6th in Slice of Life Arc: The Maiden part 3
CassyJoe for chapter 8: Yes Buffy and Jon are cousins. But cousin (or uncle/niece) marriage is perfectly acceptable even in the north. (Yes Starks did what NOW is wived as incest). In medieval times (or GoT/ASoIaF) universe incest was only parent/child or between siblings. Jon was named after Jacaerys Velaryon
CassyJoe for chapter 9: No sorry but Lyanna/Rheagar are both dead. Aegon/Nandi will be a thing yes.
Question: In, your, readers opinion: Who should sit on Iron Throne?
We have Aegon, Asherion, Jon (Jacaerys) Targaryen; Fake Aegon; Joffrey Baratheon, Tommen Baratheon Then we have Rhaenys Targaryen, Argella Baratheon aka Tara, Elenei Baratheon aka Buffy, Daenerys Targaryen, Myrcella Baratheon; Robara Baratheon, Shireen Baratheon and, not that they count (who cares about them) Stannis & Renly Baratheon.
Quick clarification: Aegon Targaryen/Nandi the Life Magician ship is a thing.
***Princess Argella (Tara)-3***
Kings Landing 291 AC - Month Xōchitl
It could be said that their plans for the tourney at Highgarden were a success. They met with the party from Dorne and gave them Princess Elia Martell's box of letters. And Buffy became friends with Oberyn and Ellaria and his daughters – Obara and Nymeria.
Buffy went a step further and convinced Prince Oberyn to consider marrying Tara, instead his nephew doing it, something Tara noticed the Dornishman considered seriously. They hadn't spoken in length, as there would be time for ironing out the details and of course to see if Tara could have married Prince Quentyn. While yes Tara felt more attraction toward the female gender, but she had also considered Rupert Giles attractive once upon a time– so in theory she could grow to like a man in a sexual way if she absolutely had to. It just would never ever be a preference for her.
Both Buffy and Tara herself were riding among the Kingsguard toward King's Landing. Their father was at the head of the column – which was just as well, since Buffy was and Tara currently is blaming Prince Oberyn for increasing the 'Spit into Stag's eye' attitude.
'Are you still annoyed at me?' The mental question from Buffy nearly made Tara jerk the reins; it was so sudden.
'I wasn't annoyed,' she sent back, and she wasn't, no matter how underhanded Buffy was with approaching Prince Oberyn with the suggestion of Tara marrying him instead of his oldest nephew Prince Quentyn. Prince Doran's son and second child, who in the books, went to Essos to try to get Queen Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons, to marry him and was burned by one of her three dragons.
'And please try to not antagonize Robert; I'd like to ride to King's Landing,' she finished.
'Why do you think I'm keeping the hat on?' came the reply, and true enough Buffy's hair was tucked under myrish lace snood. Which was odd. Very odd and it made Tara a bit suspicious. And worried for Robert's blood pressure – or if he decided to hit Buffy then well, her golden coins were on Buffy.
'What are you planing?' Tara inquired of her sister.
'Not a thing,' came the reply, but Buffy was smirking and looking ahead, right at Robert's back, and again that made Tara suspicious. 'At the moment.'
And that definitely was not reassuring! Tara thought – by Buffy's wince she could see that the volume of that thought was immense, which meant that they'd have to smooth some more of the kinks and glitches with their mental link connection.
'So you won't let your hair free for Robert to see?' Tara tentatively inquired.
'Robert won't see a thing,' Buffy reassured her again and why didn't she find this reassuring and true, Buffy's hands didn't go near her head. But she had made sure that her silver blonde hair fell loose at the time where there were lots of people present.
The smallfolk, and Tara disliked that term – it implied that those people were small in every way, even if she used it because everybody did. For a while both of them tried to flip the term to citizens of King's Landing. It didn't take off.
The people of King's Landing cheered when Buffy passed, her silver hair loose, and waved at them her wide smile, and there were lots of flowers thrown her way from the cheering crowds all the way to the Red Keep.
Robert was positively purple with fury, but Jon Arryn and his grandfather Lord Estermont made sure that he didn't blow up then and there. Lord Estermont even pointed out to his grandson the King, that Princess Elenei's looks added to the legitimacy of Robert Baratheon's rule, because even though he seized the Iron Throne by conquest, he was keeping it through the blood right of the Targaryen Bloodline, Robert being the closest of relative to the former ruling House. That had been a cadet House since the first Aegon Targaryen's half brother Orys Baratheon founded it in the first place.
'Because you know me?' Buffy offered amused.
'Did I broadcast that thought?'
'No, but I know you too well.'
After that, the hooves hit the reddish brown paving stones of the King's Landing as they rode through the main gates and towards the Red Keep.
When Robert rode into the yard, the Kingsguard fanning around him, both Buffy and Tara urged their mounts forward so that pages dressed in Baratheon blacks and yellows could hold the reins of the horses, allowing mounted knights and ladies to dismount.
"Welcome home, your Grace." The Hand of the King bowed along with the Small Council that had stayed in King's Landing, while the King and his family, with the assorted knights, pages, and other personnel, were at the tourney at Highgarden. After the tourney, the Royal progress toured around the Reach's countryside.
