(Author's Note)
--------------------------------
Quick note, This story is mostly to highlight the stormy relationship between Joffrey and Lyonel. It's mostly from Lyonel's POV, but hopefully next chapter we'll get some of Joffrey's POV of the very bad relationship between the princely brothers. Anyways, enjoy the chapter!
--------------------------------
(The Kingsroad, The Trident, The Riverlands, The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Westeros)
--------------------------------
(Crown Prince Lyonel Baratheon POV)
--------------------------------
Lyonel was keeping an extra close watch on Joffrey and Sansa that day. They'd been camped at the Trident and this was the point in time that Nymeria and Lady left the pack.
Lyonel had taken to walking along The Trident and practicing his Swordsmanship he wasn't practicing against anybody. But he had Uncle Jaime with him and they were on the hill overlooking Arya and Micah.
''Is that Joffrey?'' Turning to his Uncle, Lyonel feels his face tighten.
''Let's go, stay silent. Let's just see what happens.
--------------------------------
(POV Shift: Daenerys Targaryen)
--------------------------------
Why was Viserys so obsessed with regaining the Iron Throne? They had a chance to have a life elsewhere. They could have been happy.
But their path was set, and her new Husband would provide Viserys with his army. But she wanted to know more about their enemy. Viserys always went off on a tangent about one for another. So she was grateful for the counsel of Ser Jorah Mormont.
''King Robert has three sons yes?'' She asked.
''Aye, Khalessi. Lyonel, Joffrey, and Tommen. My spies tell Me Lyonel Baratheon is a skilled warrior and was Knighted some months ago. He has two Valyrian Steel Swords he acquired during the Greyjoy Rebellion. Red Rain and Nightfall.'' Says Ser Jorah.
''Who does the elder prince take the most after?'' Asks Daenerys.
''Most likely Tywin Lannister. Two years before the Greyjoy Rebellion and four years after, King Robert sent his heir to foster under his grandfather. Afterward, he squired under Ser Barristan Selmy.'' Says Ser Jorah.
''And what of the younger sons?'' She questioned.
''Joffrey Baratheon is said to be sadistic and impulsive. Tommen Baratheon is said to be kind and compassionate.'' Says Ser Jorah.
''So more than likely we'll have to face Lyonel Baratheon?'' She asked.
''God's willing we'll face his younger brothers, but yes Princess, that seems most likely.'' Ser Jorah said distantly.
--------------------------------
(POV Shift: Arya Stark)
--------------------------------
Things were going just fine till Sansa and her beloved prince showed up. But despite the situation she was at a loss to explain what was happening before her eyes. She defended her friend and then the prince was on her, swinging his sword at her wildly.
Nymeria launched at the prince, clearly intending to defend her. But all of sudden. The Sword was knocked out Joffrey's hands and then he was on the ground bleeding from the face.
The sounds of hooves caught her attention. She turned to find the Crown Prince riding up, a Kingsguard behind him, and the two men who constantly followed him.
Joffrey stood up and started to speak, but the Crown Prince slapped his brother across his non-bleeding cheek with enough force to knock him to the ground.
Without a word he retrieved the arrows and returned then to his quiver, which was on his horse.
''I'm only gonna ask this once, and if I hear so much as a whimper from your lips boy, I won't aim for your sword or cheek next time boy.'' He glowers at Joffrey, before turning to her. ''Tell me what happened, from start to finish.'' He instructed.
Swallowing some nervousness, Arya told him. Joffrey tried to interrupt - frequently - but his brother glared at him quieting the normally smug little shit of a prince each time.
''Is that everything?'' He asked her.
''Yes, my prince.'' She said.
''Lady Sansa, is your sister telling the truth?'' Both she and the Crown Prince turned to Sansa expectantly.
'N-no, Prince Lyonel, she was lying.'' She stated at Sansa in shock. Before pushing forward intending to slap Sansa. Prince Lyonel held her back with a hand.
