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The Stark by Dscot

I do not own this story.

CH6

On my trip back to the north I decided to stop off at King's landing. I had several papers that needed to be signed. There were also several items and things in King's Landing that I needed to deal with. I also wish to check out the markets before heading back home. I found several seeds and material in Wyl and Sunspear. So I figure that in King's Landing, they will have much more of a selection. Before getting off the boat I had placed compulsions and noticed me not spells on several of my men before setting them on a secret task. The captain was a jovial and good hearted man even so I placed some compulsions on him to stay in port. I left ten of my men to watch the crew and the ship making sure no one comes aboard. I told them to keep an eye out for children especially if they see some that don't have their tongue. Since they are the spymasters little birds.

Arriving in King's Landing I got off the boat and started my way through the city towards the Red Keep. Looking around I was happy to see that the market was starting to come back. Glancing at the stalls, directly in my path to leave the port, I saw several items that I will have to come back to look at more carefully. After passing a tavern I passed some gold coins to my men to go and enjoy themselves in the city but to be back at the boat before sundown. Giving a few extra coins to a couple of my men that I had assigned tasks to. As I pass The Great Sept of Baelor I notice a group of men working on fixing the road and painting the houses alongside the street that takes you from the Great Sept to the Red Keep. I suppose Robert didn't want his grand day of being crowned king marred by having to see burnt and destroyed houses. I also noticed that no effort seems to be made to fix and repair any other roads or houses that wouldn't be on the main thoroughfare. Before I even arrived at the red keep, a runner came up to me dressed in the livery of house Baratheon informing me that Robert and the hand of the king are waiting for me in the small council chamber. Asking me to follow him as he is assigned to escort me there.

When I entered the chamber I noticed that Robert and Jon were joined by several other People. I saw who could only be Stannis there grinding his teeth while staring at me. Sitting next to the grand Measter was a bald plump little man. Jon Arryn stood up and started to welcome me but before he could finish with the courtesies Robert angrily demanded to know where Lyanna was. I informed Robert that I needed to have a discussion with him in private along with Jon. Seemingly infuriated at my reply Stannis started to speak up demanding that I answer my king. Locking my eyes with Robert, I then ordered my bodyguard to grab Stannis and throw him out of the room. Jon was about to protest but before he could, Robert interrupted him and told Stannis to get the hell out of the room. Then turning to the other men bellowed at the top of his lungs for them to get out as well. Looking shocked and insulted, Stannis got up and grudgingly walked out of the room while glaring at me the entire time. Following just behind him shuffled the two other advisors.

I knew that no one could be listening into any conversations in the room since I had the tunnel connecting to the crevice behind the wall of the council chamber collapse. A precaution I took when I was last in the Red Keep. I had the same thing done in the King's chamber as well as in the hand of the king's chamber. If Pycelle or Varys wishes to use it to spy on discussions it will take them a long time before they can secretly remove and repair the hallway that connects to the secret spots.

Breathing out with some relief. I knew the next part was going to be tricky. Before I continued the conversation I took out a wooden disc from my pocket and started to flip it in my hand. I had carved a small disc on the boat ride to Kings Landing. The runes I carved on the wooden disc should have a small calming effect and should suppress anger. The more people in the room the less effective it would be. Knowing that there's no way that I could have this conversation With Robert without Jon. I needed to limit the space around me to have at least three people in it. This device also only has a limited time period before it stops working. I started the discussion telling Robert what had happened after I left Kings Landing. Handing over copies of the agreement I negotiated with Dorne and with the Reach on his behalf.

Then when I started discussing how I found Lyanna in the tower of joy. I activated the disc in my hand. Obviously I left out that Lyanna actually willingly ran away with Rhaegar. I explained that Lyanna gave birth to a child and told Robert that she loved the child no matter how he came about and that she was deathly afraid of him and that he was going to kill her child. After hearing that Robert stumbled back Into his seat as if he's been stabbed. Roberts' face morphed through shock, anger and sadness. While looking into Robert's eyes I told him that the child is under house Stark's protection and if my aunt wishes I will be naming him a Stark. She begged me to go back to the north. I explained that Lyanna does not wish to come to the south. That I as Prince Stark nullify any marriage agreement by my grandfather between house Baratheon and Stark.

Robert was not happy with that. Telling me that he wishes to unite and marry Lyanna and that he would never harm her child. I then denied him again and told him that the agreement had been canceled. Robert started to scream and yell while he pounded on the table. Throwing the jug cup that he was drinking against the wall. I twitched back with the look of surprise as I scrunched down on my chair. Robert stopped his yelling, looking at me surprised and ashamed. Figuring that he believed that he had scared me he calmed himself before sitting down at the table. The truth was that the damn device just jolted me causing me extreme pain then a numbness in my hand.