It was no wonder that the Reach is rich in crops; it had fertile land with crops like wheat, barley, orchards, and vineyards – as well as rolling hills where pastures were full of cows, horses, and sheep. Buffy told her that Willas Tyrell's hobby was breeding hawks, hounds, and horses. Tara was tempted to ask for a dog – but she had a genuine fear of Joffrey harming the puppy since the pregnant cat incident – though on the other hand, THAT could have been solved better by Robert.
Joffrey emulated Tywin and Robert … he was invited, both Tara and Buffy were not allowed, to the butcher's tent, where Tywin skinned and opened a doe. Joffrey wanted to do the same with that cat; he even showed the butchered animal to Robert.
That did go the same as it did in the books. Robert hit Joffrey so hard that he lost some teeth, fortunately all were Joff's milk teeth. But the King's action invoked some unpleasant, to put it mildly, memories of Tara's life with her own family.
The Court stopped at Oldtown, after the tourney, and on the way to King's Landing. There uncle Tyrion and Samwell Tarly, the new page of the Princess Court, bonded over books. Sam was a nice person – his father reminded Tara a bit of her own father, and brother, and uncle. Which was one of the reasons why Tara asked Robert for a boon of a page in the form of Sam.
But the initial idea was Buffy's; she said that since for some reason Jon Snow was legitimate now and Lord of a castle, there wouldn't be anyone at the Wall to help Sam. So the bookish big boned boy joined the Princess Household.
"Anything happened while we were gone?" Robert asked while his heavy charger was led away, along with the other horses.
"Nothing pressing, your Grace, we received a missive from Prince Doran. He agrees with our proposal, however he asks for a reprieve of a year's time," Lord Arryn answered.
"Oh very well, it will soothe my wife to have our eldest daughter with her for one year more than first said."
Then Robert gave a disgruntled puff as he watched Cersei exit the wheelhouse, followed by her ladies in waiting, and a Septa holding the one year old Myrcella– a Septa that was new. Her name was Eglantine, who they picked up in Oldtown since Cersei threw the old one away, literally, when she found her drunk one night at Highgarden.
"It looks like my wife's wish of the children seeing Casterly Rock will be granted."
"Your Grace?"
"The next name day of Princess Argella will take place at The Rock. At the time perhaps your twin girls will be able to travel to the Westerlands," Robert ruled. Not that this was something he had decided himself, their mother sent a letter to Tywin and he agreed to host a tourney; also she nearly shocked him – the twin girls of Jon and Lysa Arryn were barely seven months old, being born in the third month of the year, Atemoztli. They were way too young for travel.
'Wow talk about idiots,' came an exasperated mutter, loud and clear.
Tara glanced to the left, and Buffy was standing among the ladies and Samwell Tarly who was trying to hide how much riding had tired him. Soon they were joined by Septa and Myrcella, who latched at Buffy's arm.
'Did you hear that – or are you eavesdropping through our mental link?' Tara asked, 'And is Sam all right?'
'Two words: Slayer hearing. I can hear just fine from here. Sam is dealing; I'll slip Sam an ointment for the sore muscles later … now shush. I can do two to three things at once but four is pushing it.'
Just as well, since the conversation between the King and the Hand was getting interesting. And they were joined by Maester Pycelle and grandpa Mycheall, he was actually Tara's great grandfather – being Mycheall Estermont, he was the actual grandfather of Robert, Stannis, and Renly.
"Yes, your Grace – but what of Prince Joffrey and Princess Myrcella, who will have their own namedays?" Jon Arryn asked.
Tara's attention went back to her father and the Hand of the King, and yes, she could understand why Lord Jon was concerned; that many celebrations must weigh on the Royal treasury. Or rather the namedays themselves would not dry up the gold, if Robert didn't insist on a party almost every month or so.
Every month there was a tourney OR a hunt or just some sort of celebration. It was good that Uncle Tyrion suggested that for the name days, of Buffy and herself, the court would be attending a tourney in each region followed by a tour of the same region after the tourney was concluded. This year it was at Highgarden and the Tyrell's hosted the tourney. Next Cuāuhtli 292 AC, when their birthday hit, they were supposed to celebrate at Casterly Rock.
"Seven Hells, Jon! Perhaps a tourney at Casterly would be more appropriate for Joff. It's about time that Tywin does something for his grandchildren, instead of skulking at that Rock and shitting gold. And for Myrcella will have a hunt for her name day here in the Crownlands, as she will have her nameday five moons time from Joffrey's."
Joffrey was born in the first month of the year 286.
"That is doable, your Grace – but..." Jon Arryn started, but was interrupted by Robert waving a hand in dismissal.
"And before Princess Myrcella, we will be celebrating the birth of another Prince or Princess, as the Queen is with child," Robert's voice boomed through the courtyard.
***Nighttime***
After the whirlwind of the day, a feast was thrown after the King's proclamation, and Tara was tired. As soon as her head touched the pillow of her bed, she had fallen asleep.
It was dark and quiet when Tara suddenly woke up, because she could not breath. Feeling fur on her face, she nudged the belligerent cat; he hissed at her, but he moved. Then something came from the link; excitement muffled, so that she wouldn't wake, but Buffy was wide awake somewhere that was not her room or her bed.
'I should have known,' Tara sent.
Apologetic feelings flowed through their link along with the inquiry, 'You were asleep, did I wake you up?'
