The throne room was restless. Joffrey paced before the Iron Throne, his golden hair catching the light of the torches, his young face twisted with anger. The lords, guards, and maids stood frozen, unsure if they should speak or remain silent.
Cersei, walking forward with her usual composure, studied her son carefully. She already knew he was furious, but what worried her most was what he might do in this mood.
"Mother," Joffrey snapped, turning toward her, "Why stop me. I will have his head before the crowd. Let all of King's Landing know what happens to traitors. If I don't act as the rightful ruler of this land then who will. You're making me look weak."
Joffrey complained, angry and loud.
Cersei narrowed her eyes. "That would be a grave mistake."
Joffrey scoffed, throwing his arms out. "A mistake? No. It will be justice. He plotted against me, against my crown! Let his death be my first command as king."
"Listen to me," Cersei said sharply, stepping closer so her words would cut through his pride. "We do not have the Stark girls. If Eddard Stark dies now, what do we hold against the wolves of the North? Nothing.
Before the day ends, the news of King's demise and Ned Stark's capture would reach to the far north.
Those savages will immediately initiate a war." Cersei explained.
"Then let them, I'm the king. If they come then they all will die. My armies would burn them alive." Joffrey argue back.
Cersei knew this gonna cause a commotion and thus he had brougth him back to the small council room. Only few people were here, from Varys to Grand Measter Pyscelle. However, for some reason the master of coins was missing.
Cersei didn't care if little finger was fucking one of his whore by now, she cared abot his lion making a wrong decision. "Yes, we can do that. But why even let it to that much. If you have Ned Stark alive, in prison. The north would hesitate to act at all. We could have gotten his head if even his daughters were here as a piece to bargain later but they're gone."
Joffrey curled his lip, like a child refusing a lesson. "I am king. I don't need shields. A king doesn't make bargains. If the North rises, I'll crush them. I'll put every Stark head on a spike, just like how I'll do to Ned Stark."
Cersei's patience frayed, but she kept her tone steady. "You are king, yes—but kings need leverage. Keep Stark alive, and we keep the North at bay. Kill him, and you give Robb Stark every reason to march south with his bannermen."
"I don't care!" Joffrey shouted, his voice cracking. He slammed a fist against the throne's arm. "They will fear me more than they love me. That is the mark of a true king!"
Cersei's own irritation was flaring now, this idiot son of her wasn't understanding the complexities of the politics.
So some degree even she doesn't care much about the north, what she really feared was her own father. Yes, she was the queen in name but how much power she really held, that was a question only she knew.
Most of the real power hold by her father, Tywin Lannister. He pays for all the coffers she burns. He pays for all the Lannister guards, he pays for her lavish expenses, he pays for everything and he controls everything.
Even Jamie wasn't here, all the consequences of this upcoming war which his son will start by killing Ned Stark here would fall on her head.
Not to mention, now that Ned Stark was gone, sooner or later her father would come back to King's Landing, take the position of the hand of the king.
The real power would be taken by him sooner or later. No, she can't have it. She won't let it.
Cersei stepped closer, her green eyes flashing. "No, Joffrey. Fear lasts only so long before it turns to rebellion. If you kill Stark, you hand our enemies their cause on a silver plate."
"I said I don't care!" Joffrey shouted again, his face red. "I am king! I will not be told what to do—even by you." He jabbed a finger at her. "You are my mother, but you are not my queen. The throne is mine. My word is law."
"And a law without wisdom is just madness," Cersei shot back, her voice sharper now. "Listen to me, child—"
"I am not a child!" Joffrey screamed, his whole body trembling with rage. "I am the king, and I will have Stark's head! Bring him forth! Now!"
The room was silent but tense. Even the guards shifted uneasily, glancing at Cersei.
Cersei tried one last time, her tone softer, coaxing. "Joffrey, think. Just think. Spare Stark, and you will appear merciful. The people will cheer your name. You can kill him later if you must, but for now—keep him alive."
But Joffrey shook his head violently. "No! No more words! Bring me Stark's head or I'll—"
"Or I'll…"
Cough Cough…
Suddenly he stopped. His hand went to his throat. His face turned red, then purple. He gasped, choking, clawing at his neck as though invisible fingers gripped him.
"Joffrey?" Cersei cried, panic cutting through her composure. She rushed forward, catching his arm. "What's happening? Someone help him!"
The boy staggered, his eyes bulging, spittle at the corner of his mouth. The few people in the small council were flabbergasted at what sudden happened.
"Grand Maester!" Cersei screamed. "Pycelle, do something!"
The old man rushed forward, fumbling with his hands, but it was too late. Joffrey collapsed to the ground, his limbs twitching before falling still.
Cersei fell to her knees beside him, shaking his shoulders, tears streaking her face. "No… no, no! Wake up! My son, wake up!"
Her cries roar through out the room, the guards outside were startled and ran inside only to see the queen shouting over the limb body of her own son.
Joffrey had foam coming out of his mouth, eyes were widen, almost popping out with veins protruding from his forehead.
"Pyscelle, what are you doing. Hurry up and help him." Cersei snapped at the poor man trying to check on Joffrey's nerves, as he found nothing.
"My queen." Pyscelle didn't dare completely say it, just shook his head, but Cersei refused to believe it.
"It's a poison," He said after a while, still not believing what happened.
Varys, who was long lost up to this point, too looked taken aback by this sudden turn of events. A conspiracy which he didn't know was hard to find in Kings Landing and if Kings Landing has something in abundance besides rot and piss, then its conspiracies.
"Who did it. Find him. Turn the castle upside down if you must, but I need the culprit." Cersei roared.
Behind Everyone was standing the current commander of the king's guard. After Ser Barristan, the king's guard commander's position was given to him in the absence of both Ser Jamie Lannister and The Hound.
He wasn't an important man, with an unimportant name and face. He only had one duty, which he died doing. Now, only a shadow remained. With his name, with his face.
"Valar Mogulish." Muttered he who had no name.
xxx
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