Bending the Knee (Anyone)

[kingjoffrey]

The crown upon his head shone resplendently in the high noon sun. His palfrey trotted gently through the red brick streets as King Joffrey rode towards the Red keep with his retainer of knights, Lannister swords, Gold Cloaks and his King's Guard. The small folk showed respectful but muted support for the new king as he rode by, but he waved the royal hand all the same. King Joffrey Baratheon, the first of his name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm - "The great Lords and Ladies will pay me homage as these vermin do" he whispered to himself as he mulled over his lengthy title in his head. He had sent ravens to each noble house in the Kingdom, summoning them to King's Landing to bend the knee and pledge fealty. He was to host the Lords and Ladies in the evening, and he looked forward to making a spectacle of some of them. He intended on making new appointments to his small council, and relished the prospect of passing judgement before court on those not in attendance.

[Lena Arryn]

Lena had been preparing to leave Casterly Rock for the Vale when the Raven had come. When it was read to her by Torin it took all of her will power not to laugh heartily and dismiss the summons of a childish boy king.
Instead she nodded her head politely and agreed to come along with him to speak for the Vale.

It was true Lena cared little for Joffrey much the same way she did not care for her own brother, children were not meant to be rulers, they were meant to be groomed until the day they could be kings. In Lena's opinion neither child had what it took to lead men any how.
Non the less the donned her blue and silver gown again. She didn't need the veil this time she wanted every one to know who she was and why she was going to Kings landing.

Both Lena and Torin had arrived at the same time. Lena knew Lysa would not go to Kingslanding and she knew Joffrey might send an army if no one from the Eyrie appeared to represent the Vale, so Lena stood tall and knew again she was doing the right thing for her people.
As they passed through the city gates she looked to Torin- the man who was uncle to the boy king who may soon be her own husband.

[Torin Lannister]

It was good that Joffrey had called the Lords to Kings Landing, Ser Torin would go to represent Casterly Rock and present Lena to represent The Vale and then he could speak to Joffrey about putting down Robert Arryn in favour of Lena to ensure their loyalty in return for him being named Warden of the East. While the idea of Jaime being named Warden of the East was rather.....offensive to the Lords of the Vale they might have a very different tune if he was husband to Lady Lena, especially the Lena Arryn Loyalist Lords that Torin would be aiding.

They arrived in King's Landing and made straight for the Red Keep. It would be good to see Cersei again, it had been a while. He had been unable to celebrate her husband's passing with her. Ser Torin arrived adorned in his full armour bar his helmet which was tied to his horse. He felt it was important to be seen as he intended to be seen when he was in King's Landing. A giant of red and gold armour with his tremendous sword over his back.

He sent ahead a runner to inform the King that his Uncle had arrived in the city along with Lady Lena.

[targaryen]

"The pretender calls me to bend my knee?" he had roared when his brother Victarion told him of the raven from King's Landing. "I'd sooner bend his mother over a table and bend his father's spine across my knee." Kargan had been disgusted by the idea of kneeling before a child born of incest, but when Aeron and Victarion spoke - Aeron with the voice of the Drowned God - Kargan listened.

Ocean's Herald, Iron Victory and Whore's Bain stalked up the Blackwater into King's Landing as sailors and merchants eyed the reaper vessels with fear. They dropped anchor in the river and rowed to the pier; two-score small rafts, bringing five men each. When the Kargan and his reapers came ashore the smallfolk parted. Kargan held Tide Pillar in his right hand and a note in the other. He looked to a young boy standing with his mother at a bread cart - "Boy" he growled, gesturing for the boy to approach. "Take this message to the Red Keep. Tell them Kargan Greyjoy will be present at court for his . . . Highness. Be quick about it now boy, lest I throw your pretty mother to my men and make a whore out of her." The boy took the note from Kargan's hand and ran.

[Lena Arryn]

As they rode onward towards the Castle Lena took in the sight of heads rotting at the castle gate upon pikes. It made her stomach turn at such a sight.
For a boy Joffrey had quite a way with dealing with those who may have quarreled with his father.

