*000000*

Bran circled to the left, avoiding the blow. He moved as Barristan taught him. In a duel, retreating straight back was almost never the best course of action to take. As Tyrek's practice blade narrowly missed, he tried to redirect it toward Bran's new position. This awkward change in direction robbed it of power and Bran solidly blocked it and countered with a sharp blow toward his opponent's calf.

Tyrek's blade was out of position and his weight was on the foot so he couldn't avoid the blow. With a clack and a cry of pain the King's squire toppled to the ground. Barristan called a halt and helped Tyrek to his feet.

Bran felt a swell of pride. Tyrek was three years older and much taller. This was the first time he had bested him. He regularly defeated Tommen, when Tommen made it the yard, but that was never a challenge.

Tyrek was red faced as Lancel mocked him for losing to a 'little boy.'

Ser Barristan frowned at Lancel. "You should not jest at the expense of your cousin; the bout was well fought."

Lancel didn't have the fortitude to contradict the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard so he ducked his head and the matter was dropped.

Bran grabbed water from a flagon. It had been a good day and the arms training was likely done. Ser Barristan did not have much time to spend training with his other duties. The young Stark did make sure to practice on his own and go through the forms, the parries, and the strikes. He would be a knight and a member of the Kingsguard.

Barristan approached and was about to speak with the princess when a retinue of half a dozen red cloaks arrived at the yard. Brienne, the giant warrior woman was with them as well.

"Lord Commander, what a pleasant surprise." Myrcella greeted.

He bowed. "Princess Myrcella, what brings you here?"

"My sworn shield will be practicing against multiple opponents and to make things a bit livelier she'll be protecting me."

Bran noticed that the beautiful princess was not wearing her normal dress style. Her outfit today was yellow and black and cut so that there was no train to her gown. Her blond hair was also tied back and out of the way.

Barristan did not approve. "This is most inappropriate and potentially even dangerous. Are you sure this is wise?"

"Worry not, their weapons today will be staves with a bit of red dirt at the end. Brienne loses if they stain my gown. She wins if they get tired of being bruised."

Bran watched the two closely and after a moment of eye contact the elderly the knight let out a soft sigh. He motioned Tyrek over. "Go to the White Sword Tower and advise Ser Mandon Moore to attend the King until I relieve him."

The princess nodded graciously and Bran watched as she explained how the guards would come two at a time, when one pair gave in, the next would go.

Bran was fascinated. The two guards essentially wielded spears without the metal tip. They started at one end and came on toward Brienne. When they were within ten paces, they split up to approach Myrcella from two different directions. Brienne launched herself at one and the man stepped back quickly while the other surged forward toward Myrcella.

Myrcella was not idle and had followed in Brienne's wake. Brienne caught up to the one guard and lashed out with a strong blow that he took on the haft of his staff. Her tourney sword had weight and mass enough to smash it out of his hands. He put his arms up as Brienne's second swing cracked into his armored forearm and he was knocked back and to the ground.

Brienne turned with more than enough time to intercept the 2nd Lannister guard. He tried to get around his opponent but she blocked him. He retreated and the other guard went for his staff. Brienne must have sensed it as she rushed back over and struck several times in quick succession. The second guard sprinted toward Myrcella and lunged with the red dirt side toward Myrcella who backed a step and let Brienne once again intercept. This time Brienne grabbed the staff and yanked it out of the man's hand and the two yielded.

"Next group!" Myrcella called out.

Bran looked wide eyed at how fast Brienne moved in full plate. She was quick and ruthless. The princess did her part to make her job easy, by always staying with a few feet of Brienne.

Barristan was frowning and Bran wondered why. "Ser, the training looks safe enough for the princess, they have not even been close to touching her."

"The touch is unlikely to harm but as the men get desperate to win, they will not be careful, the last lunge there would have bruised if she wasn't well away from it."

"Then why didn't you stop it?" Bran asked.

Barristan spared him a glance and a smile before returning his gaze to the princess. "Myrcella can be persistent, if I had tried to forbid her, she would have just done it later when I was busy with my duties. This way I at least can observe and step in if there is a danger. Also, the princess knows what she is about. I have never seen her suffer injury or misstep. Once she started to walk, it was as if the Maiden guided every step she took."