It took several hours with the help of Jon to get Robert to finally see sense that Lyanna was going to be happier away from the south. I scanned his mind and realized he was upset with me but more upset with the situation. Once he calmed down I had a servant come and bring him some drinks to help him relax while we discussed what to do. At the end of the discussion Jon left us taking the parchments that I had Lyanna sign, giving up any right Brandon may have to the throne. In exchange for the crown actively protecting him. Meaning if anybody was to hurt Brandon then Robert would have to go after them with the same standards as if he was a Prince of the realm. With the absence of Jon, I quickly started going through Robert's head and since he was too drunk he had very little defense. I slowly started to weave blurry memories That made him believe that Jon was the one who pushed hardest to have Robert forsake Lyanna. By the time he wakes up tomorrow Robert will feel guilty for listening to Jon and setting Lyanna aside but would not be able to change his mind. He'll be too embarrassed to speak of it but he will feel that he has wronged Ned, Lyanna and House Stark

By the time the agreements and negotiation and my modifications of Robert's memories were complete. I was exhausted and as I was being escorted to a chamber that was assigned to me my mind went in and out of focus. I don't recall the walk or even where my chamber was but as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out.

The next day I didn't wake up until Late afternoon. I was informed that I was invited to have lunch with Tywin. My uncle was kind enough to inform him that I was still asleep and that I was recovering from our long journey. Tywin then invited me to have dinner with him. I was happy to accept. I arrived in the chambers that were selected to have the meal in, first which I was happy about. I knew this was a power play from Tywin. Tywin wished to change our interaction since the last time we met he was on the back foot the entire time. I guess he had some time to gather his confidence.

I had brought a book to hide in front of my face while I whispered out some spells. Allowing me to make sure the meeting place was secure from any eyes even from any little birds. I was surprised and again happy that Tywin decided to have the meeting with just the two of us. After the meal and before the meeting could start I had stunned him and started to pilfer through Tywin's mind to change his feelings about the events that had happened. I also tried to find-interesting facts that could be useful in the future about Casterly Rock. I did not have my full skills and could not fully get rid of the feeling of hostility he felt towards the north and towards me. So I moved those feelings towards Vale and Hoster. It took longer than I thought it should and I was exhausted after 20 minutes of constant work and adjustment. Using slight compulsion after waking Tywin up. We decided to postpone the meeting until the next day. I ordered my bodyguards to guard the inside of my room while leaving two outside . Telling them to kill anyone who entered the room. Before I could make it to my bed my vision went dark and I passed out.

I had my uncle cancel our meeting for the next day again with Tywin since I could barely think with the pounding of my head. I spent the next three days barely getting out of bed with cold cloth covering my eyes and face. The following day after I recovered we finally had our meeting. In it Tywin and I discussed different ideas and made a treaty between our houses to support each other.

He also wishes to have my help in having his son released from the Kings guard. I of course agreed with him, nodding my head like it was a splendid idea. There's no way that I would allow him to leave the King's guard I need Cersei to have her incest bastards. Throughout the meeting he tried to subtly figure out what was going on with my aunt and the king. I spent nearly an hour maneuvering him into asking me what it would take for me to support Cersei. To Have my support in helping him convince Robert to marry her over Lyanna. Smiling inwardly we discussed certain things that I would expect from Westernland for my support.

The next day before having my meeting with Jon I discussed with my uncle and what we need Jon to decide. We started the conversation with Jon then later we were joined by Robert . We maneuvered the discussion for how important it was for Tywin not to get Jamie and to use him as a hostage to keep Tywin in line. Funny thing was Jon was already pretty set on keeping Jamie in the King's guard. In the end he used us to convince Robert how important it was to keep Jamie here in King's landing . It seemed Jon and I had the same thought about keeping him as a hostage.

When the discussion of Cersei came up Robert looked upset and looked at me with guilt before turning away. Inwardly I was happy to see that my compulsions were working. Since Robert did not object or make any claims against the union. Robert must have some interest in Cersei. Probably just to have sex with her. Him wanting to sleep with Cersei was enough that with the help of the compulsions made our job easy enough to convince him to marry her. I had written up some list of demands that I urged Robert and Jon to ask for before accepting any unity with Tywin.

Unlike in canon timeline Tywin's army took huge casualties in his sack of King's landing. In the other timeline people of King's landing were afraid of the Lannister's soldiers and hid when they would patrol the city. Now in this timeline if a Lannister soldier were to wander off even in a good size unit in King's Landing they most likely will never be seen again. In the previous timeline Tywin used his leverage in having the most intact army to help bolster his daughter to being queen. Now the north had the most intact army. At the end of the war we had just a little less troops then the entire alliance and Lannister forces combined.

