Hastily I run through the halls.

"Where is Renly!" I yell, demanding to know what is happening and sure enough I find him and gasp at the sight of blood. "Oh gods."

He stands there shaking with blood on his hands and looks between myself and Ned whose just appeared, equally horrified.

"Renly," I tremble seeing the amount of blood staining his hands, his clothes.

"It's Robert, there was a boar-"

He takes off and Ned looks back at me frozen in place "Come child."

I feel hands guiding me and I vaguely realise they're my handmaiden Bree's. "Cassana, he's still alive," she tells me, sharply digging her fingernails into my arm to snap me out of it and I realise Ned's been speaking.

"Cassana," he repeats as I focus on him, Bree still ushering me towards my fathers chambers. "We can't tell Robert the truth."

"We have to," I argue, pressing my hand to my head, lightheaded from shock. "He needs to know the truth."

"No he doesn't," he argues painfully. "How can we let his last moments be consumed by anger? We will let him have his peace and I will deal with Joffrey."

Before I can argue with him he steps into my fathers room while I hold onto Bree.

"I'll wait for you in your room," she says clasping my hand in hers.

"Thank you Bree."

After taking a moment to compose myself I follow Ned inside my Fathers room. Inside stands my mother, Ser Barristan, Renly, Varys and Pycelle. Joffrey is seated on my fathers bed, wide-eyed and surprisingly beside himself.

"I should have spent more time with you, shown you how to be a father," he says to Joffrey before commenting. "I was never meant to be a father." He looks up, and sees Ned and I standing there. "Go on, you don't want to see this."

Joffrey runs past me, for the first time in his life actually showing an emotion besides anger or spite.

"My fault. Too much wine, missed my thrust," he explains as I sit by his side and pull back the cloth covering his wound. I can barely bring myself to look at it, I may not be a maester but I know his fate is sealed. "It stinks- it stinks like death, don't think I can't smell it," he mutters before laughing "I paid the bastard back, Ned. I drove my knife right through his brain. You ask them if I didn't. Ask them!" Ser Barristan shakes his head in exasperation as he listens to my father. At least somehow despite all of this my fathers still kept his spirit. "I want the funeral feast to be the biggest the Kingdoms ever saw and I want everyone to taste the boar that got me," he declares and he looks around the room "Now leave us, the lot of you. I need to talk to Ned."

"Robert, my sweet-" my mother begins and I realise she's afraid. There is only one reason she would be afraid of my father speaking to Ned alone. My head whips around to Ned wide eyed and he can't meet my gaze.

"Out, all of you!"

Everyone leaves except for Ned and I.

"Cassana, you don't want to see this."

"No," I say firmly remaining by his side. "I am your daughter and I am not leaving you."
"You've always been stubborn," he comments  proudly"You are my daughter after all."

His only daughter. Only trueborn child.

Another round of shock hits me as I realise that by dawn I will be queen. I knew the day would come but I never expected it to be so soon. Never wanted it to be so soon.

Ned takes a good look at my father and mutters "You damned fool."

"Paper and ink on the table, write down what I say," Father orders. "In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, first of - you know how it goes. Fill in the damn titles." I watch carefully as Ned begins to write, wanting to speak but also knowing that my fathers last moments likely wouldn't be merciful if he knew the truth. "I hereby command Eddard of House Stark - titles, titles. To serve as Lord Regent and Protector of the Realm upon my death. To rule in my stead, until my son Joffrey comes of age."

I open my mouth to speak but Ned tilts the letter so I can see what he actually writes. 'Until my rightful heir comes of age.'

"Give it over."

Ned's eyes meet mine as he hands it over to my father who signs it. Once my father is gone I'll have to stake my claim. I'll have to fight Joffrey for it.

"Give it to the council after I'm dead," he instructs Ned. "At least they'll say I did this right, this one thing. You'll rule now, you'll hate it worse than I did, but you'll do it well."

Ned will sit on the throne until the council declares Joffrey a bastard. My mother cannot know what we plan to do but I fear that somehow she already does. She knows my ambition, but how could she ever know that we know the truth about Joffrey and the others, about her and Jaime? I've been so careful.

