authors note: here's another chapter! this chapter focuses mainly on Amara as she and a few members of the Stark family arrive at Kings Landing. It is a somewhat shorter chapter but there is plenty more to come and there will be slight time skips in between certain chapters. The next chapter will check in on a few other characters and where they are in the story. I own nothing. Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Arriving at Kings Landing
I tried my best to take my own advice and to get some sleep, but I tossed and turned all night. The look on Sansa's face when Robert ordered Ned to kill Lady was stuck in my mind, this poor girl. There was something about seeing her cry that pained me so, maybe because in a very odd way, I see a bit of myself in her. But I will carry out my promise, I will protect her from the wickedness my family is capable of. I might not have been able to save Lady, but I will be damned if they hut her anymore as long as I'm alive and well in King's Landing…
I heard a faint scratching at my door which caused my to snap out of my thoughts. It was dawn and we were to be leaving the inn in a few hours, no one else was awake yet except for myself. I got up and slowly opened my door, I looked around hesitantly and I saw no one, but when I looked down, I saw a white fur coat, it was Nymeria, Arya's direwolf…
"Hey there girl, come here" I said as I knelt down and held out my hand. She approached me slowly as if she was scared.
"You have nothing to fear Nymeria, I wont hurt you, I promise" I said as I pet her softly. She closed her eyes and enjoyed my touch on her fur. I brought her inside my room and thought of what to do with her, I would not allow what happened to Lady to happen to Nymeria.
I went though my belongings and found a spare trunk that I had, I emptied it and cut a piece of it off. I then picked up Nymeria gently and placed her in this trunk. She looked up at me and I could tell she was still frightened.
"You'll be safe in here, all we have to do is make it to Kings Landing and you'll be free" I said as I slowly closed the top. Nymeria was calm and quiet and proceeded to fall asleep inside my trunk.
When the time came for us to get back into our carriages, I carried Nymeria's trunk in my hand personally so no one would take her from me…
A few hours later we arrived back at the only home Ive ever known, Kings Landing. I unloaded and unpacked my belongings into my room as I made sure Sansa and Arya were accommodated.
"Sansa you will be right across the hall from me and Arya next to Sansa" I told them both as I showed them their new rooms.
"Thank you Amara, if you don't mind, I think I'm going to lay down. I still feel tired" Sansa said as I could tell she was still depressed about Lady.
"Of course, I'll check on you if you need anything later" I said to her as I watched her leave us.
"And for you Arya, I have something to show you" I said as I walked over to my trunk and she followed.
"Oh Nymeria! I thought I had lost her!" Arya said as she lifted her up and hugged her direwolf.
"Thank you, thank you so much" Arya said.
"Just be careful with her, no one can know she's here" I said.
"In that case then, can you do something for me?" Arya asked.
"Of course" I said.
"I want you to look after her for me. King's Landing is your home, you know it better than anyone. I trust you with her" Arya said as she continued to hold Nymeria.
"She can stay in my trunk in my room for now until I find a place for her on the grounds, don't worry no one will find her" I said.
Arya nodded as she placed Nymeria down.
"I have another gift for you" I said as I sat down.
"I can tell you like swordsmanship more than any lady I've ever known so it would only seem fit that you receive actual training, the best there is. You will be meeting with Syrio, a personal friend of mine who happens to be one of the best swordsman in Kings Landing" I said.
"You would really do that for me?" Arya asked completely stunned.
"Yes, I want you and Sansa to be comfortable here. We will just tell everyone you are receiving dancing lessons" I said as I meant every word.
Arya then unexpectedly came up to me and hugged me, she wrapped her hands around my waist as I returned the gesture, I placed my hands on the top of her head.
"You truly are nothing like your family, I'm so glad we know you…" Arya said. I was touched, deeply. I really did care for these Stark girls and I could tell they were caring for me as well and it is the best feeling in the world to know the feeling of friendship and love…
"Go on now, you don't want to be late for your first lesson" I said. Arya heeded my words and left to meet Syrio. I placed Nymeria back in my trunk for safety and I then too left my room.