Tara huffed. 'No, Balerion did,' she answered, then was not amused by the sheer giggly feeling coming from her sister. Belarion never sat on her head. He didn't hiss at her either – Tara sometimes thought that the cat saw them as some sort of substitute for Rhaenys Targaryen.
'Did he make a bed out your head again?' Buffy asked.
'Not funny,' Tara's mind grumbled, annoyed by the giggles that were coming in loud and clear through the link '– do you know how irritating it is when you wake up because you have a face full – and mouthful of cat hair?' she asked irritably.
There was silence for a couple moments then, 'Nope' came the laughing reply.
At times like that Tara really wanted to hit Buffy with a pillow – repeatedly. To make herself feel better she visualized the biggest pillow hitting Buffy in the face, then she sent the imagery to her sister.
All she got back was a peel of laughter and imagery of a cat sitting on top of her own head, its black tail tickling her under her nose.
Time to change the subject.'So what are you doing?'
'Visiting a friend, getting said friend to make a staff for another friend. Things like that.'
Translation: Buffy snuck out of the Red Keep to visit Gendry and get something for Sam, but …
'Why a staff?'
'Well you know how Sammy is afraid of pointy and sharp objects, so swords and knives are obviously out – oh do you think he'd make a good slingshot?'
'You do know his sight is not very good, right?' Tara wryly pointed out.
'His sight is fine – he was observing bees at the distance. So I think it's in his head, or perhaps he pretended to have poor sight so that he didn't have to partake in a hunt or something. Or perhaps it's that he closes his eyes when he swings a training sword.'
Yes, that would do it – Tara felt like sighing and shaking her head at Samwell Tarly. But he wasn't hopeless; away from the influence of his father and having a chance to pursue things he loved and was good at, along with friends, Samwell Tarly blossomed into a man that slew the White Walker and protected Gilly and her baby.
'Oh fine," Tara sent to Buffy, who was probably nearing the smithy by now. Once or twice she had mentioned that she climbed the roofs, jumping from rooftop to rooftop – like some sort of ninja. Also, wasn't House Tarly's sigil a huntsman with notched bow? Wouldn't it be poetic if Samwell became very good with a longbow?
'Though instead of a sling shot, I'd recommend a longbow,' she sent to Buffy – a sense of stillness came from her sister; it looked like Tara's words made her think some of her plans over.
'I won't give him my ironwood bow, but I think there is a goldenheart wood longbow in storage, I'll ask Ser Barristan for it.'
'Will you tell him what for?'
'Yes, I'll also tell him that I can see great potential in Sam – if only one could gave him confidence, which he lacks – thanks to his dad.'
Wow, that was pretty short for Buffy, since the last time Samwell's dad came up Tara was treated to a RANT that lasted for hours – absently she wondered who would win the Worst Parent of the Year Award in Westeros.
'Do you want to hear my...?'
'No I'm going to sleep, tired now. But do what you like.'
'Good night, Tara.'
Tara yawned, 'Night.'
With that, the link got silent – like a grave; it looked like Buffy muted and blocked her side of it.
***Midday next day – in hidden enclave by the sea***
They slipped from the Keep down the winding path and to the sea – Buffy mentioned that it looked like the spot where Jaime trained with Bronn after he lost his sword hand. It was easier to slip away in the middle of the day, as most of the attention was on Joffrey and the pregnant Queen. Also the Septas were focusing more on little Myrcella.
It was also the spot where Sam hid himself most of the time, to escape mocking squires and pages when he wasn't doing his duty of being her and Buffy's cup bearer.
Samwell Tarly was round, with dark hair and pale blue eyes. There wasn't much else to say about his appearance.
But he was also kindhearted and a very intelligent boy. And right now he was terrified – after all, both of them startled him, and well, he had thrown a book at Buffy in fright. Not that her sister was hit; she, in one motion, caught the book and tucked it under her arm.
Samwell's eyes went wide and he started to tremble all over, then fell into a bow that nearly toppled him over; he was shaking so hard.
"I'm sorry, your Grace," he whimpered – Tara felt a bit sorry for him when she had agreed to Buffy's plan. But they could have hardly approached Sam out in front. The other pages did look down on the boy, and if princesses intervened directly, it may have gotten worse for Samwell and they didn't want that – besides how could Buffy train him in staff fighting if they'd have an audience?
"You are Samwell, eldest son of Lord Randyll of Horn Hill, correct?" Buffy asked the boy as she returned his book to him. Poor Samwell started to bow again, and he nearly tripped forward – and would have, if Buffy hadn't stopped his fall.
Which made poor Sam even more fearful. He was trembling and hugging his book.
"Y-yes, your Grace," he stuttered.
As Buffy tossed him a bo staff, the poor guy fumbled with the polearm, his finger clumsy, until they found a firm grip on the weapon.
"This is made from steel and tipped with dragonglass," Buffy said at the staring boy, "you did say you don't like sharp things – well a staff is not sharp but you can still easily trip a swordsman and clobber him on his head. You also have a longer reach."
"..." Sam still stared, his round eyes flickering from Buffy to her. Tara smiled reassuringly at him when he looked at her again.
"You are a brave person, Samwell," she said, and his eyes widened then he shook his head.
"No I ..." Samwell stammered, "my f-father, he..."
"Sam," Buffy intervened before he could deny Tara's words or tell them what his father said to him.