She kept straight steering her horse through the streets, as they made their way to the castle proper to see the king upon his iron throne.
Bend the knee... She thought silently full of bane to her self. More like taking shackles.
Lena wondered what fool hardy tricks Rob Stark would be playing against Joffrey and the Lannisters, and she hoped silently they worked to his favor.

[Torin Lannister]

Ser Torin rode with Lena, although in the distance in spotted the Greyjoy ships coming in. He wasn't sure if he was surprised. He had almost expected Kargan would take the divided Kingdom and use it as a chance to pull away, Joffrey would have enough on his plate to deal with, nevermind the Greyjoy's kicking up their tricks again.

"Have you been to the Red Keep many times?" asked Ser Torin as they entered it before he dismounted his horse. A Lannister servant took it and awaited Lady Lena so they both may be stabled. It was good to stand tall in his armour. Torin took his helmet from his horse, holding it under one arm he offered the other to his Lady, to help her dismount.

[adelaidebaratheon]

Riding through the gate at Kings landing the Lady of Storms End pulled back the curtains and peeked for a moment at the sights all around her. It had been many years since Adelaide had crossed the threshold of the Red Keep and it was strange to be here now that Robert had passed.

She closed the curtains tight and took a deep breath, her mind racing through scenarios of what would happen if some one found out she was loyal to Stannis.
That little brat Joffrey would have her head- and Duncan's- or worse.
Closing her eyes Adelaide straightened her dress one more time across her knees and sighed trying to calm her nerves.

[kingjoffrey]

Joffrey sat upon his horse in the courtyard of the Red Keep, watching three large ships coming up the Blackwater across the city, "Savages from the Iron Islands" he remarked as the Kraken fluttered far below. Joffrey had demanded that all Lords come pledge their loyalty to him, but his mother had warned him that Iron Islander's were notoriously difficult to bring to heel. It pleased him to see the Greyjoy ships, "Perhaps this will be easier than I thought" he said to himself. "Come" he barked as the ships dropped anchor, "I want wine and music. Send for a singer." With that he dismounted and strolled into his castle.

Having received the message that his uncle and the sister of Lord Robert Arryn had arrived in the city, Joffrey and his retainers went to await them in the courtyard. The lion of Lannister and the falcon of Arryn rippled in the fresh breeze as the joint host approached the wall of the keep. Joffrey, donning a gold and crimson doublet over fine black robes, looked regal as his war-hardened uncle dismounted. His uncle was every bit a Lannister - armored, tall and golden. Joffrey smirked and waited for the Lion and the Lady to approach him.

[targaryen]

Kargan and his reapers strolled slowly through the vast capital city. As they walked the smallfolk eyed them with disdain and fear. Kargan looked to the second story of a large brothel as a particularly grotesque looking whore shouted at sailors passing by. When Kargan caught her eye she fell silent, and as Kargan stared at her with cold, iron eyes she slid slowly out of view. Tide Pillar, rusted from salt and speckled with crusted blood, loomed menacingly as the Greyjoy troop prowled the narrow streets. Gold Cloaks eyed the reapers nervously, stepping out of their way when they approached - "Kravens" snarled Kargan as they passed a pair of young Gold Cloaks. They did not retort.

As they walked the reapers dispersed slowly down the narrow streets in small teams, until the Red Keep loomed a quarter mile ahead and Kargan had but a few men by his side. He rounded a corner to see the stag fluttering on a field of gold down the street from him -"Stannis showed his face? Surely not."

[Lena Arryn]

As Lena moved down from her horse with the assistance of Torin she took his arm and let him guide her to the steps of the Red Keep.
It was all for show, the idea of actually touching him made her feel ill and if there weren't layers upon layers of fabric plus her dagger between them she'd have walked ahead of him most haughty like.
"As a girl I came here many times, I spent a year in Kings Landing the first year my father was the Hand of the King, but I was sent home to look after matters of the Vale." That and Jon feared that Lysa and Lena might kill each other- or to be fair Lena might kill Lysa.

"I suppose while it seemed harsh at the time it taught me when to lead... and when to follow." The last part she said with a slight edge to her voice hinting that she not happy about following him.