"The girl, Daenerys. You were right. Varys, Littlefinger, my brother, worthless. No one to tell me no but you, only you," he says to Ned and he croaks "Let her live. Stop it, if it's not too late."

"I will," Ned promises and proud tears come to my eyes. In his last moments he chooses mercy. However I still know the same would not apply to my mother if he knew the truth.

"And my son," he groans as the pain begins to set in "Help him, Ned. Make him better than me."

It's too late for Joffrey. Ned and I both know it.

I clutch my fathers hand tightly "Father-"

His eyes tear up as he looks at me, the most emotion I've ever seen in them "I'd leave it to you if I could. I don't know where I went so wrong with your brother. It should have always been you."

"Then leave it to me," I say quietly as tears burn in my eyes. "Name me as your heir."

He shakes his head slowly "I've never been a proper father to you, if I was you would be married to Robb and far away from here. When I'm dead go North and marry him no matter what your mother says. Damn her and damn Tywin. I am your father, let me do this one thing right by you."

A sob escapes me as I look at my father. He is many things, but he is my father. How can I fight his last chance to be one? 

"I'll marry Robb," I lie, knowing it is too late for us. "I'll join our houses, just as you always wanted."

"It's not about houses," he says quietly. "I want you to be happy, to have a chance at something I never could."

I look down at our joint hands, tears slipping down my cheeks.

"I'll do everything I can to honour your memory," Ned promises him.

"My memory," Father scoffs. "King Robert Baratheon, murdered by a pig." His head falls back and he groans "Give me something for the pain and let me die."

Knowing in my heart this will be the last time I lay eyes on him I squeeze his hand tightly and kiss his forehead, for the last time being the doting daughter.

"Goodbye Father."

As soon as I leave the room I burst into uncontrollable tears and find myself comforted by Renly.

"Give him milk of the poppy," Ned orders and Pycelle enters my fathers room while Renly remains with me.

"He was reeling from the wine," Ser Barristan tells us. "He commanded us to step aside, but I failed him."

"No man could have protected him from himself," Ned assures him and as much as the words sting they are true. He was always destined for an early demise but not this early. Not like this. 

"I wonder Ser Barristan, who gave the king this wine?" Varys ponders but as I look up at him I know it's not mere curiosity.

"His squire," Ser Barristan answers. "From the king's own skin."

"His squire?" Ned asks "The Lannister boy?"

Lancel. I pull away from a still bloodstained Renly and barely notice the blood that stains my hands. My fathers blood. My blood.

"Such a dutiful boy to make sure his Grace did not lack refreshment. I do hope the poor lad does not blame himself."

Varys and I share a look, it was no accident. My tears dry as grief hardens me.

"Arrest him," I order. "For the assassination of the king."

"Princess?" Ser Barristan gapes. "You cannot know that."

"I do," I say, I know far too well. It was ordered. Arrest him but make sure my mother does not know. I also want the wine my father drank."

"On what authority?" Varys questions but he knows exactly what authority.

"On the authority of the heir to the Iron Throne," I claim and Varys smiles to himself knowingly.

"Cassana," Renly breathes and I look to Ned, Ser Barristan and Varys. The only person here who doesn't know is Ser Barristan but I trust his honour as much as I trust Ned's. I may yet need his protection, he will be the Lord Commander of my Kingsguard after all.

"Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella are Jaime Lannister's bastards," I reveal and after the initial reactions of disgust they don't look that surprised.

"I knew his white cloak was stained but gods," Ser Barristan murmurs. "His own sister."

"I can't say I'm surprised, Joffreys always seemed inbred," Renly comments and there's a strange look in his eye as he says "That makes you queen." 

"It does," I say firmly knowing that now is the time to strike. "Renly gather a few men, I want to speak to Lancel."

"Is that wise?" Varys asks. "If the Queen-"

"She will not find out. Renly take Lancel to the Black Cells while I distract my mother. Make sure no one sees."

He's apprehensive but even so he goes to get his men.

"The king has had a change of heart regarding Daenerys Targaryen," Ned says. "Whatever you have arranged put an end to it."