So as of now the only value Tywin has to the alliance is the amount of gold he has access to. With my assistant Jon wrote out demands that will make it extremely expensive for Tywin to pay for Cersei dowry. With the payments he has to make to me as well as payments that he has to make to fix and repair King's landing and now add on this bride price. I can see in the future Tywin tightening his hands around his purse since this was going to bleed him a huge part of his family fortune. I am not exactly sure how much capital Tywin has laying around but I'm assuming that he will have to mine much of this wealth since I doubt he has the amount that we are suggesting he pay already mined and turned into gold coins.

It is funny to think that of all the houses that went to war, only the Targaryen and some lower houses have paid more than the Lannister.

The next day we brought our proposal to the small council and I had invited Tywin to sit with me. I was surprised at how well everything came together. Jon as we discussed the previous night gave me enough reproachful glances when Cersei's name was brought up. Stannis helped unknowingly sell my involvement and my seemingly support for the Lannister by grinding his teeth in glaring at me and Tywin.

I started the next conversation with my plea to having Jamie returned to Tywin so he can deal with him. I made it clear that he might have broken his oath but he did kill a tyrant and the murderer of my father. I then glared at Barristan Selmy. I had spent a couple days spreading rumors of how disgusted I am with this so-called knight who stood back and watched my father strangle himself in the attempt to save my Grandfather as he burned. Using it as an excuse I propose that Robert should get all new king guards to protect him. This was Jon's turn to argue and to berate me by saying both Barristan and Jamie are still good men and should stay near the king to protect him.

Arguments went back and forth and eventually we had Jamie brought in. Jon being the sly dog that I knew he mentioned that Cersei was being nominated as the next queen of Westeros. Jon told him he wished to give him the opportunity to go back home with his father to be the next Lord of Casterly Rock and to have his white cloak stripped from him.

Because of the way Jon had asked his question to Jamie. No one in the chamber was surprised when Jamie immediately responded with his wishes to stay in the King's guard. Hearing a growl coming from my side of the room Jon having the smuggest look on his face turned to me then Tywin while smiling.

It took two and a half weeks before the discussions and agreements were finalized with Cersei being chosen as the next queen and Robert's wife. To my surprise without any of my input Jon was able to squeeze more money out of Tywin. I would not be surprised in the amount that Tywin has to pay out since the beginning of this war for his vaults to be completely depleted. He will most likely spend the next half of a decade mine for to pay the rest of his debt. It will take him several more decades to get to half the level of wealth he had in the beginning of the war.

I believe I had achieved all that I needed to in Kings Landing for the time being. I had set people who might interfere with my actions in the north against each other making them focused on each other more than me. By the time my compulsions start wearing off. Their way of thinking would be set to see those closest to them to be more of a threat than any of us in the northern kingdom. Even with all the plans that I had for the north they should think that I'm too far away to truly be worried about. I knew their subordinates and some of the people around this table would point out to them some of the progress that I had planned for the northern Kingdom and how much of a threat it could be for the rest of the realm. Jon, Tywin, Hoster as well as Robert should and will hopefully ignore it believing the other side was trying to use the north as a distraction.

A month and a half has passed since I've been in King's landing. As the city started to fill up with nobles from all over Westeros coming to witness Robert's official ascension to the throne. I decided I did not wish to be here when the coronation of Robert followed by the wedding of Cersei to Robert were to take place.

Another reason for me to return up north was I have noticed that my bodyguards are starting to fall apart. The magic that was holding them together was slowly eroding the rune matrix. While checking on some of the rune I noticed several matrices stop functioning and what appears to be cracks in the stones. I'm glad I built in redundancies as well as building rune rays to siphon some of the built up energy. I estimated that four of them probably have another two months before they will stop moving. Two of the others will probably last three months or longer. It's the last one that I'm worried about. It was the one that I connected to in the invasion of King's landing. Looking at the sections with golden woven runes that should be safely bleeding some of the energy was damaged. I noticed the energy starting to build up in several locations. I probably will have a month before it either shuts down or explodes.

Robert tried to convince me to stay for his crowning. I explained that I wish to return back to the north and I'm not enjoying the weather in the South. Afraid of actually sending more compulsions on the man in case I fry his brain I just convince him it's important for me to return home. I had chartered three ships to take me to white harbor. I had purchased multiple things in the shops as well as procured several dragon skulls and bones with Robert's permission. I was also happy to hear that my men had accomplished the task that I had set for them.

It was on a gray and gloomy morning that I had the ships pull their anchors and started my journey back to the north.