[King's Landing]

In the aftermath of King Joffrey's tragic demise, the capital city of King's Landing was in a state of turmoil. The Lannisters, led by Queen Cersei, were determined to maintain their grip on power and protect their heirs, Prince Tommen and his pregnant sister Princess Morgana Baratheon.

Among those most affected by Joffrey's passing were his family members, particularly his mother, Queen Cersei, and his sister, Princess Morgana Baratheon. Both women were known for their beauty and cunning, but now they found themselves in a precarious position, as the throne passed to Morgana's brother, Tommen, who was still just a child.

To prevent any further harm from coming to her family, Cersei ordered that all of Morgana's food and drink be thoroughly tasted before she was allowed to consume them. This included every morsel of meat, every sip of wine, and even the water she drank. No expense was spared in ensuring the safety of the future king, princess and her unborn child.

Tommen, too, was under heavy guard, but his protection was more symbolic than practical. As the soon to be crowned king, he was already surrounded by a contingent of loyal guards and advisors. But Morgana, as the potential mother of the next Lord of Winterfell and Casterly Rock, was seen as the true prize.

But as the dais passed, the young princess grew restless under the strict confines of her imprisonment. Longing for freedom and fresh air, she begged her mother to allow her to take a walk within the castle walls.

Cersei, torn between her desire to keep her daughter safe and her own paranoia over potential assassination attempts, finally relented. But only if Morgana agreed to be accompanied by a contingent of guards at all times.

As they strolled through the castle gardens, Morgana couldn't help but feel suffocated by the constant presence of her escort. Every morsel of food or drop of wine she attempted to consume was carefully inspected and tasted by the watchful servants, leaving her feeling like a prisoner rather than a royal.

Despite the oppressive atmosphere, however, Morgana found solace in the beauty of nature. She marveled at the vibrant flowers and lush greenery, taking comfort in the simple pleasures of life that seemed so far away from the political intrigue and backstabbing that plagued her family's rule.

[Great Sept Of Baelor]

As the procession made its way through the winding streets of King's Landing, the air was heavy with the scent of incense and the weight of mourning. The banners of House Lannister and House Baratheon hung limp and somber, their golden lions, black stags and crimson roses dimmed by the tears of those who had gathered to pay their respects to the late king, Joffrey Baratheon.

Among them was his older sister, Morgana Baratheon, her face pale and drawn as she walked beside her mother, Queen Cersei, and her younger brother, Prince Tommen. Their grandfather, Lord Tywin Lannister, followed closely behind, his eyes fixed on the ground, his jaw clenched tight.

Morgana's thoughts were consumed by anger and regret as she gazed upon the lifeless body of her brother, laid out on the ornate stone dais in the center of the great sept. How could this have happened? Joffrey had been so full of life just hours before, laughing and jesting with his subjects and family as he prepared to marry his beloved Margaery Tyrell. And now, he was gone, taken from them all in a act of violence that would forevr change the course of their lives.

As the priests chanted their prayers and the crowd wept and wailed around her, Morgana felt a cold fury building inside her. These people acted like they knew him. Like he was a good king, and not one who's first decision upon becoming King sent the realm headlong into war.

But for now, she forced herself to focus on the task at hand, taking comfort in the familiar rituals of the funeral rites. As the ceremony drew to a close and the mourners began to disperse, but the royal family remained behind.

Joffrey's body was laid on a table in the center on the room, his eyes covered with stones that had green eyes painted on them. Cersei, Morgana, Tommen and Tywin and stood around him.

Tywin turned to Tommen. "Your brother is dead. Do you know what that means?"

Tommen remained quiet.

Morgana looked at her grandfather shaking her head. She may not have liked Joffrey, but did her grandfather have to speak of Tommen becoming king while they stood in front of the recently deceased one?

"I'm not trying to trick you."

"It means I'll become king."

"Yes, you will become king. What kind of king do you think you'll be?"

"A good king?" Tommen sounded unsure.

He didn't expect to become King. That title he knew would go to his older brother.

"Mm, I think so as well. You've got the right temperament for it. But what makes a good king? Hmm? What is a good king's single most important quality?"

"This is hardly the place or the time." Cersei interjected.

"Holiness?" Tommen guessed.

"Hmm. Baelor the Blessed was holy. And pious. He built this sept. He also named a six-year-old boy high septon because he thought the boy could work miracles. He ended up fasting himself into an early grave because food was of this world and this world was sinful."

"Justice."

"Yeah. A good king must be just. Orys I was just. Everyone applauded his reforms. Nobles and commoners alike. But he wasn't just for long. He was murdered in his sleep after less than a year by his own brother. Was that truly just of him? To abandon his subjects to an evil that he was too gullible to recognize?"

"No."

"No."

"What about strength?"

"Yes. Strength. King Robert was strong. He won the rebellion and crushed the Targaryen dynasty. And he attended three small council meetings in seventen years. He spent his time whoring and hunting and drinking until the last two killed him. So, we have a man who starves himself to death, a man who lets his own brother murder him, and a man who thinks that winning and ruling are the same thing. What do they all lack?"

"Wisdom."

"Yes!" Tywin said as it seemed Tommen had landed on the correct answer.

"Wisdom is what makes a good king."

"Yes. But what is wisdom? Hmm? A house with great wealth and fertile lands asks you for your protection against another house with a strong Navy that could one day oppose you. How do you know which choice is wise and which isn't? You've any experience of treasuries and granaries or shipyards and soldiers?"

"No."

"No. Of course not. A wise king knows what he knows and what he doesn't. You're young. A wise young king listens to his counselors and heeds their advice until he comes of age. And the wisest kings continue to listen to them long afterwards... Your brother was not a wise king. Your brother was not a good king. If he had been, perhaps he'd still be alive. Now, as the king, you will have to marry. Do you understand why?"