"I'm afraid those birds have flown. The girl is likely dead already."

Ned hangs his head but I'm secretly relieved. Even if that relief is bitter.

"May you excuse us Ser Barristan," Varys asks and he obediently re-enters my fathers room leaving just Varys, Ned and I. "Princess, what are you planning?"

"To take my rightful place," I answer honestly. "Can I count on your support Lord Varys?"

"Prince Joffrey will not be happy," he warns but Joffreys happiness isn't my concern, he still hasn't answered me. "And I would advise against openly spreading just whose bastards they are. Lord Tywin would do anything to avoid such an unremovable stain on the Lannister name."

"I know," I assure him. "Trust me I know. I do not want Tommen and Myrcella harmed and it's for that reason I will not reveal it. Now, if you excuse me I need to see them, Robert may not be their father but they still love him as one."

Renly is on my side, as is Ned. Ser Barristan is a loyal man and I know that he will be loyal. I don't know if I can count on Varys, I thought that I'd be able to but now I have my doubts. Only now I realise just how few allies I have in this city. 

I wish Tyrion were here, he is the ally I need right now. He always gently pushed me towards the throne, I know that if he were here he would help put me on it. Despite my last conversation with him I miss him terribly, gods I want nothing more than to see him. But he's not here. I need to do this on my own. If my mother gave the orders to get my father drunk and to cause an accident she must have been afraid. She would not risk it if there was no alternative.

She knows. I don't know how much but I need to convince her I have no interest in that throne. With my father on his deathbed and still unaware, she may be lured into a false sense of security if she believes there is no threat to Joffrey claiming the throne.

I've had to play many roles. The Princess, the lover, the fool, the obedient daughter. Now I must again play the girl I used to be in Winterfell. The one who loved a Stark. 

~

I enter my mothers room and find them all in there, even Joffrey.

"Cassie," Tommen and Myrcella cry out as they run into my arms with tears running down their faces.

"Is he going to die?" Tommen asks.

"Of course he is don't be an idiot," Joffrey mutters from where he sits alone/ "Now stop crying."
"Enough!" I snap at him, my own emotions overcoming me. "Considering you were the one crying beside his bed earlier you should have some sympathy."

He shuts his mouth, gobsmacked at actually being called out on his bullshit for once in his life. I force myself to look at my mother and feel sick as she drinks from a glass of wine.

She watches as I kneel down so I'm at Tommen and Myrcellas height and clasp their hands in my own. "He was injured very badly, too badly for a maester to fix," I tell them gently. "Remember that he loves you both very much, Maester Pycelle has given him milk of the poppy to ease his pain."

Tears stain both of their cheeks while I fight my own.  They are so young, so innocent. It breaks my heart knowing what I must do.

"Does this mean Joffrey will be king?" Myrcella asks.

"Of course I will be," he interrupts "What sort of question is that?"

My mother listens carefully as I say without missing a beat "Yes, he will be. He's fathers eldest son so he's the first in line."

"And what about you?" Joffrey asks spitefully. "I won't have any need of you since you certainly won't be sitting on my council, it's outrageous Father even allowed it."

I look up at my mother "Fathers last request for me is that once he passes I go north and marry Robb."

Mother tilts her head to the side looking at me very carefully "Is that so?"

"I plan to leave after the funeral."

She looks doubtful "I thought you had put the nail in that coffin."

"I'm done," I breathe hoarsely. "I'm sick of it, of the burden. I just want to leave this city."

Her eyes turn colder as she sits up straight "You should also remember Robbs mother still holds Tyrion captive. If this ends badly then that betrothal might fall apart."

"I made mistakes, as has both of our families, but it is what father wants, what Ned wants," I say and don't have to force the tears that come. "I loved him, and I fucked it up but perhaps there is still a chance for us."

"You sound like a stupid girl," Joffrey comments breaking up the silence. "I can't believe you sat on the council, did you just talk about your wedding the whole time or did you gossip about boys with Uncle Renly?"

