𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 | The Return

{ Joffrey }

✧✦✧

𝕵offrey had truly believed, when he had threatened the High Sparrow, that the man would heed his words and not annoy him but unfortunately there had been no such luck. Whilst the king had been preoccupied with his wife and son, the Faith Militants had let themselves into the Red Keep without his agreement, and taken Margaery, Loras and his mother into custody. Now, he was fuming.

He stalked through the city to the Sept of Baelor, much like a lion towards its prey, a foul glare upon his face as his guards struggled to catch up with him.

"Joffrey!" The man stopped his silent plotting, looking up at the sound of his name. Drew came hurrying over, slipping through the guards to reach the man's side. 

"Drew, are you okay? Is something wrong?" The thirteen year old now stood closer to his shoulder height, his brown hair curly atop his head. Joffrey checked him over for injuries, but Drew merely shook his head.

"No, I was just wondering if I could talk to you but if now isn't the time...?" He trailed off, looking at Joffrey's dark glare and the hint of a scowl on his face. "Has something happened?"

"I need to speak with the High Sparrow," Joffrey muttered in response. "But walk with me and you can ask me what you wished to when I am done."

"Alright," Drew nodded, falling in next to the king as he stormed through the streets of Kings Landing, past market stalls and blacksmiths, until they reached the large open market place, with the Sept of Baelor at one end of it.

Joffrey hurried up the stairs, Drew rushing after him as he tried not to be left behind by the older man. As they grew closer to the top, the pair became aware of the Faith Militant blocking the doors, but Joffrey was undeterred.

"You can't go in, Your Grace." Lancel held his hand out in front of him, but Joffrey scoffed.

"Try and stop me and my guards will remove your head," He growled, stalking past the man and purposefully hitting their shoulders in the process. Lancel stumbled backwards, allowing Drew to slip through and after Joffrey.

"What has happened for them to be so annoyed with you?" Drew asked, looking around the Sept in awe. He hadn't been back in there since Joffrey and Lyra's wedding a year earlier.

"I'll tell you afterwards," Joffrey shook his head, before catching sight of the High Sparrow. "Wait here."

"Okay," 

"Your Grace," The High Sparrow walked over to meet him, a smile on his face. He was slowly starting to realize that he needed to get Joffrey on his side, so that the Faith could become even more prevalent in the kingdom. The commoners trusted Joffrey's guidance and more would come to them if the king said that it was supported by the crown.

Joffrey did not share the same sentiment of integrating the High Sparrow further into his court, not after the past few weeks of unrest.

"I thought I warned you about the dangers of arresting members of the royal family," He glared. "So, I want both Margaery Baratheon and Loras Tyrell out of the dungeons now."

"I cannot do that, Your Grace, they are awaiting trial," The High Sparrow shook his head. "Just like your mother."

"Fine, then when is their trial?" Joffrey rubbed a tired hand down his face. 

"That depends, Your Grace, on how quickly they come to terms with their sins and when they repent for that,"

"Well, I hope they will be out shortly, for my brother and wife's sake," Joffrey muttered, more to himself than the High Sparrow, knowing that Lyra was going to be upset with this decision. She had not heard of it yet for she was on bed rest, but she would be fuming when she found out.

"Queen Lyra?" Looking back over his shoulder, Joffrey narrowed his eyes at the High Sparrow. "I was not aware that she would be so upset over these decisions."

"Keep my wife's name out of your mouth or I will have your tongue removed," Joffrey growled, his hand resting on his dagger. He shot the old man one last glare, before spinning on his heel and stomping up the stairs, his temper more foul than before. "Come, Drew, we're leaving."

As they exited the Sept, Joffrey fixed Lancel with another glare before beginning the ascent to the Red Keep, Drew hot on his tail. As they grew further away from the Sept, Joffrey's temper finally began to simmer and he heaved a deep sigh of annoyance, before turning to look back at Drew.

"You wanted to ask me something earlier?" Joffrey noted, as the smaller boy nodded quickly and hurried to walk beside Joffrey. 

"Do you remember when we first met?" Drew asked, watching Joffrey from the corner of his eye, waiting for a nod. "I told you that I wanted to be a knight and you said to give it a few more years and then you'd see what happens."

Joffrey stopped walking, watching Drew as the boy began to muster the courage.

"I know that I was supposed to be a page years ago and that I have very limited training worthy to be a squire, let alone a knight, but I can read and write," Drew listed, his tone rushed. "I'm a fast learner, I can follow orders and I'll work hard."

"Drew..."

"You were the only one who believed that I could do it, the only one," Drew muttered. "Even my mother didn't think that I could be a knight, or even read and write, but I can do that now. I can do that because you found an orphanage that would help to teach me. Please, Joffrey, I want to become a knight. I want to help serve and protect you and your family."

Joffrey sighed, before thinking things through and running a hand through his hair.

"You'd be six years behind the other pages which means you'd have to do a lot of training to catch up with them, you understand?"