Bran nodded, remembering her skill when playing sticks with Arya. The second group was also easily dispatched. Brienne was a terror, even with a blunted sword her strikes were devastating. He noticed that she never aimed for the head, they were helmeted but with the power of her strikes it could cause serious injury.

The third group tried a novel tactic of trying to rush past Brienne at exactly the same time. Brienne struck down the one to her left and Myrcella immediately ran to that side of Brienne forcing the last guard to engage in Brienne which was again, futile.

Myrcella congratulated her sword shield's efforts and then made sure all the guardsmen were no worse for wear outside the bruising.

"Two is a bit too easy, are you ready for three?" She asked. The Lannister guards lined up again, a few groans but they still seemed game.

The knight turned to Bran. "Bran, I will speak with your father tonight. You have served well as a page and I see no reason to tarry in making you, my squire. You bested the King's squire in a fair spar, you are ready for more."

Bran thought his heart would burst out of his chest. He had known he would be made a squire if he worked hard, but he didn't think it would be this soon! His dreams of becoming a great knight would be one step closer!

"It will mean more work. A squire's job is not always glamorous as you've seen by watching Lancel and Tyrek with the King. You will be responsible for the upkeep of my arms and armor and my horse. Depending on my duties you may be away from your family more than you are used to. I go where the King goes and if King Robert wishes to travel, I will attend him and you will attend me. Are you prepared for that?"

"Yes Ser Barristan! I will do my duty as your squire no matter what."

He smiled and then gave a slight wince as Brienne crashed a Lannister guard to the ground.

"I believe he is done for the day." Barristan mused.

Bran got to watch as the second group of three tried a particularly absurd but oddly effective tactic. Two charged Brienne directly and released their weapons after one attack and then clutched at her armored legs, curling their body around each limb. Brienne looked surprised and then raised down a blow on the shoulder but he hung on gamely. Meanwhile the third charged straight toward Myrcella.

Bran was a bit alarmed as the guardsmen closed the distance. Myrcella had started running away after seeing Brienne unable to move, she was quick but the red cloak's stride was twice hers. As he grew close enough to touch with the staff she abruptly stopped, pivoted, and ran perpendicular to her prior course. The guard had more momentum and couldn't turn nearly as sharply. He vainly tried to touch her with the staff tip but she was out of reach.

Brienne managed to extricate herself from the other two guard's grip and the final one yielded before she came to even strike him. Bran thought that was craven, even if he stood no chance. Some of the men had started to call her the 'Terror of Tarth.' He couldn't decide if this was meant to be insulting or praiseworthy. He didn't think girls liked to be called terrors but girls didn't normally wear plate armor and win Grand Melees.

One more attempt was made by the first group of three and then the soldiers were all done in. Many sported minor injuries and at least one thought he may have cracked a rib. Myrcella smiled and dismissed them. Barristan excused himself and Bran was left alone with them.

"How is it apprenticing under Ser Barristan the Bold, Bran?" Myrcella asked with a slight smile.

Bran was struck by how not a hair was out of place. There was a slight sheen of sweat from her execrations and that was the only sign she had just ran at top speed and dodged away from a trained soldier trying to get at her.

Bran's tongue felt thick in his mouth as he tried to respond properly. "Y-es your Grace. I mean, it is an honor and I am learning so much. He is the living greatest knight of Kingsguard." Stumbling over his words he felt his cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

"I'm gladdened to hear it; I am sure you will be a valiant knight one day. Is Duty well?"

"Yes, I wish I could take him out more and…" Bran's eyes widened as the name of his direwolf sparked a reembrace of his duty to his father. Father had made it very clear that if he spent time with Myrcella, he was to always have two of his father's men around him. He hadn't understood why and Arya had become incensed when father wouldn't explain. Father had threatened to take away her dancing lessons if she didn't comply and that had quieted her down. Chewing on his lip he realized he needed to leave.

"I, uhm, just realized I need to be late to something, I mean not be late to… something. Your Grace." He nodded his head and then walked off hurriedly.

"Give my love to your sisters." Myrcella called to him and he shouted back he would.

***

​Lum sat nursing his drink with the other Lannister guardsmen. He had been kept quite busy with tasks for the princess these days. Errands to purchase all sorts of ingredients from herbwomen and apothecaries. Myrcella had ordered him to purchase various items that were poisonous to one degree or another or could be used to induce sickness that was unlikely to be fatal. He didn't ask what it was to be used for and he honestly didn't want to know. She scared him.