At least Joffrey certainly believes it and it explains why Renly has always been so willing to help me. Joffrey would never let him be at peace. My father never cared enough to notice so Renly went about life as he liked but Joffrey will change that.

"You would be wise to show some respect to our uncle," I advise him. "After all he is the Lord of Storms End, not you."

All Joffrey would have is Kings Landing, no standing army loyal to him, but Renly has the loyalty of the Stormlands which is why I need him on my side.

"I best write to Robb," I say knowing I need to be getting to the Black Cells. "Ned's making the arrangements to send me North, he should know to expect me."

"I don't want you to go," Tommen says tugging on my arm.

"Neither do I," Myrcella says and the tears in both their eyes breaks my heart.

"Not until after the funeral," I promise brushing her blonde hair out of her face. "But I want you to remember-" I clutch Tommen hand in mine as well as hers "That I love you both very, very much. You are my own flesh and blood and I will always love you. No matter what."

They both hug me tightly and I can't fight my tears as they spill over, I clutch them tightly in my arms praying that I can do this right, that I can protect them from harm. When I am on the throne I can have them legitimised as Lannisters and sent to Casterly Rock, no one will have to know who their father is. Perhaps they'll be safer away from the throne.

~

On my way to the Black Cells I end up intercepting Ned and Renly.

"Give me an hour and I can put a hundred swords at your command," Renly offers. "Cassana already got Margaery to out the Tyrell troops on alert."

"And what should I do with a hundred swords?" Ned asks and I realise that he won't condone what we will have to do.

"Strike, tonight while the castle sleeps," he proposes ."We must get Joffrey away from his mother and into our custody. Protector of the Realm or no, he who holds the king holds the kingdom. Every moment you delay gives Cersei another moment to prepare. By the time Robert dies, it will be too late."

"She's suspicious," I warn them "I've told her that I'm going North after Fathers funeral so she believes Joffreys claim to the throne's safe but I don't know how much she believes it. We need to be prepared."

"I will not dishonour Robert's last hours by shedding blood in his halls and dragging frightened children from their beds," Ned says roughly although I think my father would see shedding blood as the perfect way to honour his last hours. He he holds up my Fathers letter. "We will do this by the kings laws."

"Ned-" I warn but he doesn't want to listen. "We must be careful."

"And we will be," he promises me. "It will all go to plan. We will present this to the council as Robert instructed and you will stake your claim with my support and the Reach. Now I need to make the necessary arrangements."

Ned walks off leaving Renly and I alone. I don't want Ned involved in this, he knows the truth and my mother wants him gone. I'm not going to risk putting him in a bad situation. However Renly is right, we need to strike.

"Tonight," I say to Renly. "We seize Joffrey and send Tommen and Myrcella to Casterly Rock where they will be safe."

"Name me your regent and I will take care of this," he says and I tilt my head, knowing that is not what we had discussed.
"I'm of age, that won't be necessary," I answer quietly, realising that he's not supporting me out of love, but to benefit himself. I just pray there is some love there somewhere "However if you support me I will name you my heir over Stannis just as I'd promised Margaery. Whatever titles you want you will get. I need you on my side Renly."

"I'm on your side," he promises however I'm still unnerved. If anything were to happen to me would he make his own claim?

"I don't want Ned involved in this. I can't risk it, not with how dangerous this entire situation is. If anything went wrong my mother would blame it on him and I will not let that happen. He won't know about this."

Alarm crosses his eyes at the thought of this going wrong but it is a possibility we must consider "What do we do?"

"You gather your men, and I will ensure Margaery gathers hers. Tonight I'll find you in your chambers and we will strike. Myrcella and Tommen will come with me without argument but we will have to seize Joffrey and my mother."

It is a drastic action but it is the only way. To claim the throne the way Ned wants I'd have to pray the small council will support me and then confront my mother and expose her before the court which would give her a chance to fight it at her advantage. I can't give her any advantage. This is the best way.

"Very well," he agrees. "I have a hundred men, it should be enough to overwhelm the Lannisters if they don't know what's coming."

"That's the only issue," I begin. "I think my mother might know that we know. I don't know how and I've tried to convince her that I intend to go North but we can't underestimate her Renly. We need to find out if she ordered Lancel to drug my father."

