Travels to King's Landing went by slowly. Emmelyne and Arya opted to ride horses, while Sansa preferred to spend her time lounging in with the Queen and younger children in their carriage. They had stopped at the Ruby Forge, the battle ground where Robert had slain Rhaegar Targaryen.
Arya had befriended a young butcher's son named Mycah, and the two had hurried to the river to practice at sword fighting. Emmelyne had followed them, hoping she could perhaps find some of the rubies that had fallen from Rhaegar's armor.
Arya and Emmelyne's direwolves, Nymeria and R'hllor, had followed. Nymeria, the less obedient of the two, wandered off to explore the bank, while R'hllor sat himself in the shade of a tree, panting in the slight heat. Emmelyne joined him, running her fingers through his thick fur.
Arya and Mycah, each armed with long sticks, began their fake sword fight. Emmelyne leaned against a rock, letting out a soft breath of relief. Throughout the riding, she'd found herself next to Joffrey, who was still intent on trying to seduce her. She was glad now to be rid of the boy. The only thing that seemed to abate him was Sansa, who had fallen hopelessly in love with him.
Emmelyne chuckled at Arya, who was dodging Mycah's stick with surprising agility. "You're doing well, Arya," she encouraged.
Arya answered with a simple cheer. "I'll get you!" Mycah laughed, chasing after the small girl.
Suddenly, Joffrey stepped into the clearing, Sansa in tow. "Arya!" she cried.
Arya turned, receiving a sharp whack on the arm from Mycah. "Ow!" she stated.
She looked back to Sansa. "What are you doing here? Go away," she snapped.
"Your little sister?" Joffrey questioned Sansa, who nodded stiffly in response.
Joffrey's gaze flickered to Emmelyne, and he gave an attempt at a wink. She found herself scooting closer to R'hllor. "Stupid little shit," she muttered.
Luckily enough, Joffrey didn't seem to hear. He took a few steps forward, eying Mycah with an almost hungry stare. "And who are you, boy?" he asked.
"Mycah, my lord," Mycah replied.
"He's the butcher's boy," Sansa stated.
"He's my friend," Arya argued.
Joffrey chuckled. "A butcher's boy who wants to be a knight, eh? Pick up your sword, butcher's boy. Let's see how good you are," he stated, drawing his sword.
Emmelyne stiffened, fingers curled in tight fists. "She asked me to, my lord. She asked me to," Mycah said.
Joffrey stepped up to him, staring the younger boy down. "I'm your prince, not your lord, and I said pick up your sword."
"It's not a sword, my lord. It's only a stick."
"And you're not a knight. Only a butcher's boy."
Joffrey raised his sword, pressing it to Mycah's cheek. "That was my lady's sister you were hitting, do you know that?" he questioned.
"Stop it!" Arya snapped.
"Arya, stay out of this," Sansa stated.
Emmelyne slowly got to her feet. "Leave him alone," she hissed.
"I won't hurt him, much," Joffrey replied calmly, sliding the blade.
He drew a thin line of blood, Mycah wincing and whimpering as he did so. Emmelyne started to make her way forward. Arya raised her stick. "Arya!" Sansa screamed.
Arya slammed the stick hard on Joffrey's shoulder, sending him crumbling to his knees. Mycah leaped back, sprinting off into the woods. "Filthy little bitch!" Joffrey cried, stumbling to his feet, swinging his sword in an arc over Arya's head.
She ducked, dropping her stick and starting to run for Emmelyne. "No, no, stop it, stop it all of you!" Sansa urged.
Emmelyne was angry. More angry than she'd ever been before. Joffrey charged at Arya, swinging his sword madly. Arya dodged, stumbling over her skirt and hitting the ground. Joffrey stepped up to her, his sword pointed directly at her throat. "I'll gut you, you little cunt!"
Emmelyne fell back against the tree, her eyes rolling back into her head so only the whites of them remained. R'hllor charged Joffrey, Nymeria close behind him. Nymeria leaped up, biting down on Joffrey's arm, while R'hllor stayed low. Joffrey gave a horrible scream as R'hllor sank his teeth into the boy's calf. Joffrey hit the ground. R'hllor released quickly, but Nymeria stayed latched onto his arm. Emmelyne's eyes slowly went back to normal, and she began to stumble to her feet, trying to get her bearings.
"Arya!" Sansa screamed.
Arya hurried forward, grabbing Nymeria around the neck. "Nymeria!" she urged, trying to pull the direwolf away.
"Arya!"
"Nymeria!"
Arya fell back as she pulled Nymeria away. Emmelyne hurried to her side, picking up Joffrey's sword from the ground. He stared at her, shaking and whimpering in fear. "No. No. Please, don't," he pleaded.
"Emmelyne, leave him alone," Sansa stated.
Emmelyne rounded on her, eyes a burning red with pure rage. "You shut the hell up, you little brat. I don't give a damn about you and your little Prince of Shit, but if he ever tries to hurt Arya again, I will cut him into a million pieces one by one. Don't you think I won't."
Sansa's blue eyes widened, and even Arya seemed shocked. Joffrey gave another whimper. Emmelyne turned again, moving to the side of the river. She exhaled, long and low, trying to calm herself as she threw the sword into the churning water. "Arya, come on," she stated.
The two girls ran, followed closely by their direwolves.
Hours passed. Hidden deep in the woods, Arya and Emmelyne leaned against a tree. Arya was close to tears. R'hllor lie at Emmelyne's feet, calm and complacent. Nymeria was pacing, as if she knew something was wrong. Arya slowly moved forward, wrapping her arms around Nymeria's neck. The wolf gave a confused whimper when Arya let her go. "You've got to go. They'll kill you for what you did you did to Joffrey. Go on- - run," she urged her pet.
Nymeria stayed in place, head cocked as she eyed Arya curiously. Arya looked at Emmelyne. She just shook her head. "Go! Leave now!" Arya urged Nymeria, who seemed to catch on, stepping a few feet away.
She stopped then, looking at the two girls, expecting them to follow. Emmelyne looked back nervously. The voices of men echoed around them. They were searching for the four companions, no doubt. Arya hesitated, picking up a rock as tears started to fall down her face. She threw it, hitting Nymeria in the leg. "Go!" she stated.
The direwolf whined, breaking into a sprint deeper into the woods. Arya dissolved into tears, burying her face in Emmelyne's lap. "Shh, shh. It's alright, my little wolf. It'll be alright. I need you to get up now, Arya. I need you to go to those men. Please, listen to me now," Emmelyne whispered.
Arya lifted her head, her hazel eyes glittering with tears. "I won't leave you," she said.
Emmelyne smiled sadly. "You have to, Arya."
"No. Don't make me leave. I won't do it."
Emmelyne leaned back, sighing. Once more, her eyes rolled back. Arya's did the same, and she slowly got to her feet. Her movements were slow at first, and then she hurried off toward the men. Both girls went back to normal at the same time.
Emmelyne looked down at R'hllor, who stared at her with his bright blue eyes. He whimpered, confused. "Come, R'hllor. We're going back to the inn," she whispered.
They both got to their feet, wandering deeper into the woods. Even as they walked, Emmelyne knew, that she was going to get into trouble for what R'hllor... for what she had done.