Tara knew how Buffy would react to that – she didn't want to listen to an hour long rant about any fathers or uncles pretending to be fathers for a while. Buffy already rammed Sam's dad up, down, and sideways. Robert and Tywin got on that list as well. And surprisingly Ned Stark – that made her uncomfortable since Ned was, IS, a good guy. Buffy agreed with that but also pointed out that Ned made pretty big mistakes with Jon – he should have come clean about his heritage before Jon joined the penal colony in the books and show which was what the Wall was at this point.
"Being brave is not the absence of fear." Buffy smiled at the end of her sentence; Tara wondered if she just quoted something from pop culture, then Buffy continued, saying to Sam, who didn't stop trembling but he was listening to Buffy, "You may call yourself a craven – others may label you as one, but saying that you are craven and admit that you don't like blood – that is brave. Not many people – men or women would admit their own weakness. That is brave."
Then she tapped the staff."You hold it that way." She positioned his hands into a wider grip -
Samwell squeaked "Your Grace?" he hurriedly looked around his eyes big, and round and terrified.
"Sam, if I shouted at the top of my lungs, nobody would hear a whisper – nor does anybody come here … well except us."
"But, Princess ..." Samwell stepped back in retreat."I don't know, what if you get hurt?"
"As of now, I'm not your princess, your grace or even a lady – but your teacher – So do as your teacher says, because I have no intention of letting a nice guy like you walk around with a big sign saying: I think I'm defenseless, kick me! And besides I know much about staff fighting."
With that she pulled out another staff – from somewhere – and twirled it … Now this was always puzzling Tara and the others in Sunnydale, where did Buffy hide her weapons?
Buffy pulled off her detachable skirt – revealing leather pants and high boots.
"Now make sure you stay firm, with your feet apart – good like that..."
Tara wandered to the side and sat down, watching Buffy instruct Sam in bo staff stances, how he should step and – and apparently she was having the time of her life.
"Now most people think – oh with a staff only hands and upper body matter. But that is very, very wrong. What your lower body is doing affects your upper body. Look, I'll show you."
Then Buffy put her right leg out, knee slightly bent and left leg straight, and her back was straight, leaning forward.
"This is called a long front stance; it also enables a more powerful thrust with a your hands are holding a staff in a normal hold, one palm should be facing up and the other down."
Sam did that, albeit awkward, so Buffy readjusted his hold a bit saying, "No worries, Sam, if you don't get it at first. It's like starting to read it takes only practice and patience."
"Now I'll show you the over head front strike. Now after you do the head front strike, you immediately settle back into the long front stance, all right."
Buffy brought her knee up as she simultaneously brought her staff to rest on her shoulder so it was parallel to the ground and struck, then she settled back into the long front stance in one graceful movement.
Sam repeated the movement. It was clumsy and he wobbled a bit, but Buffy nodded and smiled at him.
"Right now we will repeat that a couple of times, faster this time; after that I'll show you two more strikes and two more stances. And then we'll repeat those every day."
'And after that, I'll ask Gendry to make some weights,' Buffy said privately to her.
Tara tilted her head in question.'Weights?'
'To fasten on his ankles and wrists. Come to think of it, I think I'll tell our half brother to make four pairs of each. And maybe some for himself, not that he needs them,' Buffy elaborated, while guiding Sam's strike down.
'I'm afraid to ask -why?'
'Well for you, me, Sam, and Myrcella,' Buffy replied, while blocking Sam's strike, then showed him how she did it.
'You're going to teach our sister to fight?'
Not that Tara was surprised; Buffy loved their little sister partly because she missed Dawn terribly, and partly because Myrcella herself was kindhearted and very smart. She already talked in full sentences and could recognize letters and used spelling to read short sentences, much more than Joffrey was able to do when he was her age. Also Myrcella glared at Joffrey when he stole her doll; she didn't cry when he returned it headless but had thrown it back at him instead.
'Yes,' Buffy answered her after a while
"Sam, keep your eyes on your opponent, move your hands with the shifting of your weapon, but have a firm grip before you strike," she said, instructing Samwell.
'You do know Myrcella probably won't go to Dorne, since I'll do that,' Tara pointed out, not that she feared poisoning, after all it seemed that at least Dorne was more from the books than the TV show. There was also some sort of friendship between the Sand Snakes and Buffy.
'Sure,' Buffy answered, 'she could be shipped somewhere else where we won't be so I would feel better if Cella would know how to defend herself.'
Ah, all right. 'What will you teach her?' Tara asked, since she knew that Buffy would somehow find a way to teach Myrcella, even if Tara passed on the lessons. Not that she would it would be a good thing, knowing some self defense.
'Well, something Merrick started teaching me - Hankido. Come to think of it, I'll teach you that as well.'
'What's that, and how is it done?'
'Hand strikes, kicks, throws, and pressure points. Though I'd suggest throws to be the last thing to learn, since if you do it wrong, you can be injured. Maybe add in some needles that could be used as a stabbing weapon.'
Translation: normal person could be injured badly, the Slayer not so much.
'I'll start with hand strikes and pressure points,' Buffy stated after a slight pause as she gave a couple of slow strikes that Samwell deflected.
'Why?' she had to ask – though it would be nice to know how to defend herself even if they were at the top of the food chain.
'Stupid question, Tara.' She could just feel Buffy's snort at her question, 'We are in Westeros that should be reason enough.'