"Yes,"

"And I won't be going easy on you,"

"I understand," A grin was slowly growing on Drew's face.

"Then, if this is what you truly want, we should go and have a talk with Mrs. Waters,"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Drew chorused, wrapping his arms around Joffrey. The king froze, his muscles tensing, before he relaxed and patted Drew on the back as the younger boy squeezed him. "You won't regret this, I promise you."

✧✦✧

When Joffrey returned to the Red Keep, he had Drew in tow, who was grinning like a mad man. All of his belongings, though there wasn't truly much, had been passed off to an awaiting steward to take to the dorm room where the pages slept. 

"Your Grace," Rolan appeared, bowing his head though he watched Drew with curiosity. "Her Grace is in the throne room."

"Why is she up?"

"We could not convince her to stay in the royal chambers, Your Grace," Rolan muttered. "But Arah is with her, as is the Stark guard, Tylar."

"Tylar is back?"

"Yes, Your Grace," Rolan nodded. "And Jaime Lannister has left on important business."

"I see. Thank you, Rolan," Joffrey nodded, before taking off towards the main throne room with Drew on his tail.

"Where was Tylar?"

"All will be explained later, Drew," Joffrey muttered, motioning for the guards to open the doors to the main room. They creaked open slowly, allowing Joffrey to slip through them. His eyes softened as he spotted his wife.

Lyra looked radiant, her hair pulled back in the familiar Northern braids, and her crown glimmering above them. She wore a pale blue dress, and in her arms was their son, who's fist was clutched around the silk of the dress.

He felt himself smile at the sight of her, chuckling as he saw that she was sitting on the Iron Throne, though Arah and Tylar were no where to be seen. Courtiers and servants milled around the throne room, watching the interaction with curious eyes, but Joffrey paid them little heed.

"My Love, what are you doing?" Lyra looked up, a grin forming on her face as Elia snaked around her legs, looking up at her mistress with adoration in her eyes. "I thought you were supposed to be on bed rest."

"I was just showing Mikael where he was going to sit when he was older," Lyra replied, looking up at Joffrey as he reached her and pressed a kiss to her head. "Where were you?"

"Threatening people," Joffrey muttered in response. "I do believe you're in my seat." 

"Yes, I am," Lyra giggled, before catching sight of Drew and lighting up. "Drew! What are you doing here?"

"He's going to be my squire," Joffrey revealed, sending Drew a half-smile. 

"Oh that's brilliant," Lyra looked like she wanted to hug him, but she glanced down at Mikael in her arms and paused.

"I can hold him, Lyra," Joffrey muttered, as Lyra stood up. She watched him with soft eyes before nodding. Carefully, she placed Mikael into his arms as Joffrey sat on his throne, before rushing to embrace Drew, talking to him in hushed tones. Joffrey froze, looking down at his son, who was watching him with bright eyes. Joffrey held his finger out, allowing his son to grasp onto it, his small hand barely fitting around his father's finger. 

He let out a soft chuckle, rubbing the back of his knuckle along the baby's cheek as Mikael slowly began to smile. The fear left Joffrey as he relaxed further, clutching onto his son as if he might disappear at any given point.

"Well, if it isn't the little prince," Joffrey paused, before turning to smile at Tylar, who was grinning like a maniac. "Congratulations, Your Grace."

"Thank you. How was Dorne?" Tylar hummed, before nodding.

"It was good. Your sister is doing well and having fun. She loves the idea of being fostered in Dorne, as did the Sand Snakes, which is good," Tylar smiled, before cocking an eyebrow. Joffrey breathed a sigh of relief at the news that his sister was alright. "Can I hold him?"

"Of course," Joffrey handed his son over, his muscles relaxing though his heart sped up. He may not be as comfortable with holding his son, but as soon as Mikael was out of his hands, his heart rate picked up in fear that something would happen.

"So this is the newest of the Baratheons," Tylar grinned, Arah appearing on his other side and smiling as Lyra and Drew re-joined them as well. "He looks like you, Your Grace, the same eyes."

"That's what everyone says," Lyra muttered, before she wrapped her arm through Joffrey's and gave it a squeeze. "Hopefully, he will have my common sense."

"I think he'll have your temper," Tylar countered, a teasing smirk on his face. 

"I will set Elia on you, watch it," Lyra countered in return, sticking her tongue out as Joffrey shook his head in amusement. Arah laughed, leaning past Tylar's shoulder to look at the little baby. 

"Are you alright, My Love?" Joffrey took the moment to turn back to Lyra, whispering in her ear as she curled into him.

"I am happy that our family is back together again,"

Hiya,

Thanks for 23k and Joff, Lyra, Tylar, Arah and Drew are the cutest family with Mikael. I absolutely adore Tylar and Joff and Tylar and Lyra's relationship, so can't wait to show more of that. Also, Joff threatening people is so much fun.

Let me know what you think and next update is Saturday.

Love Li xx