he had put himself in danger when he wanted to join the melee alone and the jousting. Now, he will be entering with Mordred and the Kingsguard. They won't let any harm come to him and after the twentieth defeated person. Mordred will betray him and take him out of the fight. The Kingsguard will disqualify themselves right afterward."

"I am not sure, it seems dishonorable somehow," Ned voiced his opinion again but Cersei could only purse her lip at the stubborn man.

"Like I say, it's a compromised. This is the way the game is played Lord Hand, you will never quite get your way," Cersei smiled slightly before turning around to walk out of the council room.

A moment later Jaime was behind her, she could feel the raw sexual tension between them as they walked together in silence. Now was the time to get some find some alone time with her brother to-

"I see you guys are taking a lovely stroll, mind if I join?" Mordred appeared suddenly behind Jaime, startling the Kings guard.

'I hate you!' Cersei thought unkindly as her daughter walked in line with her step.

+++ The Hand's Tower +++

Lord Eddard Stark, Warden of the North was in his study when a light knock sounded at his door.

"Come in."

Sansa peaked her head in first, her red hair framing her pretty face as she gave her father a gentle smile.

"What is it?"

Suddenly, his daughter presented him with the divine dish known as Pizza. It was a thick hearty slice that took up the plate. The dish was topped with cheese, meat and over vegetables found in King's Landing. And it smelled simply divine.

'Damn it Ned, be stoic, be stoic!'

"For you father," Sansa beamed as she place the tray on the table for her father.

"Thank you," Ned replied firmly in his monotone gravelly voice. 'The cheese is melted... it's fresh from the oven. I love you Sansa.'

Arya appeared a moment later in the door way holding a cup of wine to for him to wash it down with. His youngest daughter beamed at him. He thanked the Old Gods every day that his daughters got along very well though their skills were vastly different. In terms of a lady's skills, Sansa surpassed Arya by a wide mile. However, in terms of Martial skills, Arya was the better sword man and rider, while Sansa is the better archer. He had once seen her put an arrow between a rabbit eye from one hundred yards away. Arya was skilled at the bow but Sansa was ungodly. Her nock and draw time was half of many of his expert bow men.

"Eat it father, while it's fresh," Sansa prompted in a tone that brook no argument.

His daughter was sweet by nature but by the gods if you did not eat her food the way she wanted you too... The frosty glare, the steel behind it... He had to suppress a shudder. Easing his paper work to a side he began to eat the large slice of 'pizza'.

By the Gods, he was going to miss his daughter when she stayed here. He swore if Joffrey mistreat his daughter he would cut the boy's head off himself.

"Where is Bran?"

"He's being instructed by Princess Mordred along with Prince Joffrey," Sansa replied immediately.

"Princess Mordred said Needle is not suited to her style of combat!" Arya pouted as she went to the chair in her father's room and sat on it. Ned remembered that Needle was the rapier that Jon gave her before he went to the wall. "It's not fair!"

"I agree sister," Sansa spoke up causing her little sister to pout some more. "But I am like you in that aspect: nimble and fast."

Ned kept himself respectable as he already ate half of the slice of Pizza while the girls were engaging in talks.

"Father," Sansa said suddenly looking at her father. "I was wondering if I can get permission from you to help me commission a couple of weapons."

Ned stopped and raised an eyebrow at his daughter. "What kind of weapons? Short swords?"

Sansa looked over to her father and took out a parchment sheet to hand it to her father. "Here."

Ned opened the delicately folded paper and looked at the weapon drawing. He stared at the sketches, attempting to make sense of what he was seeing . It was not the straight blade, in fact it appeared curved, like a saber but not quite. From the image, it looked thin like Arya's own blade, yet it was clearly marked to be sharpened on one side. The hilt was different, it was flat and circular, and from the instruction, Sansa wanted it made of wood.

Still, it was not a war weapon and if the blade was that thin, then it would bounce off of armor.

"It's very well traced, where did you copy it from?" Ned took in the professional flawless detail of the blade work.

Sansa blushed but shook her head. "Nowhere... I created myself."

Ned smiled but he really couldn't deny his girl anything. She did so much and never asked for anything in return, the fact that she have done usually mean it was important to her.

"Okay, I'll tell Syrio to help you find a smith to make the weapon since it appeared to be of a similar type."

"Thank you," Sansa said politely and hesitantly hugged at her father's neck. He remembered a time when the girl never display any open signs of affection. Yet, eventually when she realized that her open display of affection made her family happy, she began to do so more and more.

"Ahem," Ned cleared his throat as he handed the paper back to Sansa. "How are you two enjoying King's Landing?"

The two sister eyes each other but it was Arya who spoke up first.

"It stinks father, I mean the smell is so strong on some days, it's not like Winterfell at all!"

"I agree," Sansa pursed her lips. Suddenly she had a weird look on her face. "I guess, the best way to help everyone is to be Queen and introduce sanitation..."

Ned was a bit surprised by her musing but saw her shaking her head, a resigned expression on her face. Truly she was not ready for marriage but then again, what girl was? He remembered when he went to replace his brother Brandon to wed Catelyn. She wasn't any more pleased with him than he was with her. After all, he had loved Ashara Dayne and been forced to marry her out of obligation. He also worried about his daughter's compulsion on saving everyone. It was not as bad as when she was a child but still still think of others before her. She needed to be selfish befitting a girl her age. Arya certainly was.