Tywin and Tommen began walking up the steps to leave the Sept.

"A king needs a queen."

"Yes, but why? To further the family line. As your sister has. Do you know how that happens?"

If Morgana didn't wish to strangle her grandfather any of the other times he had angered her, she certainly did now.

The boy's brother's body wasn't even cold, and here he stood telling the King of ten and four he needed to marry and produce heirs.

Because if he died without an heir, the crown would fall to her, and her children.

"Yes." Tommen answered.

"Yes, but has anyone explained the details to you?"

"I don't think so. It's all relatively straightforward."

Jaime entered. "How are you?" He asked Tommen, his only remaining son, even if he didn't know it.

"I'm all right."

"You are. You will be. I'll see to that."

Tywin and Tommen exited.

"Please give the queen a moment alone with her son." Jaime said.

"Yes, my lord. All of you." The High Septon snaps his fingers and the priests exit.

Sensing they wanted to be alone, Morgana did not wait to be asked to leave. It wasn't a hard decision. Some may call her cold and unfeeling. Sure they had met Joffrey, the King, but they hadn't met Joffrey, the brother. The brother who took great pleasure in the suffering of everyone, especially his siblings. And, as heir to the Throne, he often got away with it.

He approached his twin who was staring at her eldest son's body.

"It was Tyrion. He killed him. He told me he would. "A day will come when you think you are safe and happy and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth." That's what he said to me. You saw it. You saw Joff point at him just before he..."

"I don't know what I saw."

Everything had happened so fast.

"Avenge him. Avenge our son. Kill Tyrion." Cersei pleaded.

"Tyrion's my brother. Our brother. There'll be a trial. We'll get to the truth of what happened."

"I don't want a trial. He'll squirm his way to freedom given the chance. I want him dead." She cried. "Please, Jaime. You have to. He was our son. Our baby boy."

Jaime consoled Cersei, kissing her. Cersei stepped back, gasping.

"You're a hateful woman. Why have the gods made me love a hateful woman?" Jaime grabbed Cersei and forcefully kissed her, pressing himself against her.

"Jaime, not here, please. Please."

Jaime ripped at her dress. They ended up tangled on the floor by the altar.

"Stop it. Stop it. Stop."

"No." Jaime refused.

"Stop it. Stop."

She continued to resist, but her resolve was weakening. They kissed, and Jaime brought her to the ground and forces himself on her.

"Stop. Stop. It's not right."

Jaime ignored her, grunting.

"It's not right. It's not right." She kept repeating.

"I don't care."

Cersei continued to cry. "Don't."

"I don't care."

"Don't. Jaime, don't."

"I don't care."

[King's Landing - Brothel]

Prince Oberyn and Ellaria had been engaging in one of their favourite activities.

With them; Marei, Olyvar and an unnamed whore.

They had been enjoying themselves until Tywin Lannister stormed in.

"Prince Oberyn."

"Lord Tywin."

"May we have the room?" Tywin requested, though there was belief it was a command rather than a question.

"Call my name if you need me, lover." Ellaria said before she, Olyvar, Marei and the unnamed whore exited.

"Would you like to sit?" Oberyn offered.

"No, thank you."

"Some wine?"

"No, thank you."

Oberyn put on a robe before pouring some wine. "I'm sorry about your grandson."

"Are you?"

"I don't believe that a child is responsible for the sins of his father. Or his grandfather. An awful way to die."

"Which way is that?"

"Are you interrogating me, Lord Tywin?"

"Some believe the king choked."

"Some believe the sky is blue because we live inside the eye of a blue-eyed giant. The king was poisoned."

"I hear you studied poisons at the Citadel."

"I did. This is why I know."

"Your hatred for my family is rather well known. You arrive at the capital, an expert in poisoning, some days later my grandson dies of poisoning."

"Rather suspicious. Why haven't you thrown me in a dungeon?"

"You spoke with Tyrion in this very brothel on the day that you arrived. What did you discuss?"

"You think we conspired together?"

"What did you discuss?" Tywin repeated.

"The death of my sister."

"For which you blame me."

"She was raped and murdered by the Mountain. The Mountain follows your orders. Of course I blame you."

"Here I stand unarmed, unguarded. Should I be concerned?"

"You are unarmed and unguarded because you know me better than that. I am a man of reason. If I cut your throat today, I will be drawn and quartered tomorrow."

"Men at war commit all kinds of crimes without their superiors' knowledge."

"So you deny involvement in Elia's murder?"

"Categorically."

"I would like to speak with the Mountain." Oberyn said.

"I'm sure he would enjoy speaking with you."

"He might not enjoy it as much as he thinks he would."

"I could arrange for this meeting.

"But you want something in return."

"There will be a trial for my son. And as custom dictates, three judges will render a verdict. I will preside. Mace Tyrell will serve as the second judge. I would like you to be the third."

"Why?"

"Not long ago, the Tyrells sided with Renly Baratheon. Declared themselves enemies of the throne. Now they are our strongest allies."

"Well, you made the Tyrell girl a queen. Asking me to judge at your son's trial isn't quite as tempting."

"I will also invite you to sit on the small council to serve as one of the new king's principal advisors."

"I nevr realized you had such respect for Dorne, Lord Tywin."

"We are not the Seven Kingdoms until Dorne returns to the fold. The king is dead. The Greyjoys are in open rebellion. A wildling army marches on the Wall. And in the East, a Targaryen girl has three dragons. Before long, she will turn her eyes to Westeros. Only the Dornish managed to resist Aegon Targaryen and his dragons."

"You're saying you need us? That must be hard for you to admit."

"We need each other. You help me serve justice to the king's assassins and I will help you serve justice to Elia's."

He left Oberyn to consider.