Robert Baratheon

"What in the seven hells is happening here?" Robert's loud, booming voice snapped everyone out of their thoughts as he entered the room, a massive frown on his face.

Robert was exactly as Lucas had heard and expected him to be. He was massive in size but fat. Even so, Lucas had no trouble seeing the once formidable warrior beneath it all.

With that frame and the strength he still carried, he had no doubt Robert would have been one of the finest warriors in the realm during his prime.

Barristan Selmy and Jaime Lannister flanked Robert, standing just slightly behind him. Even this Lannister bore an expression of sheer confusion, though he wisely remained silent. Renly and Stannis followed behind their brother, while Petyr Baelish and Varys were also not far behind.

"Nothing serious, Your Grace," Lucas replied, sheathing his sword back into its scabbard.

He stepped forward and bent at the waist in a proper greeting. "I was just teaching my little nephew a few lessons in behaviour and respect."

Robert frowned. He neither liked the Lannisters nor felt much genuine affection or attachment toward his son. Joffrey had inherited none of the typical Baratheon traits. Under his mother's guidance, he had been thoroughly groomed in the Lannister ways. But even so, seeing a man place a sword to his son's throat, his heir's throat, was not something he could simply ignore. He needed answers.

He was about to demand the exact details of what had happened when Jon Arryn intervened.

"Your Grace," Jon said as he approached the small knot of people that had suddenly formed, "perhaps we should proceed with our breakfast arrangements first. All other issues can be discussed afterward."

"Our guests, particularly Lady Tyrell has been waiting for too long," he added.

Robert, though not a very good politician, understood exactly what Jon Arryn was trying to convey. Jon wanted him not to speak too much on the matter to let it drop, at least for now.

Robert decided to accept Jon Arryn's wise counsel. He would learn the full truth later, directly from Jon's mouth, and only then decide whether his intervention had truly been needed. If not, he would decide on a wise course of action.

He gave a nod. Seeing no reaction from his father, Joffrey was about to lash out over the lack of action when Cersei's hand came down firmly on his shoulder. She gave it a forceful squeeze.

Joffrey turned to see his mother glaring at him. At this stage, he was not yet completely beyond control, and he understood how much he depended on his mother's support.

He swallowed whatever words he'd been about to spew and settled for shooting Lucas a fierce glare.

The tension in the room eased considerably as Robert took his seat, followed by the rest of them.

"Lady Tyrell," Lucas first greeted the older Tyrell then towards Margaery, "Lady Tyrell."

"You were just incredible now, Ser Lucas," Margaery said with a small smile adorning her face.

The arrangement was such that Stannis was sitting directly in front of him and Renly next to Stannis. Lucas gave a curt nod of greeting to both the Baratheon brothers.

"I hope your journey to King's Landing was without any trouble, Lucas," Robert began.

"It was smooth, Your Grace, without a single hitch," Lucas replied.

He then turned and gave a nod to Gary, who had been standing quietly by the wall of the hall.

"Your Grace," Lucas continued, drawing the attention of the entire hall, "I believe most of you might have heard some rumours about a new drink that's recently come out of Lannisport."

By this time, Gary had reached the table. From beneath his cloak, he withdrew two bottles and placed them carefully on the table.

"This is the Sky Pearl Purified Wine," Lucas explained, gesturing toward the bottles. "I began brewing it three years ago, and it has been aging ever since."

Several ears at the table immediately perked up. Most of them had heard of it through one mouth or another.

It was clear from Robert's expression, though, that he had no idea about this wine. Even so, he didn't say anything.

"Serve it," he boomed, and two maids hurried off to carry out his command.

Glasses of wine were poured for everyone at the table. Given that the bottles were not large, it amounted to just a few sips each. Also, Lucas had not anticipated meeting the king in such a sizable breakfast gathering that included three Tyrells.

Just as in Casterly Rock, everyone was immediately captivated by the fragrance alone.

"Now that I smell it," Robert laughed, picking up his glass, "I regret not keeping both bottles for myself."

"Your Grace," Barristan Selmy interjected from his side.

"Worry not, Ser Selmy," Robert chuckled. "I doubt Ser Lucas would try to poison me in front of so many witnesses."

Barristan said nothing more, and Robert took the first sip. The moment the wine touched his tongue, his face transformed into an expression of pure bliss.

"Wonderful! Wonderful! Excellent!" Robert boomed. "I have never tasted anything like this."

Everyone else followed, sipping their own wine and their expressions all said the same as Robert's words.

"I never knew you could brew such fine wine, cousin," Cersei praised from the sidelines.

Joffrey, who was not allowed to drink, scowled at everyone who were showering Lucas with praise but no one paid him any mind.

"It seems that, like his metals, Ser Lucas is too possessive to part with his wine as well," Renly remarked slyly from across the table. "A couple of bottles of such wine is clearly insufficient especially for so many people."

Lucas smiled as he replied. "Worry not, Lord Baratheon. I have another barrel of this wine with me, meant as a gift for the king. And in probably another couple of days, my merchants should arrive. At that point, every one of you will be able to buy the wine."

Renly nodded and said no more. If he had to buy like everyone else, what respect did he command. Did he not even qualify for few barrels of free wine?

"You are truly wonderful, Ser Lucas," Margaery said shyly from the side. "First those metals, and now this wine."

"Thank you, Lady Tyrell," he replied graciously.

Meanwhile, Joffrey, seated across the table, was seething with anger. It should have been he at the centre of attention. He was the heir to the throne, the next king. But no one paid him any mind.

Only his mother's silent warning kept him from speaking out. Otherwise, he would have already exploded. But he would have his revenge. This he had firmly resolved.

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