"Anything else? Did the kitchen staff take issue with your, creating your dishes?"

Sansa suddenly blushed red and looked away. Arya on the other hand eyes gleamed.

"They call her the Queen of the Kitchen!" Arya chirped pleased to see her sister face reddening.

"My My, Your Grace," Ned chuckled as he finished eating and as his daughter taught him, to wipe with a napkin. "So soon already, there still a few years yet before you have to marry Prince Joffrey."

Sansa could only blush in embarrassment.

"If you need anything feel free to let me know, now I thank you for the meal but run along, I have Hand business to attend to and then of course... there the tourney a week from now."

Arya seem excited about the prospect while Sansa just looked on curiously. "We get to go right? We'll get good seats?"

"Right next to the King and Princess I've been told," Ned chuckled, Ayra, Lyanna twin in this life. So willful, so eager to play with swords instead of dolls and dress. Though Sansa was like that to a degree but she always been the perfect one once assigned a task. There was no wildness in Sansa like Arya but there was steel, unyielding steel.

The two girls gave him a lady like curtsey, or in Arya case, she tried, and left him alone to his thoughts. He was still lost as to how things work in the capital but he was certain of one thing. If he needed Robert to listen to him, then he needed to get Mordred on his side. His friend had gotten a lot more stubborn in his ways with old age, yet Mordred, with the same fury as Robert face him head undaunted not caring if he was the king.

There was something fishy about Jon Arry's death and in the notes that he found of the former hand, he spoke glowingly of Mordred. If he could get her on his side, maybe that would bring him one step closer to finding out if Jon's death was foul play or not.

+++Starfall, Dorne+++

Arthur and his battle company, fifty of the most elite fighters of the Eagles Brood, prepared for their march north to King's Landing. Thanks to his input, he was now armored in all black, much like Lancelot one had been. In order to hide in plain sight, he had cut his long hair and instead, adopting a close cut shave much like Oberyn but with wilder curls rather than a flat top.

The Prince of Dorne had left a week earlier while Arthur was waiting for the smith to finish his armor. His company had stayed behind with the two Sand Snakes to show them the way. The finest Dornish steeds hiving been given to him as a gift from the ruler of Drone.

His presence in Dorne was kept secret, only Prince Doran had met him. The ruling Prince had been surprised that Arthur was not interested in reclaiming the throne. However, when he learned of Arthur's real reason for being back in Westeros, the man had embraced him and spared no expense on helping Arthur disguise himself a tourney knight.

Oberyn and Doran expressed surprise on Arthur's knowledge of tourney rules and weaponry, but Arthur only smirked. He had squired with his brother Kay in another life as Arturia for years, he knew a few things about tourneys.

"The men are ready Captain Pendra," Tiroal, elite fighter of the Eagle's Brood, informed his captain.

"Remember not to call me that. Arthur Sand is who I am at the moment," Arthur finished sharpening his blade. "I am but a hedge Knight that made his money in Essos."

"Of course... Ser Arthur," Tiroal slaluted and finished packing up.

As Arthur mounted his horse he was surprised to see Doran and a beautiful woman with dark hair waiting by the rest of his battle group. He tilted his head curiously.

"We are here to wish you luck in getting vengeance for my sister," Prince Doran announced softly.

"And you will have it," Arthur nodded as he saw the woman staring at him. "And this is...?"

Doran grinned and looked slyly to the woman next to him. "This woman is my daughter, Arianne, perhaps it's been too long for you to remember but she was your betrothed."

"Oh," Arthur muttered as he could feel the pretty woman eyeing his physique up and down.

"My Prince," Arianne curtseyed before Arthur perfectly and with perfect grace. "May you have the Mountain's head with you the next time we meet."

Arthur nodded as he easily mounted the steed and made his way out with his company. He spared a few thoughts for his sister but was confident that the Eagles could protect her. It had been years since he'd been in King's Landing and he wondered what surprises would await him there.

TBC!

Up Next: I dunno!

AN:

First off thanks for the encouraging reviews! I quite appreciate it. As for what is my over all plan? Well...

Yeah... I think I am going to ride this story until the wheels fall off. Those that know me, know that I tend to write in spurts. Making it short makes it easier for me. I am still writing it with humor intended but , why not plot right? Why the hell not? So yeah... Till the WHEELS fall off baby!

Keep in mind I am still gonna have shenanigans happen. I am also of two view about Robert. He turn into a fat fuck but he was at one point in time a great leader enough to lead a rebellion and overthrow the dragons. As for his relationship with Mordred, if you haven't guessed it already, she's his favorite and he genuinely love her. In the book, despite the distances, on his death bed, he still profess his love for his family, Joffrey, Merry and Tommen, calling them good children. He was just disgusted by Joffrey and all of them were too afraid of him. The children in turn also loved their father and always seek approval.

So if Robert despite all his fault, his last wish being that Ned take care of his children and look out for them, came form love even though he kept a distance from them. How much greater would it be for someone that simply been there and butt heads with him for years?

As always, C+C welcome, Reviews Appreciated!