And it was – it was death to the unwary, the weak, and the poor. Speaking of poor, Buffy said that she'd teach her about pressure points, and Tara had heard of how scary those can be in martial arts.
'Ahm, Buffy, how deadly are pressure points?'
'Depends on which point you press,' came the reply.
'Did you use any?'
'Yes.'
'On vampires?'
'Sometimes if I had to fight a group of them; it would by me some time. It didn't kill them but it did knock them out of the fight until I could drive a stake through their hearts.'
'How about on the living?'
'At the tourney at Highgarden I got in a fight with a Frey. I used it then to cause pain, so that he could not move.'
'Oh, I didn't know that; what are the advantages in us learning this?'
'For one, your opponent's strength doesn't matter, since martial arts uses flowing motions to deflect and use your opponent's power against themselves.'
*** Four weeks later***
They were sitting on the balcony, overlooking the yard, where pages and squires practiced with their chosen weapons. The boys were on foot – and the pages and cup bearers skills were on display in case a knight would take them on as a squire.
"Princess Elenei, will you grant me a favor?" asked the lording, first son, of some house in Crownlands; Tara forgot the squire's name. He was one of the squires that served the Kingsguard.
"I'm sorry, Ser, but my sister and mine's cup bearer Lord Tarly already carries it," Buffy stated and sure enough there were colorful – their colors – scarves wrapped around Sam's upper arm.
'He does?' Tara didn't remember giving it … oh, she nearly laughed, and the amusement coming from Buffy was almost overwhelming.
'Well, I did hit him, so I needed your handkerchief and mine to bind his wounded area.'
Buffy then inclined her head."But you can take it, if you can?" she said – taunted really with a slight smile.
"Oi, Tarly – give it up, you can't win the sword fight with a stick!" shouted the squire as he rushed with his practice sword toward Samwell.
'Oh I can,' Buffy sang in Tara's head. 'And so can Sam now.'
And on reflex Samwell swatted the charging squire to the side, then tripped another, and soon they were dancing around to Samwell's tune.
'We'll leave it to Sam this time.'
'As it is his fight,' Buffy agreed. 'or dance. He is a good dancer and loves it – did you know his sisters taught him to dance?'
***Mazātl 292 Casterly Rock***
They finally arrived to their mother's home – as it became some sort of tradition for Tywin, their not-grandfather as Buffy was fond of remarking, to hold a tourney at Lannisport for Joffrey's nameday.
It was very comfortable traveling in a wheelhouse, though both of them would prefer riding with Robert, Sam, the Kingsguard, the knights, and Joffrey.
'He is going to be a pain now that he is allowed to ride,' Buffy groused crossly. Joffrey was becoming more and more like canon Joffrey – but then again his education was entirely in Cersei's hands. Sometimes it was months since they saw him or their mother.
'I thought you were asleep,' Tara noted.
In fact, she even wondered if Buffy's nightly free running had happened – after she returned with Ser Barristan who accompanied her on her excursions to the orphanages in King's Landing. Buffy pointed out that she had been doing something similar at home, while her mother – Joyce was still unaware of her daughter's destiny.
'Nah I'm avoiding having conversations with people right now,' came the surprising reply. What now? What did Buffy do – or was scheming to do?
If she didn't know better she'd think that Buffy was affected by King's Landing miasma of backstabbing or catty or anything in between political wise. Until Buffy pointed out that there wasn't much difference when she was at Hermy High before becoming the Slayer, only possibly with higher stakes.
'I'm people,' Tara was compelled to point out.
No response …
'What's wrong?' Tara asked, thinking back, training Samwell to use the staff bared fruit and he managed to defeat many pages and squires. In addition Ser Barristan Selmy told the King, when Robert asked how Samwell had gotten the staff to fight with, that as Lord Commander of the Kinsguard, Barristan could not allow for the page to be unable to defend the Princesses. Barristan said to the King, and anyone present, that he gave Sam the staff since he seemed suited to that type of weapon, so their involvement was a secret.
Also Myrcella and Tara trained together; they were getting pretty good as well. So she was pretty sure Buffy was not agonizing over Samwell and them not learning fast enough.
'He was with me when I went to the smithy to take it,' Buffy mentioned then – Tara took half a second to figure out that she meant the staff; the switching of the topic was so abrupt.
'He was?' Tara was not surprised at that. She was hoping that Buffy would eventually come around to tell her what was bothering her.
'Yeah.'
'You still didn't tell me what was wrong?' Tara pointed out.
There was a mental – depressing sigh. 'It'll ruin your mood.'
Now that made her attention sharpen. It also made her more worried.
'Sister,' she needed to know just what the problem Buffy saw was. They made many plans during their infancy, and backup plans for those plans, so it must have been something that they hadn't discussed then. When they were merely infants, they had lots of time and they had to keep their sanity somehow – even if their dignity went out the window so they plotted and discussed and then plotted some more.
Something had slipped through their attention during that time, but what was it?
'Did you notice how more and more we are referring to each other as sisters,' it was not a question, Tara decided, Buffy stated this – and had avoided answering yet again, 'and sometimes you use Ilia, and I, use Ella when we mind speak.'
'I also call you Eli,' Tara pointed out. 'And sometimes you call me Ara.'
'I had a thought.' Buffy sounded a bit, dare Tara say, hesitant.
