A Doe in a Lion's Den
Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones, just a fan
Chapter 4: A bite, tis nothing but a scratch
It was the day of departure as the members in court gather around the courtyard to wish the royal family off. Eddard Stark and his daughters would be accompanying us to Kings Landing. Joffrey would be marrying Sansa Stark to unite our two houses. Much to my dismay in being the eldest child, only to have my younger sibling is wed.
I stood in front of Robb Stark, as his bow his head and took my hand. "It was an honor to meet you, Elain."
"Tis a pleasure," I said. "Shame we cannot share more time together."
"Indeed," he said. "Hopefully we will meet again."
I nodded, "As do I, Lord Stark. As do I."
Afterward, I knelt down to Rickon and wished the youngest Stark farewell. Though I haven't had the pleasure of spending time with all the Starks, it was somewhat an excellent experience to see the North in a whole new light. Not a cold place, but one filled with life. With nothing else to say, I headed to the carriage to join my family before taking off.
.o0o.
After a weeks' journey, we enter a village on the Kingsroad. The camp was set, and the inns were books for the Royal family and the Hand of the King. At first, time was spent stretching out legs and stocking up on supplies. However, I have something else in mind as I went deep into the forest while Aurora held wrapped items.
"Your grace, we shouldn't be doing this," Aurora said concern.
"Doesn't fret, my father knows of this," I assured.
"It's unnerving that you would partake in such activities," she continued. "A woman of your status must not be doing archery."
"Make good use of the hunt," I said. "Better than a spear."
Father hunts boars with a spear, and when Joffrey goes hunting, he has his crossbow. I don't consider a crossbow a reliable weapon. Where is the pleasure when you stand there and pull a trigger? Now archery, you have more control and mobility as any weapon. We reach an excellent field where I could practice.
Placing a target on a tree, I got into position and held a bow while Aurora handed me an arrow with yellow feather. I took my stance holding them firmly while delicately on the string before aiming. With a deep breath, aiming center and calculating the winds I made fire. A second later the arrow struck the center circle.
"It frightens me how accurate you are," Aurora said. "Whose head do you imagine?"
"That is a secret," I replied, a snarky golden hair boy comes to mind.
"Are that Arya Stark and her wolf?" Aurora asked.
Looking up, I saw the young female Stark rushing into the forest. Her expression of fright as they continued to run.
"Something is not right," I said
"Like what, your grace." She asked.
"I don't know," I answered. "We should head back."
Aurora agreed as she collects her arrow. Once we have everything and bow covered, we returned to Kingscross. There, things were hectic. I grabbed a squire demanded what is going on.
"Lady Arya has gone missing. Prince Joffrey and Queen Cerise demand her safe return." He answered.
"Safe return?" I asked myself. Joffrey and the word safe don't go well together. The selfish prick could barely say the word please without cringing.
Fearing for Arya, I went to find my brother to investigate this conflict. Joffrey was in his room being treated by Myrcella septa as his left arm was bleeding with small gashes.
"What is going on?" I demanded.
"That bitch and her wolf attack me!" Joffrey snapped.
"On what grounds?" I asked.
Joffrey muttered something that was incoherent. I growled, ordering the septa to leave. The woman of the faith left leaving the two us is. Once the door was shut and distance, I marched over to Joffrey and grabbed his hair. The boy cried out.
"You and your pride will destroy this kingdom," I snarled. "The Starks have been allied to the Baratheon's for centuries, and that bond is depended on between our fathers. If I hear that Arya Stark or anyone else was injured because of your wounded pride, I swear you shall hear my fury."
Letting go of his hair with a shove, I sat down and treated his arms.
"Tis nothing but a nip," I muttered. "Won't be a serious scar as long as you don't pick it."
"I'll be ruin," he protested.
"Whine, whine, whine, they say some women prefer men with scars," I said and tightened the bandages, which caused him to wince.
"You've hurt me," he muttered.
"Pain is only weakness leaving the body," I said using father's words. "Now think wisely on your choices. We don't want history repeating itself."
Joffrey scoffed.
Realizing nothing would get into his thick skull I left the room. I pray to the seven he thinks carefully and not let his pride get the best of him.
.o0o.
Sadly I was mistaken, as everyone was in the tavern with the king, the court, Lannister soldiers, and others.
As the girl, Arya stood scared with a Stark loyalist beside her. Joffrey stood by mother holding his wounded arm. He acts like it was that serious. Mother stood there glaring at the child.
I stood by father looking at him with a pleading look. "Father, is this necessary?"
"I just want to hear both sides," father muttered.
"Still, children fight. Remember how Joffrey and I were when we were children?" I asked.
Father held back a snort.
As mentioned before, Joffrey and I don't get along. We have a few year gaps, one that shouldn't affect our relationship. However, how mother coddles him and his spoiled behavior that it became intolerable. Though his irrational mistakes and our parents occupied, I had to be a real mother on discipline. Although, there was one time at Casterly Rock Joffrey decided to smear mud all over my bed in my sleep. As I walk in filth, I hunted him down to be outside which resulted in a wrestle in the mud. Mother was furious as was Grandfather Tywin, though more towards the bedding. I was in a muddy dress meanwhile Joffrey from head to toe caked in mud. When father heard of this, he merely laughed and told Joffrey, "You let a girl defeat you." Once more, a bruise to the crown prince ego.