"How unfortunate… that you think I won't know a lie when I hear one.'' Sansa pales.
''Let me make something abundantly clear to everyone here. I saw everything.'' Prince Joffrey notably stilled, his face going pale. ''So did Ser Lyle Crakehall and Aurane Waters, not to mention my Uncle, Ser Jaime Lannister of the royal Kingsguard. So I'm going to ask you one last time, Lady Sansa. And if you lie to me again. Not only will the betrothal between you and this little shitstain on my house's honor never happen, you will never ever be allowed to leave the confines of Winterfell under threat of death. You will die alone, never to have a family. So, I ask you once more, is Arya Stark - your sister - lying?'' The threat and the implications were clear, but Lady and Nymeria weren't taking it well. Both snarling at the Crown Prince he didn't seem the least bit terrified.
Sansa fidgets nervously. Clearly uncomfortable.
''The Crown Prince asked you a question Girl, you will answer or be found complicit as an accomplice in the attempted murder of your sister.'' The towering knight ordered.
''N-no. She wasn't lying.'' Says Sansa in defeat.
''Aurane, bind Joffrey, until my father renders judgement. He's a prisoner. As for Lady Stark and her sister, Lady Arya may ride with us. You Lady Stark will be left to find your own way back. Consider it punishment for lying to my face. Lyle, hand me the little shits blade.'' Prince Lyonel ordered, and despite Joffrey's protests, Ser Lyle takes the blade and hands it to the Crown Prince.
''Lion's Tooth.'' He says in a tone of absolute contempt. ''Have you no respect for the name you bear boy?'' Asks Prince Lyonel. ''Never mind.'' He says before Joffrey can respond.
''What now?'' She asked.
Prince Lyonel sighed.
''Lady Sansa? I guess you will be riding with us after all. We ride to the Royal Camp. Aurane ride ahead of us, and inform my father and Lord Stark that Joffrey tried to murder Lady Arya and that we're bringing him back for judgment.
--------------------------------
(POV Shift: Crown Prince Lyonel Baratheon)
--------------------------------
To say King Robert was pissed off would be like saying the Wall was big and long. It was a monumental understatement.
Joffrey provided his side. His warped perspective of events.
But then…
Lyonel spoke of what he'd seen, Uncle Jaime, Lyle, and Aurane all confirmed his story. Arya recounted her version, and even Micah was called to provide his account of events. Sansa had been forced to admit she'd lied to Lyonel's face, and that everything that had been said against Joffrey was true.
Now, he stood beside his father, Lions Tooth at his hip instead of Nightfall which was slung across his back. Joffrey had a cloth wrapped around his head, despite the fact the bleeding had long since stopped. His Clothes stained with mud. Lyonel had lost his grip on the little shit when pulling him from the horse.
He'd deny that he did it deliberately till his dying day.
Or Joffrey's…
''What in the seven fucking hells possessed you boy!?'' King Robert roared. ''A girl hits you with a stick, so you swing live steel at her?'' King Robert was clenching and clenching his fist.
''Never mind the fact that said girl is the daughter of the new Hand of the King. If this is his response to a girl of such high birth… would he have killed a lowborn noble or even a commoner?'' The way his father stilled was telling.
''Regardless, there will be a severe punishment.'' King Robert said.
''But what about Lyonel? He could have killed me or crippled me with those arrows!'' Joffrey interrupted.
Lyonel scoffed.
''I killed my first man when I was exactly half your age, brat. You were still suckling on your wetnurse's tit. And if I really wanted you dead, I'd kill you myself and in a way no one could tie it back to me. Besides, unlike some members of this family, I actually know how to restrain myself and incapacitate someone.'' Says Lyonel.
''When we get back to court, you will be banned from even holding a sword until I see fit to say otherwise.''