He couldn't get the memory of that grin out of his mind. She had seemed euphoric and ready to do further violence after she killed the assassin. Lum knew without a shred of doubt that had he acted differently to make her think he was in league with the would-be killer he would have been dead. It didn't make a lick o sense; she was just a girl who weighed less than half of what he did and yet he knew it. He knew it.

He didn't find it all bad though. Being paid extra never hurt and it wasn't as if he had to do anything dangerous in the service of the princess. The odd bit of business the other day was simple enough and no blood had been spilled.

His fellow Lannister guardsmen gave a cheer when they saw Jyck and Morrec enter the inn. Those two were Tyrion Lannister's personal guards. They hadn't been seen in months due the dwarf's odd desire to see the frozen Wall in the north. It wasn't just comradery that caused those cheers. Jyck and Morrec were paid very well by Tyrion and they would often buy a round or two of drinks with their wealth.

"Did you freeze your manhood off?" Dake asked laughing, he was already in his cups, his face ruddy.

"Nearly! Never been so cold in my life, and we visited during summer! Summer!? It was ice and snow in every direction." Jyck replied. Morrec also shuddered in memory of the chill.

Sure enough, the two ordered a round of drinks for everyone, on them. Lum was well off but he'd be damned if he intended to waste it on drinks for other people. The sooner he could save up enough to cease working at all the happier he would be. The people of the city had no love of the red cloak he wore and the feeling of angry eyes on him all the time wore on him. The princess had sat him down and helped him calculate what he would need. Odd behavior was now becoming the norm from her but her eyes seemed to glow with excitement at the topic, like other girls would talk of pretty things. He was grateful, it gave him a goal to work toward and it was realistic.

"What has been happening here?" Jyck exclaimed. "Half of you look like you had to fight off a mob just to get here."

His fellow guardsmen laughed and groaned in equal parts.

An older guardsman, their same rank but older than most answered. "It's the princess, she and the prince had a falling out I here. She goes and gets herself a sworn shield, almost as big as the Hound!"

Another added. "And uglier!" Another roar of laughter.

The older man continued. "I still think Clegane can take her and I reckon that's what the princess thinks too. So, she has the seven be damned Terror of Tarth practice against us."

"Terror of Tarth?" Morrec asked.

"Brienne of Tarth, biggest damn woman alive. She won the Grand Melee, tackled Thoros of Myr right off his horse!"

Lum was glad he hadn't had that duty yet. Armor had been dented, heavy bruises received, cracked ribs and one broken bone had been the casualties so far. He knew from the talk that Brienne had even held back, avoiding striking the head and face for fear of more serious injury.

Jyck snorted. "This is mummery, trying to pull one over on the weary travelers, even after I bought you lot a round?"

Lum supposed it did sound absurd. After several more spoke up and confirmed it to be true Jyck gave in and believed it.

"And Captain Tregar allows this?"

"You think Tregar is going to oppose Princess Myrcella? Lum asked incredulously.

Jyck thought about it for a moment and then nodded. You did not gainsay royalty, even if Myrcella was far less volatile than Joffrey, it wasn't a good idea.

Dake took a long gulp from his cup. "The captain gives us time off our normal duties if we are selected, so there's that. The princess also will give each man 5 gold dragons if they mange to win one of these contests."

Conversation flowed from there but Lum would be taking his leave. He'd stay just long enough to see if the pair of guards would order another round, no sense wasting his own money when he could keep building his 'nest egg.'

***

​I was pleased to see Uncle Tyrion back in Kings Landing. His love for learning and clever mind made him an excellent conversation partner. As always, I lamented his refusal to play nice with his father and sister, his potential was sorely wasted and as a former HR professional it frustrated me. That was an old worry though and it wouldn't derail my happiness at having him here.

"You've grown!" Tyrion exclaimed. Technically I had but it was less than an inch, nothing to write home about.

"You are likely the only one to notice, uncle."

He laughed at that.

"What was the Wall like? Truly 700 feet tall?" I asked. I didn't doubt the historical record but confirmation was always good.

"Yes, and I managed to piss off the edge of it without freezing my cock off."

This is the sort of comment that plagued my uncle's prospects.