"I got the wine," he pulls a flask out and hands it to me to smell. "That's by far one of the strongest wines I've ever smelled."

I was right but gods I wish I was wrong.

"Then let's get the truth."

~

Renly and I stand before Lancel in his cell. Our men didn't hurt him but he still looks terrified. He should be. He's the reason my father is on his death bed.

"Why am I here?" he stammers. "What have I done?"

"Did you do it?" Renly interrogates. "Did you drug Robert?"

"Of course not," he obviously denies. "The king simply drank a lot."

"Was the wine stronger than usual?" Renly continues.

"Just the kings regular drink."

Feeling my blood boil and that storm inside of me beginning to rage I pull out the flask and throw the contents in his face. "Smell it."

He splutters and gapes at me with fearful eyes just as he should.

"That has to be the most potent wine I've ever smelled," I comment. "Don't you agree Renly?" He nods his head in agreement but Lancel remains firm.

"I did not do anything to harm the king, I simply gave him his wine."

"How much?" Renly asks calmly and I realise his method of interrogation won't work.

"Give me your sword," I order Renly. "If you won't use it I will."

"Cassana," he warns but I'm not here to be polite.

"Sword," I order sternly and he reluctantly hands it to me. "Who gave you the orders?" 

My only warning to him.

"There were no orders," he trembles and I slam my cousin against the wall pressing the tip of the sword against his throat.

"Who's orders!" I demand as I begin to draw blood.

"The queens!" he blurts out and I release my grip on him. My mother is responsible for this. I suppose she'll be the second kingslayer with the Lannister name.

"Right, now we know," I say walking from Lancels cell to where I can't be heard and Renly follows. I hand him back his sword and he's unnerved by the sight of blood on it. "Are you going to kill him?"

"Not yet but that's not important," I dismiss. "My mother planned this, she wouldn't have done something so risky if she didn't have a choice. It was a stroke of luck it even worked. She didn't want my father to return, didn't want anyone to tell him the truth. She knows."

"She knows," he repeats. "Shit."

My mind races as I consider what this means, how prepared she is. If she believes I'm going North then she'll think I'm not a threat. Her guard should be lessened but she won't take chances.

"She'll have men guarding Joffreys room I can guarantee it. We will need every man you have because they will have every Lannister soldier on guard tonight. They'll expect us to strike at night, if we strike just before dawn the Lannister soldiers will be tired, their guards will be down."

"Are you sure we can do this?" he second guesses then suggests "We should ride for Storms End and call the banners."

"If we do Joffrey will have secured the throne and been crowned," I tell him knowing there is no time left to call men from the Stormlands. "Get Loras to collect any men he can, tell him that if he supports me tonight he will be rewarded for it. Margaery has already sworn the Reach's loyalty."

"I will," he agrees. "Loras should have some men."

"We will strike tonight then I will send letters to our bannermen. They'll be here within the fortnight and we will need them," I realise, this won't end with seizing Joffrey. Declaring him a bastard, even if I don't say he's Jaimes, will cause an uproar. Joffrey may not be a Baratheon but he is a Lannister. "Tywin will abandon the Riverlands and march for the capital. We need to be prepared but if you support me, with the might of the Reach we will win. I will be on the throne and you will be my heir. You can live your life with Loras without having to worry. I will protect you if you support me."

Although he seems thankful his face is still pale.

"We can't defeat Tywin Lannister."

"He is a rich old bastard not a god," I say hoping to relieve him but he doesn't laugh. "He is human, he bleeds. Just as you do, just as I do. He will no doubt be prepared to shed blood and so must we."

The idea of shedding blood still unnerves him, he doesn't have the stomach for it. "If you cannot do this Renly pass over command of your men to me."

"No," he says defensively. "I am the Lord of Storms End and they are my men, I will command them. Stannis commands his men and so shall I."

If comparing himself to Stannis is what it takes for him to step up then so be it. He may be worried but I know that we can pull this off. We have to.

"Now prepare yourself for the dawn. Blood will be spilled."