''But-''
''I'm not finished!'' Father roared. ''No longer will you be entitled to a personal Sworn Shield, either myself or the Small Council shall decide if a guard is needed and will assign a Kingsguard as required. Furthermore, until such a time as you acquire some sense in that fool's head of yours, you'll be charged with cleaning out the Royal stables from dawn till dusk. Maybe that will teach you some humility.'' Robert ordered, before leaning in close to Joffrey's face. ''Go and bathe, you smell like horse shit.'' A few people laugh at the insinuation, as does Lyonel.
Joffrey glares at him hatefully, before he storms out and slowly everyone except Lyonel, Robert, Ned Stark, Uncle Jaime and Ser Barristan, and Arya and Sansa Stark left the room.
''I'll have Clegane reassigned to me. No sense in sending a good blade like him back to the West. As for Joffrey, well we'll have to assign assign people to make sure he serves his punishment.'' Says Lyonel.
''You can keep his sword Boy. Do what you like with it. By the gods if you hadn't stopped him…'' King Robert said trailing off.
''If I hadn't had stopped him the girl's wolf would have mauled him to death. Almost wish I hadn't had intervened.''
''Prince Lyonel!'' Lady Sansa said aghast.
''I meant what I said back out there, Lady Stark. Joffrey is a shitstain on my house's honor. You'll find that out soon enough.'' Lyonel said before turning to his father. ''If that's all father, I'm going to turn in for the night. We're not too far from the capital.'' Says Lyonel as King Robert waves him away.
--------------------------------
Leaving the tavern, Lyonel goes to his tent and begins to undress.
His relationship with Joffrey has always been bad. But in the last few years… it's gotten downright murderous.
There's only a two year difference between them, but Lyonel did legitimately hate hus brother. Bad decision after bad decision. He didn't want to hate his brother, even if said brother was Joffrey. The trouble though was that Joffrey openly made no effort to improve his opinion of his brother. Eventually Lyonel simply stopped trying to improve Joffrey's mentality, and focused on Tommen and Myrcella.
It was when he caught Joffrey bullying Myrcella and Tommen that he gave Joffrey his first black eye.
And thus began the cycle of discord between them.
He kept Joffrey on a very short leash. And this was not going to be the last incident.
The world and Westeros at large would have been so much better if Uncle Jaime knew how to pull out…
--------------------------------
(Author's Note:)
--------------------------------
I wrote this chapter with the goal of highlighting the bad blood between Lyonel and Joffrey. I'm sure some people will say Lyonel is abusive of Joffrey, but can anyone really say that's a bad thing? We'll hopefully see more of that from Joffrey's pov next chapter. But on another note, little bit disappointed to have introduced Daenerys Targaryen so late. Should have done that at least two or three chapters ago.
This was the tenth chapter written in the month of January. Really productive month for this story thus far. But I do have other stories to do, so hopefully I can do that now.
--------------------------------
Join my Discord via this invite link:
https://discord.gg/4TTZkVMMnq
--------------------------------
Thanks to Mitchell Howard, David Martinez, ROGUE505 Saver, Mathew T Linderman, Luck George, Kyle Diano, Julien, Morgan Sinn, Tom A, Luis, and Dwhateverprof for their support on P-atreon.
And also a big thanks you to Cody, Luci Alarra, TJ Cruz, Kunta, Availon90, Gavin Barclay, Dragonslayer29, Jacarya Robinson, Nathan Just, Francisco J Guzman, Axlii, Reece Hutton, Ken Harris, Zeldris Wrath, Duy, lonelynib _, Austin, D3EATH707, Cutler1812, Aleksander_402, Lewis Wilson, Profound Magician, Arzard, HxC 740 VxD, Attila Kovács, Ruby Uzumaki, Mudit Chadha, Beastmode2003, Maciek, and Joao Goncalves for their past support on Patreon.
The next Chapter is currently available on my relaunched and rebuilt P-atreon, to access simply search the following link, but without the dash between the P and A, Two tiers with the same benefits but different contexts. The chapters on P-atreon will be published when the chapters following them are done and dusted and ready to publish over here on this site.
p-atreon.com/TheRagFromTheCragCorner23