'Yes?'
This had got to be it, the issue that Buffy was dancing around.
'What will happen to Free Folk? Jon is not going to the Wall and neither is Sam. So what will happen to Gilly, to Tormund, to Wun Wun, to Yigritte?'
Tara frowned – that was a serious question and she didn't have an answer. They never covered that part, because they assumed that Jon Snow would go to the Wall, as he did both in the books and TV show. But now, first they found out that Jon Snow was legitimized and given Lordship over Harrenhal and its lands – that caused some irritation for Hoster Tully, Lord of Riverrun, since before, House Whent had lordship over Harrenhal, and the Whents were bannermen of House Tully of the Riverlands.
Now the lordship passed into the hands of a newly established House – and since in the distant past, House Vermilion was from the Stormlands, Harrenhal fell under preview of House Baratheon.
'See, I told you it'd ruin your mood,' Buffy muttered dejected, 'not to mention Ramsay Snow or is it Bolton?'
'That depends,' Tara mused, 'if it's going by the book or show – if book, Roose has a son named Domeric Bolton.'
"Children, my sweet daughters," Cersei called to them, "we are nearing home."
Cersei was pregnant; she had started to show, but she still traveled for Joffrey's tournament that would be held in Lannisport. Tywin sent a letter to Jon Arryn that he agreed to hosting a tourney for Prince Joffrey.
When they first saw Casterly – well while Highgarden looked like a mix of the City of Gondor from Lord of the Rings and Cinderella's Castle, the Rock looked like Beast's castle, from Beauty and the Beast, on a bare mountain top. Which kind of looked like Pride Rock from the Lion King – and there were a lot locations that reminded Tara of Disney films, how odd was that?
'It is a rock,' Buffy noted, deadpan, 'while it looms – I think I prefer Highgarden, thanks.'
'Don't tell mother,' Tara warned warily; it would be bad if Buffy blurted that out loud.
'Do I look stupid to you?' Buffy retorted – as they were introduced, like they hadn't met, to Tywin Lannister.
"Father this is Joffrey, my son," Cersei introduced him first, "Joffrey, this is your grandfather Tywin Lannister."
'He doesn't look anything like TV Tywin,' Buffy remarked, again.
Tara agreed; he was tall, his head was shaved, but the lack of hair was compensated by two beaten gold side whiskers – it was like his head was trapped between two golden face sized earmuffs. His eyes were not bottle green as Cersei's and Jaime's were but a lighter green with golden flecks – like rotten green apples.
The welcome was not overly warm – they were mostly ignored by Tywin and most of their relatives as they were all focusing on Joffrey.
It was the same throughout their entire stay in Casterly. They were left, or rather the girls were left mostly to themselves – they sometimes joined Septas and other Lannister ladies for sewing and music and dancing lessons. But other times it was like they were invisible – all the focus of Tywin and his brother Kevan was on the Crown Prince and the King.
Tara then concluded, and shared with Buffy, that they were dealing with the book version of Tywin Lannister as that Tywin didn't see any use in them, besides marrying them off to further House Lannister. On the good side, the four weeks were full of training in secluded corners of Casterly Rock.
Until on the last day when all four of them attracted redspots the Westerosi version of chickenpox – that swept through Lannisport; some adults contacted it too and died. Cersei stayed cosseted up, so that she didn't get sick – it was a precaution because she was carrying a babe in her belly, even if their Lady Mother and Uncle Jaime also had redspots when they were children.
So most of the time they Buffy, Myrcella and Tara were left alone – only three maids came in to handle the linen, dressing them in simple cotton sleeping frocks and Septa came once a day to read to them from the Seven Pointed Star for an hour and trice a maester Creylen came to put ointment on the red spots on their skin. They also wore soft and thick cotton gloves so that they didn't scratch at their skin.
The rest of time they were left alone – all of the forty nine days. So Buffy used this time to teach them some more self defense moves.
***Ehēcatl 292 AC Casterly Rock***
They stayed at Casterly– with 'they' Tara meant the redspots inflicted children – not that they still were, they were healthy now and the very much pregnant Queen – not that she was anymore. Yesterday she had given birth, and today all of Cersei's Royal Children were clustered around their mother's bed.
"She is ugly," Joffrey sneered, his eyes pinched and nose in the air.
"All babies are like that brother," Myrcella pointed out, causing Joffrey to sneer again, then he winced as Buffy kicked him in the shin – ignoring the stare down happening between the two, Tara hurried to distract Cersei.
"What's her name, Mother?" Tara asked. Cersei smiled.
"Robert wrote that if the baby was a boy, he should be named Steffon for his father and the babe's dead brother; if a girl, Robara."
So she is Princess Robara Baratheon, black of hair. Blue eyes. The baby that Cersei birthed was most definitely not Jaime's – since she had black hair.
'This is not Robert's baby, you know?' Buffy sent.
'How do you figure?' Tara asked.
'For one, Cersei is way to happy. And well, baby has a prominent brow ridge, and even if it's small, her nose is hooked, just like Myrcella's sword shield Ser Osmund Kettleblack, who came at the recommendation of Petyr Baelish. Time matches perfectly,' came a smug reply.
That was a bit convoluted. Tara was pretty certain that this baby girl was Robert's. 'Should I make another test?'
