You're Losing Me / Ned Stark / Sandor Clegane

23. Manipulation

Sofia kissed Robert's cold head. His eyes glossy he looked like he was sleeping. She hated that he was gone. He was always there for her, took care of her, never made her marry, let her be her own person. 

Nessa was waiting for her when she left Robert's death bed. They were preparing to move him to the sept so the people could pay their respects. Nessa smiled up at her hugging Sofia immediately. 

"I needed that." Sofia agreed kneeling down and pulling Nessa into her arms. 

"Daddy hug her!" nessa instructed. Sofia glanced back over her shoulder as Sandor took slow steps towards them. 

"Hug me." Sofia agreed. He gently pulled her into his arms. 

"I'm sorry Fia." Sandor whispered kissing the top of her head. "I'm so sorry Fia." 

"Your grace." Ned declared. Joffrey turned to him. "I would like to discuss with you what your father spoke to me about..."

"Sit." Joffrey agreed. Ned passed over the scroll. Joffrey read it slowly before looking back at Ned. "Protector of the realms?"

"Until you are of age." Ned agreed. Joffrey pursed his lips. "You are still king but a good king knows what he knows and what he doesn't. Your father just wanted you to learn more before this burden was placed upon you."

"Burden?" Joffrey scoffed the crown was his birthright, not a burden.

"You are a brilliant boy but you are a boy." Ned reminded him. "A king needs to command the realms," Turning boys to men... Ned bit back a smile at Sofia's words. "The majority of being king is meetings, wasting hours of your time listening to the patrons, before he passed I sat the throne and listened to the people-"

"That took forever" Joffrey recalled.

"It did but its something the king or protector would have to do. All the time." Ned added. "Meetings and suppers with lords from other realms, settling arguments and calming the tides. You are young, don't you want to be having fun? Having parties and just being young for a bit before this burden is placed upon you? Your father knew how to have a good time but being first born you never really got to be a kid. Now is the time to be young before you are stuck in this position. But of course you are king so it is your decision." Joffrey thought on that. "You are in total control." he made sure to add. Sofia emphasized how important it was to make sure joffrey knew he was in control, he held the power, even while he was being manipulated.

"I am king." Joffrey agreed. He hesitated looking to Tyanna before glancing to Cersei. Cersei didnt like this one bit. Ned was manipulating him she could see it. 

"Dont make that face," Tyanna instructed. "You will get wrinkles."  Cersei's scowl deepened. "Okay, get more wrinkles but dont complain to me when you-"

"Shut up Tyanna." 

 "You were my fathers choice... he valued you greatly." Joffrey agreed. "I think I would like to avoid those meetings a while longer." Joffrey agreed. "The woes of others do not concern me."

Strange for a king not to care about his people, Ned withheld saying.

"I have come up with a solution. I have made up my mind. We shall make the announcement."

"Wonderful choice, your grace." Ned agreed. Ser Barristan stared back at him knowing Sofia's manipulation techniques at play.

"Robert would have been proud of you." Barristan whispered. Sofia smiled up at him.

"No idea what you mean." Sofia countered. "Just keeping my head on my shoulders."

"I think you helped save us all a lot of bloodshed." Barristan countered. 

If only Cersei could keep her mouth shut.