Chapter Six
Thank you, once again for the wonderful feedback! And I truly mean it!
So, this may be the last chapter until Saturday night. Today is my nameday, (hooray!) and I might be too busy with work, school and celebrations to update. But I just may post more than one chapter on Saturday night..or if you blow up my e-mail with review notifications I may sneak away and upload a chapter sooner.
Happy Nameday to meeee!
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She held onto Arya as the girl sobbed. Standing before a crowded room filled with strangers as well as the King, Queen and Prince, the two girls clung to the safety each other's presence provided them. She whispered calming words into Arya's ears, the same words that Lady Stark had spoken to Melara during her emotional moments. When Melara looked to the Royals she met eyes with her Uncle. He didn't hold any anger in his eyes as she expected. He more just looked bored with it all. Probably wants to get back to his wine and women. She then moved her eyes to the Queen. Proud, fearless, beautiful, powerful. Everything Melara thought she was not. Cersei had disdain clearly displayed on her features directed at the girls. Her son's face matched his mothers. She heard the doors open and felt the crowd part around her as Eddard marched towards them. She whispered to Arya, "Your father is here, sweetling."
Arya flung herself into Ned's arms while repeating apologies. Melara felt suddenly vulnerable when the girl had left her standing alone. She looked to the King to listen to his response to Ned's questioning. Movement to the seated King's right caught her eye instead. Of course he would be standing there watching me. Jaime gave a slight bow of his head, so slight she didn't know if she had imagined it. The rest of the conversation just buzzed in her ears as she gazed at Jaime. She didn't know why she was becoming so brave when it came to him. She had spent the last nine years around Jon and only just this day was she able to embrace him. It must've started when he pulled Theon off me the night of the feast. And then when he didn't hunt me down after I'd slapped him. I do suppose I could offer him an apology.
She listened to the lies that easily fell from Cersei's lips. The King had questioned about Ned's eldest daughter and Melara was surprised to hear the sweet tone Cersei used to call Sansa forward. The crowd parted for the second time allowing the eldest Stark girl through. Melara heard the lies that came from Sansa's mouth. The girl had spoken the truth just hours before, why did she change it now? When Arya flung herself onto Sansa, Melara had been the one to pull her off.
"She's as wild as that animal of hers. I want her punished." The humor is Cersei's force struck something inside of Melara. Is this the Baratheon Fury I should have been born with?
"And what would you have the King do, Your Gace? Whip a highborn girl through the streets?" It was the first time that many of the men in the tent had heard Melara speak. With her arms still wrapped around Arya she was able to keep her voice strong. She was grateful when her uncle broke the silence that had settled.
"Damn it, children fight. It's over."
Melara thought that it would be over. But it seemed the Queen wasn't finished. When she had said they had another direwolf and the King had given a simple, "as you will." and began to leave. Melara felt a cold dread settle upon her body. First Nymeria was made to leave, now she is going to take away Lady. Not even children are safe from the Queen's wrath. Ned had tried to reason with the King but Robert just brushed it off. Sansa and Arya both started yelling, but their shouts fell on deaf ears. Melara's eyes met Jaime's as if he could stop it. He didn't speak but gave an odd nodding motion with his head. Almost as if he was encouraging her to challenge the King. He raised an eyebrow daring her to act. Neither noticed the Queen watching the silent exchange.
Taking a bold step after Robert, Melara spoke directly to him for the first time in nine years. "You can't mean it, Uncle, Your Grace. This direwolf has done no wrong. Are we to punish the innocent for the guilty, now?" Her palms were sweaty and her heart was racing but she had never felt so powerful. The King just stared silently at her for a moment. Just as she thought her bravery was for nothing he spoke quietly.
"Fine. The beast can live. But I want it gone, Ned. Get rid of it now." Melara was proud of her small victory. A compromise is better than Lady being killed. Robert continued to speak, but in a much louder tone. "And if I see anymore direwolves from now on I will kill 'em myself. Girl. Come with me."
It took a moment for Melara to realize he had spoken to her. What does he want with me? Ned gave her a small push to get her moving. She barely heard his whispered thanks but she saw the nod of his head. She gave a shaky smile in return.
He hadn't waited for her but instead the King made his way out of the tent and into the night's air. He made to enter another tent but paused to allow Melara to enter first. Probably wants to make sure I'll actually follow him inside. He sat down at a small table and motioned for her to sit as well. A blonde haired boy came over and immediately poured wine into the King's glass.
"Did your whore of a mother not teach you proper manners? Offer the Lady some wine, you fucking fool!" The boy seemed to shrink back at the King's harsh words. He is the one questioning on another's manners? I truly don't understand the way of the Southerners.
"If it please Your Grace, I'd rather not have wine."
"It please me to have you call me what you wish. We are family. In this tent there are no titles, Melara."
"It please me to call you 'Your Grace'."
Robert let out a loud laugh. From the rumors he had heard the girl was fearful of even her own shadow. But this young woman in front of him had some spirit, no matter how hidden away it was. She just didn't know it yet.
"Was that direwolf's life worth the headache I will get from the Queen, Lady Melara? Lesser men have died for questioning me openly like you did."
"I should thank the Seven that I am a girl and not a man then." Robert gave another laugh and Melara began to relax. He is not so bad, really. Is my father at all like him? Will he be in King's Landing to receive us? She realized that the best one to answer her questions was sitting right in front of her. "Will Father be in King's Landing when we arrive, Your Grace?"
