One's King was not treated this way

[lannister_king]

The narrow streets were lined by men of the City Watch, holding back the crowd with the shafts of their spears. Ser Jacelyn Bywater went in front, heading a wedge of mounted lancers in black ringmail and golden cloaks. Behind him came Ser Aron Santagar and Ser Balon Swann, bearing the king's banners, the lion of Lannister and crowned stag of

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[worth_killing]

The forest of the island was by no means quiet. More insects and animals than man resided therein, and did not have any sort of respect for the noise tolerance of their neighbors. However the sounds of a horse and a disgruntled boy were easy to distinguish from the rest, and so when he heard the shout, Arthur changed his direction and headed towards it.

The face he saw was not one he had seen before, but there was something familiar in the lines that made Arthur consider him more curiously than he would any other stranger. Not that much of what Arthur was thinking ever showed on his face. "Did you lose your animal?" he asked.

[lannister_king]

"My horse bolted, but he has come back," Joffrey gave the person addressing him so a dark look. "Do you not kneel when meeting your King?"

[worth_killing]

An eyebrow twitched upwards in response to the boy's tone, but Arthur schooled his features with even greater attention towards something impassive and stoic. He would not allow a boy to goad him into anger, especially when he was clearly newly arrived, unaware and grossly ill-mannered.

"I kneel to no man but my God," Arthur responded evenly. "And you are neither my king nor king here. You find yourself, through some strange magic that we do not as yet understand, on an island called Tabula Rasa. There is no king here and the people are free, so you would do well to watch your tone, lord."

[lannister_king]

"What madness is this?" Joffrey's tone is derisive, though he manages to reign in some of his anger, just. His hand on his horse's nose reassures him that whatever this is, it is real.

"This is not Westeros? It is obviously not King's Landing, and if the Starks have performed this magic to steal my throne from me, it shall not work. My mother shall ensure it does not."

[worth_killing]

Westros. Of course. And if the boy was cursing the Starks, reason told Arthur that he was more than likely a Lannister. It was then that the resemblance registered in his mind and understanding struck. One of Jaime's children. Cersei had been queen so this must be... He could not remember the children's names now, it had been so long since he had heard Jaime's voice.

"Not Westros," he confirmed. "And though there are Starks here, they are subject to the same magic as you. This is no more their choice than yours. Or your mother's, who also walks these shores." Arthur bit his tongue, and then added, "Or your uncle Jaime, who lived here for a time and that I knew very well. That is, of course, if you are a Lannister as I think you to be."

[lannister_king]

"My mother is here and Jaime was?" This was more important to him than the presence of those damned Starks. "Of course I am a Lannister, if you know my mother you should know that. I am Joffrey Baratheon, and I am the rightful King of all Westeros. The King of those Starks as well, though they are traitors." That he was not King here he refused to listen to for now. This could still be some trick.

"Take me to her." An order, yes, but Joffrey knew no other way.

[worth_killing]

"I do not know where she resides," Arthur answer, easy, automatic and more respectful in his tone than the boy was managing to show to him. "But I can take you to the Compound. It is something of the center of the community for this island. You should check in besides, so that the authorities know that you are here. People disappear from this place just as easily as they appear. They will know where your mother is."

[lannister_king]

"The authorities?" He started to scoff, but realised perhaps this man was simply deluded. This compound could be a place where someone would recognise him, explain to him what had truly happened.

"You may lead me there."

[worth_killing]

"The authorities," Arthur repeated, watching the boy carefully, thinking perhaps he was deluded, drunk on too much power to recognize the world around him. Jaime had never spoken especially well of this one, he did not think.

"There is a contingent of lawmen, peace keepers, as well as a council of men and women elected by the people of the island. Such is the government that we employ here."

[lannister_king]

So some sort of guard. Fine, he could deal with a guard. The next words the other spoke made him stop. "Elected? By the people?" He'd never heard such a preposterous thing. "What could the common person know of ruling?"

[worth_killing]

Arthur lifted an eyebrow as he looked back at the boy-king, curious as to what it was they actually taught their lords in Westeros. "The common person would know how he or she would like to be ruled," he answered. "Which is what matters."

[lannister_king]

"How they would like to be ruled? What a notion." Joffrey shook his head, looking at the man in dismay, "I think you have little idea of how to rule."

[worth_killing]

"Indeed," Arthur intoned dryly, though he knew not to expect much more from the boy, not with the tales he had heard from both Jaime and Starks. "I should hope I have developed some idea, as I have been on the council these six months and have recently been elected for another term."

[lannister_king]

This whole place was unreal, it could not be anything else. "You have no ruler other than those you've elected? They are not simply there to pass advice to your King/"

[worth_killing]

"We have no king here," Arthur replied mildly, somewhat pleased and amused that he finally seemed to be getting the point. "Or queen. Titles mean nothing here. Deeds do," he said. It was perhaps a somewhat ominous thought given the boy's deeds, though he would only to be held to what he did here.

[lannister_king]

"Deeds?" He snorted. "As if deeds are the measure of a man?"