'Along with a bet?' Buffy's gleeful question made Tara raise her brows. 'What are we betting now?'
'Bragging rights?' Tara offered, 'and whoever loses owes the other a favor.'
'I'm OK with that – so I say Kettleblack and you say...?'
'Robert.'
'You're on, Tara.'
***King's Landing***
As for a bet – again Buffy and she made the test again – yeah little Robara was their half sister all right, but uncle Jaime was not the father. Much to Buffy's glee – and Tara could not fault Buffy when she revealed that on one of her free runs, she saw through the window, when she scaled down the wall, Cersei and Kettleblack going at it.
Part of Tara was a bit annoyed that Buffy didn't tell her, but the baby was another divergence that Tara could not for the life of her figure out how it came to pass. Just as the strange influx of characters that joined Tara and Buffy's household; each of them had their own sworn Joffrey got Sandor Clegane, while Myrcella had Ser Osmund Kettleblack. Baby Robara was still a baby, so she was in the care of Septas and nursemaids and a wet nurse.
One of the newcomers to court and semi member of the Princess Household was Ser Lyn Corbray from the Vale; he had a Valyrian steel longsword named Lady Forlorn, and he was about Lord Baelish's, aka Littlefinger, age. He served as a knight-guard. Another knight joined Jon Arryn's staff with his squire Lord Horton Redfort, along with his squire Domeric Bolton. Domeric was nothing like what Tara or Buffy expected; he almost eminently struck a very close friendship with Samwell.
The young man of eleven or twelve had dark, long straight dark brown hair and pale wide set gray eyes, so pale that they appeared white, under heavy brows. He also had a long square shaped face with a high and wide forehead, a strong jawline and chin, and pallid, almost translucent, skin.
It was an absolute relief to see the Bolton heir if he was in King's Landing that meant he was safe from his half brother Ramsey. It would also make him wary – in fact it already did; meeting and dealing with Joffrey and various other characters in the Red Keep made Domeric cautious in his dealings with people. Hopefully it would make him wary of Ramsey.
***Xōchitl 292 AC King's Landing***
Myrcella's nameday hunt came and went. She also asked for a garden as a nameday gift– she loved watching the flowers she tended to from seeds or seedlings. Father, the King, granted her a plot of land in the Royal Gardens. It was walled patch of land – half of it was in the shade – it reminded Tara of the garden from the novel 'Secret Garden'.
Tara wondered if she should get some rare flowers, like Winter Roses from the North, and import some from Essos or from Highgarden.
***Cuāuhtli 292 AC En route to Winterfell***
Joffrey and Robara stayed in King's Landing, and so did the queen as she was expecting to give birth again any day now and was unable to travel for Buffy and Tara's ninth nameday. So they Buffy, Myrcella, and Tara along with their two handmaidens Joy Hill and Mya Stone, four Maids in Waiting which included Lady Mira Forrester; excluding her from the trip North would be cruel, for not only would Mira see her family but also her fiance Robb Stark then there was the always cheerful Myranda Royce, their cousin Shireen Baratheon, and lastly Lady Jeyne had the wheelhouse all to themselves all the way to Winterfell.
Robert was riding with some of the Gold Cloaks and Red Cloaks along with knights from the Stormlands, the Kingsguard, which consisted of Barristan Selmy, the White Swords Commander, along with Uncle Jaime Lannister and two of their brothers. There beside his King-brother rode Stannis Baratheon, Master of Ships, Lord of Dragonstone, and Shireen's father. Ser Osmund Kettleblack – Myrcella's sword shield and Ser Richard Horpe who still acted as Buffy's sworn shield – was there and with them rode the sole heir of House Grandison – Ser Harold Grandison.
Ser Grandison at the moment still acted as Tara's sworn shield. She would require a new one when Ser Harold returned to his holding in the Stormlands along with Mya Stone, their half sister, to wed her.
Robert decided that he would legitimize his oldest bastard daughter; she and Ser Harold Grandison would quietly wed after the tourney at Winterfell in a small Sept that Ned built for his wife.
Mya already picked out her very short lived surname – Lady Mya Highstone and Buffy helped her make her wedding cloak, a white doe in the field of black. The white was for House Arryn, where her mother worked - the doe signified that she was a daughter of a Stag and the color black represented a bastard of House Baratheon.
Though they'd have to stay the night at the Crossing before they reached the North.
'Ugh Freys.'
Buffy's mental groan reminded Tara that Buffy met one of the many Freys at that tourney at Highgarden.
'Do you think there is a chance that the squire could recognize you?'
'No,' Buffy's mind grumbled as she readjusted Myrcella's head from her shoulder to her lap – since their sister was taking a nap. 'I just hate stopping at the Twins; the Red Wedding was one of the most jarring events I saw. I hate Walder Frey.'
'Try to ignore him – it's unlikely that he'll try anything.'
'He can try and he'll die,' came Buffy's reply.
Buffy from Sunnydale would be horrified at the intent and promise of those words, that Buffy was a protector and was forbidden by the Watchers to harm humans – her focus had been only on the supernatural threat. The Buffy that had grown up in Westeros did not have this handicap.
After a while there was a rap on the door of the wheelhouse."Your Graces, we are nearing the Twins," Ser Horpe informed them.
"Thank you, Ser Horpe," Buffy called out, then gently roused their baby sister.