"Of course, even in freezing winds it takes 10-15 minutes for frostbite to take effect. Given that the male urinary delivery system is also closer to the core of the body than extremities like fingers and toes it was quite unlikely that your member would freeze off."

My uncle blinked, I do enjoy his bemused expression a cross between humor and frustration. Then he blinked again and narrowed his eyes.

"You do this on purpose don't you, Myrcella."

"Do what?" I asked, perfectly mild and innocent.

He grinned, amusement in his eyes. "You have been playing me a fool for quite some time, haven't you? I deserve it for seeing your age and size and making assumptions."

"Your attempts to get a reaction out of me were amusing uncle, I enjoyed the little game."

Tyrion shook his head. "You know this doesn't change things, I still intend to draw a reaction from you at some point."

"You can try." I gave him a toothy grin and then asked him about his trip.

"What was the Night's Watch like? I'm deeply curious."

"Sadly, it has seen better days. To quote Lord Mormont, "The Night's Watch has become an army of sullen boys and tired old men."

That made sense, few voluntarily joined the Night's Watch unless they committed a crime or were on the wrong side of a conflict. Jon Snow, Benjen Stark, Waymar Royce and Samwell Tarly as the few names I knew who had volunteered of their own volition. It seemed a miserable existence, like permanent duty in Siberia.

"And how is Jon doing?"

"The royal princess concerned about a bastard?"

"In truth, it is his direwolf that fascinates me. Lady, Nymeria, and Duty have uncanny intelligence and are already growing so large. I am curious if Ghost is the same. With Joffrey marrying Sansa our families will be joined, despite his birth both Arya and Bran are extremely fond of Jon."

Tyrion quirked an eyebrow. "And not Sansa?"

"I wouldn't say she's fond but she bears him no ill will."

Tyrion nodded, curiosity on that front satiated. "Jon is struggling to find his place but I see something in the boy, he will rise far in the Night's Watch."

This was good. I had not been able to test if my increase in magical ability was related to the direwolves or not. I was starting to lean toward no but there was something different about them. I still wanted to have one for my own and having someone placed highly in the Night's Watch who could be on the lookout for more direwolf pups was ideal.

"Would it cause strain with his comrades if I sent a gift of few things that would likely be difficult to provision in the North?"

"A good question, he's already marked as different given his formal training. I would hold off for the moment but I'm sure he would be gladdened by a letter that details what his sisters and brother have been up to. You'll find most noble children aren't as fond of correspondence as you."

Tyrion cracked his neck and then added. "I'll be speaking with the King and our new Hand about the state of the Wall. I promised the old bear that I would do so, maybe something would come of it with a Stark as Hand. He's worried about what is happening north of the Wall, rangers are going missing and rumor has it that Mance Rayder, the famous 'King Beyond the Wall' is amassing an army."

I tapped my chin thoughtfully. The wildings were generally not a threat, they were quite backwards in comparison to the Seven Kingdoms. Their weapons and armor were inferior and mostly taken as opposed to crafted. They could be a threat. While Eddard was here, the North was governed by Lady Stark and her untested son. If the wildings breached the Wall, they could threaten the North. The Maesters had wild estimates of the actual population north of the Wall. Some placed it as ten thousand at most while others claimed far higher estimates.

Was this what Being X had planned? A barbarian incursion? While wary I thought it unlikely. Dacia had a large army but due to their inferior technology and military doctrine I crushed them handily. They might be a threat to the North but the more advanced Seven Kingdoms could crush them easily. Still, it wouldn't hurt to keep the borders strong.

"I would love to be of assistance with this uncle. I've developed a decent working relationship with our Master of Laws and he could add his voice to yours when you address the small council."

Tyrion guffawed. "Master of Laws? Renly? He's a droll fellow but not taken seriously. And worked together, in what way?"

I smiled, remembering my victory. "Mother objected to my desire to have a sworn shield, so I worked with Uncle Renly to go around her. I now have Brienne of Tarth as my sworn protector and Tommen has Ser Guyard Morrigan."

"And how did my sweet sister take the news?"

I lowered my eyes for a moment. She hadn't taken it well. "It was a bit contentious for a few weeks but we came to an understanding."

Tyrion shook his head in disbelief. "My sister has no love for the Storm Lords. I'm surprised she didn't confine you to your room until you reach maturity!"

