The Young Lion

Act 1 Ch 21 A Visit From A Spider 2

[Maester Pycelle Laboratory]

Joffrey was sitting at the table bare chested as his wound was being cleaned and sutured. He had Sandor escort Sansa back to her chambers with her septa, and to stand guard in case there were anymore attempts on her life. He had Barristan send guards to collect the bodies of the marauders who had attacked them, hoping to identify them and who might have hired them. Though Joffrey already had a good idea. 

Barristan stood and watched over the king as he was treated by the old maester. Suddenly the door swung open and the queen regent came barging in unannounced to the laboratory. 

“My son!” She shouted “Where is my son!”

She wore a long red day dress with gold embroidered into it. Her gold blonde hair was worn long and flowed freely past her shoulder. Upon spotting her son sitting on the operating table she rushed over to him taking his head into her hands.

“My baby! Are you alright!?” She asked with a worried expression.

Upon hearing of the attack and that her son had been injured, she rushed to the old ferret’s laboratory as fast as her legs could carry her.

“This isn’t how it was supposed to go.” She thought with anger. “How hard is it to get past one old man and kill one whore.”

“I'm ok mother.” He responded calmly. “It was just a scratch.”

She then took the time to check his cut on his shoulder as she examined it she finally noticed how much her son’s physique had changed. He had put on some serious muscle, his chest and shoulders were now broad and strong. While his arms and abs were cut and well defined. She felt he looked even better than Jaime did when he was his age. She gazed over her boy’s body with a certain glint in her eyes as her hands caressed his shoulder.

Joffrey started to feel uncomfortable by the way his mothers fingers lingered on his body.

“Like I said, just a scratch.” He said as he moved away from her touch.

Cersei had a bit of disappointment and a pout when he moved away from her, something Joffrey picked up on.

“Oh she really is a disgusting degenerate.” He thought with disgust with a mother lusting after her own son, fighting the urge not to vomit.

Suddenly Cersei broke out of daze and turned to the old kingsguard. 

“How could you allow this to happen!” She yelled inches from his face. “I knew you were too old to protect my son!”

Ser Barristan looked down with shame, it was undeniable that he had allowed his liege to be harmed under his watch. It was also true that he was starting to lose his edge, if it were ten years ago he could have killed everyone of those attackers single handedly. But now he struggled with a measly three. Before Cersei could rub anymore salt in the old knight's wounds Joffrey spoke up.

“Mother enough.” He said sternly, catching both Barristan and Cersei by surprise. “He did his duty perfectly and even saved my life. I will not have you besmirching him in my presence.”

“I understand that my boy but what if they managed to do more wouldn’t it be better to have a younger-.” But before she could finish he interjected.

“It was my idea to go out with so few guards.” He said. “We were taken by surprise, that's all, and it was a well coordinated attack. They weren’t there for me, they were after my betrothed, someone knew that we would be out in the city with a small security detail. Do you have any idea how?” He asked, staring her in the eyes giving her the hollow eyed stare that sent shivers down her spine.

“N-no I have no idea.” She stuttered.

Joffrey just stared her down for a moment, her nervousness growing by the second. 

“Oh, well we will have to have Littlefinger look into it.” He said with a sigh as he stood up from the table his wound fully stitched. 

Cersei breathed out a sigh of relief, before straightening back up. Joffrey then put his shirt back on and made his way to the door followed by Barristan. 

“I have other duties to attend to today. Please inform lord Baelish for me, mother.” 

“Yes dear, leave it to me.” She said with a smile watching her son’s back as he left.

As he and Barristan made their way down the stone hallway, Joffrey was busy pondering to himself.

“Great, now I have to move my plans up because of that stupid sow.” He thought as he continued to move past servants who bowed their heads as he walked by them. “I’ll have to have a word with the spider sooner than expected.”

[Joffrey Chambers Nighttime]

Joffrey was up looking over some documents, while Gaius slept in the corner. He drank some wine when he heard a knock at his door. Getting up he approached the door and found his master of whispers waiting. After inviting him in they both sat across from each other at Joffrey’s desk.

“Thank you for coming, Varys.” He said politely as he poured him a glass of wine.

“I will always come when you call, your grace.” He replied, taking the cup.

They both raised their glasses to the other and took a sip. After finishing they both stared at the other intently trying to decipher the other’s intentions.

“You know Varys, I've always been rather impressed by you.” 

“Oh? How so your grace?”

“You’re a man who came from nothing, no lands or famous houses to back you. Yet you’ve managed to build yourself up from the gutters and make your way to the small council. Rather impressive I have to say.” He said as he drank from his cup.

“You're too kind, your grace.” He bowed his head at the compliment.

“It must be one interesting story.”

“Yes but a rather long one.” He replied

“One you don’t like telling people.”

Varys' face twitched a bit. “People I trust.”

“Oh? So you’re saying you don’t trust me?” He asked with a smirk.

“Of course not your grace I meant-” But before he could finish Joffrey interrupted him.

“No, I understand I have done nothing to earn it.” He said, waving his hand dismissively. “I’ve had to play my role well; that of a spoiled prince who lazes about as the realm suffers. One who cares for nothing but my self centered desires. I understand perfectly why you don’t trust me, I’ve played it well just like you.”

Varys’s face broke out with surprise at hearing the young king’s words.

“You play your role well; the master of whispers. One who is sly, obsequious, and without scruples. You almost had me fooled with your performance.” He said with a laugh.

Varys’s face became stoic and serious hearing the king’s words.

“But sadly no, that is not your true nature. In truth you don’t serve a crown or great house, but the people beneath them, the people that you rose up from. Just like me.”

“What do you mean?” He asked with a dead serious tone devoid of his usual coy nature.

“You and I both share a common belief.” He continued. “That it is not a king’s right to rule, it's his duty. His duty is to protect and serve the people’s best interests not his pockets. His duty to stomp out corruption and to use what little time we have in this world to make it a little less shitty after we’re gone.”

Varys looked perplexed at the king's words.

“You and I are cut from the same cloth, Varys, and I need your help to achieve my vision.”

“And what vision is that?”

“A better world.” He said with a smile. “ A world where a man’s worth isn’t determined by his birth or status, but his abilities and character. A world devoid of classes where the poor suffer while the rich thrive. A world where the powerful don’t prey on the weak and helpless with impunity. And only you, my master of whispers, can help me build this new world.” He said, standing up and holding his arms out wide with a grin.

Varys was awed by his king’s words. He felt himself being drawn in by his words that were filled with confidence and conviction like a moth to a flame.

“H-how?” he stuttered.

“I’m sure your little birds have given you the names of those that wish to depose me.” To which Varys nodded. “I need them and thanks to my mothers staged attack today I need to move up my plans.”

Varys looked him over for a moment before reaching into his robe and pulling out a rolled up scroll and handed it over to Joffrey. Joffrey unraveled the paper and looked over the names. He smiled as he read them, most of them were those he knew about already while others had escaped his notice. He also noticed some peculiar names on the list that he knew weren’t disloyal, they just happened to owe the crown quite a bit of money.

“So he’s still testing me huh.” He thought to himself. “No matter they’re of no consequence.”

“So what's next, your grace?” He asked curiously.

“Tomorrow night, meet me at the tourney grounds, and prepare to bear witness.” He said as he placed the scroll into his pocket.

“Bear witness to what?”

“The beginnings of the new era.”