[Torin Lannister]

Ser Torin nodded as his future wife explained her time in King's Landing in her younger years. She was playing the good Lady and that was a result, but he was very well aware she was still bitter about how thing's had happened. Hopefully marrying her and giving her The Vale would tide thing's over enough that she could crack a genuine smile once in a while.

Then Joffrey came into view, the Knight of Casterly Rock gave a broad smile at the sight of the boy. "Nephew!" he exclaimed before stopping himself with a raised hand. "Ah but wait.....Your Grace" his tone was proud and the chuckle that rumbled out of his chest light hearted. A light bow highlighted his point.

"I am here in my father's absence, so the Great House of the Lannisters can make their pledge to the King, and might I present Lady Lena Arryn of the Vale, on behalf of Robert of the Vale." It would be Robert Arryn for now, but soon the Lannister army would march on the Vale and then Lena would sit on the high seat. Then Joffrey would make Ser Torin warden of the East, he'd have to talk to Joffrey about that.

[tywin]

Three hundred Lannister horses thundered towards the gates of the capital, and when their banners came into view the gates were pulled open. Tywin had taken a small force with him to King's Landing - the King's Road was not safe for even Tywin Lannister since Ned Stark lost his head. They slowed to a gallop as they passed beneath the walls, and slowed to a trot as they made their way towards the Red Keep. The sight of Lannister horsemen in the streets of the capital put fear into the hearts of the smallfolk who still remembered the sack on the final day of Aerys Targaryen's rule. On that day the Lannisters had arrived and put hundreds to the sword, indiscriminately, and the lion still terrified the vermin. The small Lannister host followed the bending streets as they went, and before long the gates came into view. "I expect my son has arrived" Tywin declared, spurring his horse onwards.

[Lena Arryn]

When Torin greeted Joffrey Lena let go of his arm and bowed her head in a small bow as she was introduced. "It is an honor to stand before you."

She couldn't believe how young Joffrey was it made her worried about how he would be as king he might be as reckless Robert was in the Vale.
She kept her face stoic, blank. It would be very bad for both herself and the Vale if if she were to cross the king.

[adelaidebaratheon]

When the caravan came to a stop Adelaide was helped from her carriage and was a led up to the steps of the Red Keep, the Lannister red banner shown brightly in the sun and her stomach clenched. This was a dangerous move.
If she were found out as a traitor to the crown Joffrey would have her head on a spike- the boy was just unhinged enough to do it.

Ascending the steps Adelaide saw Torin greeting Joffrey and saw Lena Arryn the daughter of Jon Arryn. What on earth were they doing together?
She put the thought from her mind and switched on the sweet auntie Laide that had doted on Joffrey before he'd become such a cruel boy.
"Joffrey, your grace, you look well." She smiled warmly, bowing deeply to the golden haired boy.

[kingjoffrey]

Torin approached, smiling his broad smile. A beautiful young woman walked beside him - Lena Arryn of House Arryn. Torin's words were full of joy and energy, and Joffrey relished hearing his warrior uncle paying him homage. "It's good to see you uncle, and the flower you brought from the Vale". He smiled a toothy smile, but his cold eyes hardened as he surveyed the warrior woman. "I expect King's Landing is a welcome change for you Lady Lena? All we seem to hear of the Vale these days is word of hairy savages and sickly lordlings - how fairs young Robert?". He looked again to Torin, "I knew House Lannister would continue to support me uncle. In times of war and rebellion only House Lannister can be truly trusted".

No sooner had the words escaped his lips when the Baratheon banner passed beneath the wall of the Red Keep, and from a carriage stepped Lady Adelaide of Storm's End. She approached and stooped to a bow before Joffrey could say a word. "Aunt Adelaide" he said in an icy tone, "I wondered if I would see you here". He bid her rise and placed his hand on her shoulder - "I am very glad to see you've chosen to ignore my uncle's poison words".

As he spoke with Adelaide, a young boy ran to the guards at the gate of the keep, before passing them and falling to his knees before the King and his gathered friends - "Your g-g-Grace, t-t-the Greyjoys are c-c-coming". The filthy boy remained kneeling as Joffrey eyed him with raw contempt, "Very well. Now leave my sight boy, before I have you flogged for speaking without prompting".