"Let's not start this again uncle, my mother is prone to occasional fits of unreasonable anger but when her rage has cooled, she can be sensible."

Well… for the most part. Nearly killing poor Rosamond wasn't very reasonable of her. And while I trusted Tyrion not to gossip about it, there was no need to share those details with him. It would just cause a further rift between the two siblings.

Tyrion seemed surprised. "I sense a story here, what 'fit of unreasonable anger' has Cersei committed while I was gone?"

"Uncle, can we please focus on how we are to best position additional aid for the Night's Watch?"

"This really isn't something you need to involve yourself; I'm not even involved other than passing along a request and plea from the Lord Mormont."

"Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well. They were kind and hospitable enough to you from what you say, it would be a worthy gesture to take it seriously." I retorted.

Tyrion groused but he came around to my way of thinking. And maybe just maybe Tyrion could impress Stark and perhaps be given a formal role of some sort. By all the laws of the Seven Kingdoms he should inherit Casterly Rock but I could see the writing on the wall already. Unless Tyrion proved himself to grandfather, he would be cut out of his inheritance. Time to once more slay multiple birds with one stone.

***

​Eddard Stark was furious and heartbroken. How could the man he loved as a brother condone such a heinous action? And for what? It wasn't as if the Dothraki were likely to ever cross the Narrow Sea. He had thrown down the symbol of his office, he could not be the Hand to such a King as Robert now was. It was time to go home.

What frustrated him was that the truth of Jon Arryn's death still eluded him. It was certain that the Lannisters had done it. The Queen was so bold as to even teach her daughter how to use poison, it sickened him. Yet with no proof and every trail gone cold, what could he do? At this point all he could do was return to the North and away from the pit of vipers that was Kings Landing.

He wondered if perhaps he should return to Winterfell by sea. He was no sailor, and ordinarily would have preferred the Kings Road, but if he took ship he could stop at Dragonstone. Stannis Baratheon had been working with Jon Arryn and Stannis had left swiftly after Jon had died. Ned didn't suspect Stannis of course but maybe Robert's brother had the missing piece of the puzzle.

It upset him that there had been no reply after he had sent him a letter asking for his return to the small council. Had Stannis changed like Robert had? He doubted it, but he had been surprised more than once since leaving Winterfell.

What to do with Bran? Ser Barristan had made him his squire. It was a tremendous opportunity for his son to fulfill his dreams of knighthood and even a place in the Kingsguard in the future. He trusted the aged Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. However, it would also break Catelyn's heart to not have Bran return and if he remained in Kings Landing it would put him in danger. He could always have him squire with someone like Ser Marlon Manderly though that was quite the step down.

He summoned Vayon Poole and had him begin preparations. The steward suggested it may take a full fortnight for his entire household to be on its way. He had brought a guard of fifty and along with them an equal number of servants, grooms, maids, and some of their families. A full hundred with wagons, wheelhouses and horses was not light travel. He decided the sea would be the proper path to take. He could travel with his daughters, and potentially Bran, and the rest of his entourage could take the Kings Road. He commanded Vayon to go to the docks and learn if there were any suitable ships for travel. Another messenger was sent to fetch Bran since he had been living away from the Tower of the Hand as Barristan's squire. Bran was nearly 10 and deserved a say on if he stayed or returned to Winterfell.

A brief time later one of his heavier set guards announced a visitor. Tomard spoke up, "Lord Baelish to see you, m'lord."

"I have no business with him, send him away." Lord Stark commanded.

Tom turned away and he could hear voices muffled by the door. Littlefinger was not easily dissuaded it seemed. Curiosity prickled him, what did he want?

Tom opened the door again, Baelish waited respectfully away from the entrance. The Master of Coin had climbed an awful lot of stairs just to be turned away and yet after the council meeting and Petyr's japes when speaking of murdering an innocent girl Eddard had no desire to speak with him.

"I'm sorry m'lord but he says you would want to see him; he says that he's found the brothel you were looking for. I told him I'd have him escorted forcibly away but he laughed and said to deliver the message and you would understand."

Ned frowned. He had sent some of his men to locate the brothel that Jon and Stannis had visited, which one had eluded him. Jory didn't often fail him but there were so many of the damned things in Kings Landing they had not found one to have claimed to see them. If Petyr knew which one that could give him one last chance of finding he clue needed before he left the city. He owed that much to Jon.

"Send him in."