I wandered the halls and arrived at the throne room. I had seen it many a time, but I had never touched it or went as far as to sit upon it. I approached the throne slowly and reached my hand outward, I grazed where Robert's hands lie when he sits upon it. The throne was cold and rough, I cant understand why so many would wish to fight for it, the amount of responsibility that comes from having to rule seven kingdoms is immense, something I know that I wouldn't be able to bear…
"It looks lovely in the daylight doesn't it" I heard a voice say from behind me that caused me to jump and to retract my hand from the throne, it was my elder sister, Cersei.
"But then again for the past 17 years I have been sitting beside it, its different when you take it at face value" Cersei said as she came close to me.
I was reluctant to speak or even to look at her, I had no idea if Jaime had told her that I know about their relationship…
"I haven't seen much of you in the past few days, you took quite a liking to the Stark family I see" Cersei said.
"Their good kids, and those girls should feel comfortable here, one of them will be the future queen" I said as I looked at my sister.
"Yes Lady Sansa, the little dove, is to wed my Joffrey, to fulfill Robert's long desire to unite both Stark and Baratheon, it should make for an interesting wedding" Cersei said. "And one day soon, you will do us the honor of uniting house Lannister with another nobel house" Cersei continued.
My eyes shot up as I stared directly at Cersei. "Has father said anything?" I asked as I knew the topic of an arranged marriage was inevitable but one that I dreaded desperately.
"Not yet, but soon he will, I wouldn't worry too much. It'll be like Robert and I, you'll warm up to the idea and find love within that person" Cersei said as she touched my long dark locks and twirled a few strands of my hair within her fingers.
"Amara, my lovely baby sister, always the black beauty, you no doubt will have beautiful children as well. It will be hard for me to see you go, despite everything, our age difference, you not being a true Lannister, I will miss you terribly. I always wanted a sister and when father brought you to us, I couldn't be happier, this will always be your home here and we will always be your family" Cersei said as she smiled at me and then proceeded to leave me.
I stood there frozen for a few moments, Cersei had never spoken to me like that before, she had told me that she had favored me over Tyrion but I could tell something else was going on, we never had the ideal sister relationship, she either knew that I knew about her and Jaime or maybe she is being genuine. Even though I find that hard to believe, one never truly knows what goes on inside the head of a Lannister…
I then walked back toward my room but before I went inside, I stopped at Sansa's room and slowly pushed the door open. She was sleeping soundly as I stood in the doorway. I walked closer to her and saw her eyes were red from crying, she must have cried herself to sleep. I sat down beside her and gently stroked her beautiful auburn hair. I had spent many a night crying myself to sleep during my teenage years, I felt unwelcome as a member of this family and left out at times and no one ever came in to check on me, only Tyrion would care for me when he could, which I was grateful for but never did Jaime and Cersei truly care, they were too busy in their own worlds to think of me, same as father. We are right in front of him, and he barely notices us, he only does when he wants to give us orders and force us to do something we don't wish too.
I hope Sansa never knows this pain, her mother and father love her and even though she might be away from some of her family, I pray someone will be here to bring her comfort, the gods know my nephew isn't capable of such feelings, he inherited the Lannister selfishness. But as long as I'm here, I'll look out for her, that is until I get shipped off by father. I fear more of what will happen to her and even to Arya, I can handle myself if need be but their still young ladies, they need someone to guide them as I wish my sister would have done for me but I will make the most of my remaining time here.
"Sleep well Sansa" I said as stopped stroking her hair and placed a gently kiss on her forehead as I then proceeded to show myself out.
authors note: reviews will be much appreciated. Amara bonded with Arya as she saved her direwolf, Nymeria and promised to keep her safe, while Sansa was still depressed over the death of Lady. Amara also had a moment with her sister Cersei, in which she revealed to her that Amara will be forced to marry soon, something that Amara desperately wants to avoid. Amara also confessed that she wants to protect both Sansa and Arya and she will until she leaves Kings Landing, she sees them as little sisters and treats them as such, the way she wishes she was treated by her own siblings. Will Amara be forced into marriage? Does Cersei know that Amara knows about her and Jaime? Keep reading to find out more! The reveal of Amara's true origins will happen in the double digit chapters. Stick around to see what happens!
thanks so much for reading xo