Shortly after Lord Stark entered the room, rushing to his daughter in relief. He cradles her face checking the child's condition. Arya was saying sorry many times, but her father was more of her condition than the event that transpires a few hours ago. Lord Stark embraced his daughter relieved. However, his relief turned into anger as he faced the king.
"What is the meaning of this?" Lord Stark demanded. "Why was my daughter not brought to me at once?"
"How dare you speak to your king in that manner?" Mother replied.
"Quiet, woman," Father ordered and then sighed. "Sorry, Ned. I never meant to frighten the girl. But we need to get this business done quickly."
"Your girl and that butcher's boy attacked my son." Mother said, "That animal of hers nearly tore his arm off."
I snorted, for I saw the wound and was merely dent of cut skin. No bone was shown, and his arm is still intact.
"That's not true!" Arya defended. "She just…bit him a little."
All eyes were on her to continue.
"He was hurting Mycah."
"Joff told us what happened. You and that boy beat him with clubs while you set your wolf on him."
"That's not what happened!"
I agree. Looking at this girl, I doubt she could even lift a club and swing it properly.
"Yes, it is!" Joffrey claimed. "They all attacked me, and she threw my sword in the river."
"Liar!" Arya argued.
"Shut up!" Joffrey countered.
"Enough!" Father bellowed. "He tells me one thing; she tells me another. Seven Hells! What am I to make of this?"
Lord Stark sighed taking the information in. No one knows what indeed happened except for Joffrey and Arya. The boy Arya claimed his name was Mycah is absent, and Sansa was in her room resting.
"Where's your other daughter, Ned?" father demanded.
"In bed asleep," Lord Stark answered.
"She's not," Mother injected. "Sansa, come here, darling."
Murmuring spawned as Sansa entered in her blue cloaked. She looked hesitant and nervous to be here. I wouldn't blame her. She was on the borderline in who was telling the truth in the matter. All answers would be resolved by her testimony.
"Now, child… tells me what happened." Father said calmly. "Tell it all and tell it true. It's a great crime to lie to a king."
Sansa stared at her lord father who assured her. She then looked at mother and Joffrey; hesitation could be noticed. "I don't know. I don't remember. Everything happened so fast. I didn't see."
"Liar!" Arya shouted, grabbing her sister by the hair and yanking it down.
"Hey, stop it!" Lord Stark said, stopping his daughters from fighting.
Wow, these two are worse than Joffrey and me.
"She's as wild as that animal of hers." Mother noted. "I want her punished."
"What would you have me do, whip her through the streets?" Father asked. "Damn it, children fight. It's over."
"Joffrey will bear these scars for the rest of his life. Mother pointed out.
"So, all men wear scars. Isn't it a sign of being a man," I thought aloud.
Mother glared at me while father held an amused snort back. Though he became scornful, "You let that little girl disarm you?"
Joffrey embarrassed and intimidated by father did not reply.
Father then continued looking at his friend, "Ned, see to it that your daughter is disciplined. I'll do the same with my son."
"Gladly, your grace." Lord Stark agrees to place his hands on both his daughters' shoulders.
"And what of the direwolf?" mother asked. "What of the beast that savaged your son?"
The room was engrossed in silence. Shit, Arya direwolf was not found, and mother seeks justice. The Direwolf was the Stark symbol. Surely father wouldn't dare harm the rare beast? It would be a dishonor or insult to the loyal allies.
"I'd forget the damned wolf," Father muttered and looked at the Lannister guard.
"We found no trace of the direwolf, your grace." The guard said.
"I'm sure it went into the wild," I said. "Hopefully starvation claims it since there are no other preys in these lands."
Father nodded in agreement.
"So be it," Father said.
"We have another wolf." Mother injected.
He stared at mother and nodded, "As you will."
Lord Stark looked at his friend in disbelief. "You can't mean it."
"A direwolf's no pet." Father replied "Get her a dog. She'll be happier for it."
Afterward, father started walking out the room.
"He doesn't mean lady, does he?" Sansa asked in fear. "No, no, not Lady! Lady didn't bite anyone! She's good!"
"Lady wasn't there!" Arya defended. "You leave her alone!"
Strange how one moment the younger sister attacked, the older but managed to protect her afterward.
Sansa grabbed her father's arm, "Stop them. Don't let them do it! Please, please, it wasn't Lady!"
I rushed over to my father grabbing his hand. "Father, please, let's sends the direwolf back to the north. No strain the ties."
Father was about to speak when Lord Stark said, "Is this your Command –You Grace?"
Father gave one more look to his old friend before marching out the room.
I stood there in disbelief.
"Where is the beast?" Mother asked.
"Chained up outside, your grace." A Lannister guard answered.
"Ser Ilyn, do me the honor." Mother instructed happily.
The silent bald execution nodded drawing his sword.
"No," Lord Stark said sadly. "Jory…take the girls to their rooms. "
Sansa began to sob.
"If it must be done, then I'll do it myself. " Lord Stark finished.
"Is this some trick?" Mother asked.
"The wolf is of the North. She deserves better than a butcher." Lord Stark answered.
With nothing else to say Lord Stark left the room. Jory leads the weeping girls back to their bedchambers as everyone else left for the night. I stared at Joffrey in disappointment. Instead of taking responsibility and accepting humiliation, he just weakened the bond between the Baratheon's and Starks. If Joffrey continues to this path based on his pride, then the seven kingdoms shall divide and fall.
If only Robert as still alive.
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