He sobered up at her innocent question. In the years that had passed since her attack Robert had never forgiven his brother. When she had been younger she had reminded him of Lyanna. She was so free-spirited and willful, just as Lyanna had been. Robert had regretted his decision to send Melara to King's Landing for the few months after it happened. She felt that she was his last tie to Lyanna. Robert had often thought that if Lyanna had lived and they had a daughter, she would be like Melara. The young woman in front of him looked every bit a Baratheon. Lyanna would have given me a daughter that looked just like this girl. Instead, I am stuck with a Lannister for a wife and three yellow haired children.
"No." Melara didn't understand why she would be going to King's Landing if her father wasn't even going to be there.
"Then why did he send for me, Your Grace?"
"You are of age, yes?" She gave a shaky nod. "Then he's had a proposal for your hand, I suppose." Ah, there is the fear. He felt pity for the girl now, just as he had felt it when he had seen her lying bloody in a bed. His mind brought forth an image of Lyanna's body instead of Melara's and he felt the need to protect the scared girl. "He may be your father but I am the King. As long as I breathe, no one will lay a fucking hand on you unless you allow it."
She was shocked that the King would claim a vow of protection over her. "Th-thank you, Your Grace." She couldn't think of anything else to say. Luckily a guard entered and announced that the King had visitors. Melara politely excused herself and passed two giggling girls on her way out of the tent. What would he need with two of them?
The events of the day weighed heavy on her shoulders. The emotional turmoil that she had been through in one day, and the long hours of riding, had left her exhausted. She kept her head down as she made her way to the tent she shared with Arya and Sansa. She couldn't help but feel a bit of relief at the King's words. He vowed to protect me. I will be safe in King's Landing. She tried to convince herself this but the doubt seeped in with her last thoughts before entering the tent.
I had the protection of the Kind when I was in the Capitol before but that didn't stop me from being attacked.
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Jaime was shocked the girl actually spoke out against the King's decision. He had been expecting her to look on in silence and cry silently. Instead she stood up to her namesake and made her fury known. However little that fury was. He let out a laugh at the look on Cersei's face when Robert had sided with the girl. The Queen stood with her mouth agape for a moment as if not believing what she saw. I wonder if she will open her mouth like that for me tonight. It was dangerous but Jaime couldn't say no to his sister's offer to meet at the edge of the woods for a midnight fuck session. Of course I have to go to her. She never comes to me. Knowing his sister's mood it would be all rough and hard and fast, and over much too quickly for Jaime's liking. His sister stood in a clearing with her back towards him. His stepped on a stick and the snapping sound caught her attention.
When she reacted he had to do a double take to make sure it was Cersei who stood before him and not some girl who worked at the Inn. The Queen looked frightened, the fear twisting her face. To Jaime it looked unnatural and unattractive. He closed the distance between them to help protect her from whatever it was that had her worked up. He made to grab her but she flinched away, after a slight delay. He reached for her quicker the second time and caught her in his arms.
"What are you doing, Sister?" She pushed away from him but stayed within his reach. Her face did not hold fear now, but anger.
"Isn't that what you want, Brother? A scared girl to take against her will?"
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Jaime felt disgusted at what she had said. I would never take a girl against her will. Fuck, I'd never take a girl that wasn't Cersei, willing or not.
"Don't play dumb with me, Jaime. The first time I saw you two I could brush it off as you just playing the game, but tonight." She saw the realization come across his face but would not stop questioning him until she had her answers. "What was that little look you gave her tonight? Are you two so close that you don't need to speak words to understand each other?"
"Jealously looks beautiful on you, Cercei." Jaime understood now. She was jealous of the little attention he gave Melara. He would put a stop to this before she got mad enough that she wouldn't fuck him. "Is this because Robert took her side? Please, Sister, you know I only hold eyes for you." He walked up to her and rested his forehead against hers. Usually the gesture would calm Cersei down, but tonight she had not gotten her way. And Cersei did not like when she didn't get her way.
She whispered to him in a sweet voice, "Am I so hideous to you that you must imagine my body belongs to another when you are with me? That day in the tower, just before you pushed the Stark boy, was it her you were thinking of when you were deep inside me?" Cersei had cried to Jaime for hours after her wedding night with Robert. She knew just what to say to make Jaime come crawling to her.
And it worked. The words she spoke sent guilt throughout him. Looking into his sister's eyes he vowed to never think of Melara again. He would seek her out no more.
"Never." The word he spoke to both Cersei and himself. He embraced her once again, missing the triumphant smile that crossed her lips. They became oblivious to the world around them and they tore at each other's clothes. If they had been more careful they would have noticed the direwolf that stood hidden by the brush just feet away.
Miles away, a young boy lay dreaming of the Queen and the Kingslayer in a passionate embrace. It was as if he was actually there in the clearing watching them. The boy turned his head away in his dream not wanting to see anymore and as he did, the trees around him faded.
Bran was awake.
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Originally, I had stayed with the show and had Lady killed BUT after reading the review from Dark Alana hoping that Joffrey and Cersei don't get their way I was inspired to change it up a bit. I thought about it and it actually made more sense to write it this way, as far as the plot is concerned! I hope I'm not rushing these chapters too much. I just reeeeally want to get to King's Landing!