"Cella, wake up, we are stopping at the Twins for a couple of nights, for the horses to rest and for our people to rest as well."
***On the Road toward Winterfell***
It had been two months since they set out from King's Landing. Lady Walda, Fat Walda as she was called Frey joined their gaggle of Maids in Waiting along with her relative Lady Roslin Frey.
The keep of the Starks was massive; when they stopped for a moment, the scouts reported that they were two hours away from reaching Winterfell.
"Oh my, it's bigger than father's Twins." Roslin Frey, the fifth daughter of the Lord of the Twins, gasped in wonderment as her big brown eyes looked in the distance in wonder. She was smaller in stature than both Tara and Buffy, who were tall for their age, albeit Roslin's birthdate was a couple of months before theirs.
Roslin Frey was very not like the weasel faced relatives of House Frey; she had milk-white skin, along with a small and dainty straight thin nose, and she had a small gap between her teeth – that little imperfection made her look even more charming. But her best feature was her long, thick and curly doe brown hair.
"Here," Tara heard Buffy say. As she turned she saw Buffy giving Lady Walda Frey something – Fat Walda, as the other Freys called her, was the granddaughter of Walder; her father was Walder's ninth son.
"I cannot possibly eat this, and it's a shame that it'll go to waste." With that, Buffy pushed the griddle cakes into Walda's hand.
"Thank you, Princess." Walda curtsied, her yellow hair gained a bit more shine and lost some of its limpness, since leaving The Twins.
Now if their mother had been present, those two would never have joined their Court. Or if they did, their attachment and easing into their rules of being Maids in Waiting for the Princess would have been more of a difficulty.
This way Randa, since she had a similar build, lent some gowns to Walda.
'Randa and Walda,' came Buffy's voice through the mind-link, 'Did you know that they had a nice laugh at the way their names sounded when said together?'
'No but I'm glad that Walda is fitting in.'
'Yeah, both of them are way too nice to be stuck in that hellhole,' Buffy groused,
Tara was compelled to point out, 'So some Freys are redeemable.'
Buffy snorted, 'Some, sure. Roslin and Walda definitely are. Roslin is very kind and sings like a nightingale bird, or so that bard that is with us claims, and Walda is a cinnamon roll. The knights got saddled with a couple of Frey squires, but those Freys are the Knights', that took them on, problem. Not mine.'
***Winterfell Tourney***
Winterfell was magnificent; Tara was sure that it was larger than the Red Keep itself – Robert and Eddard Stark embraced.
'This is almost like the first episode, only there not all the Stark children are present – or Jon or Joffrey or Cersei or Tommen,' Buffy commented through most of the was escorted by Eddard, while Catelyn was escorted by Robert, following by Buffy and Robb, followed by Myrcella and Bran.
The tourney itself was held outside the walls of the keep. Unlike in every region in the south jousting was not on the tourney's list.
There was archery, both stationary and mounted – Buffy was itching to compete; under her skirt she jiggled her leg a lot. There was endurance cross-terrain horse racing with knights wearing full armor – not surprising that a Northerner Lord won that race. There were also throwing competitions javelin throwing, ax throwing svaika - that was a game that was only played in the North. It was a game in which a marlinspike-like spear was thrown to land in the middle of a metal ring lying on the ground some distance away and of course melee.
When they came home, minus Mya and her husband they were at her husband's keep when their party found out that the Queen gave birth to twins; another golden boy – they named him Tommen, who was born first followed by the black haired Lyonel Baratheon, who had a crooked nose and mismatched eye color – one green, the other onyx.
Long live Prince Tommen Baratheon. Long live Prince Lyonel Baratheon.
Soon after the birth of the twins, Tara and Buffy, while exploring and mapping down on paper the secret passages, came across a section of a tunnel that came close to Cersei's private rooms. It was then that they overheard Cersei and Jaime quarreling.
***Nighttime***
They were mapping the tunnels that were woven over the Red Keep and where they led– and if they were in service.
Sometimes they were used by the serving maids – which was probably the reason why the lower tier servants were rarely seen doing their work, yet work was done.
Buffy's neat "I can see like a cat in the dark" came in handy – they were also accompanied by Balerion the Tomcat.
"How could you!"
'Uncle Jaime's voice.'
'I know.'
'Should we listen in.'
'Oh definitely.'
"I had to, Jaime!" Cersei cried.
"Had to?" Jaime was practically growling, "Fuck Kettleblack the first time and then fuck him again like some slut?!"
There was a sound of flesh hitting flesh.
'Jaime got slapped,' Buffy noted.
"I did this for us!" Cersei hissed furious, then there was sound of heel steps and clinking of a glass and bottle.
It was Tara that offered the next commentary. 'She poured herself a glass of wine.'
'That is one large glass,' Buffy remarked dryly; she'd know, she had sharper ears.
"Explain it to me then," Jaime demanded – but his voice was cold.
"Don't take that tone with me; I am your Queen!"
'Ouch.' It was a sentiment that was said at the same time. Poor Jaime but maybe he'd break from Cersei sooner? One could hope.
"Kettleblack knows about us – so I bought his silence twice over. He won't betray us to Robert now."
Then there was silence and then heavy armored footsteps and slamming of the doors.
"Fool," Cersei spat, then there was another sound of clinking glass crystal.
'She is drinking now,' Buffy noted, 'and again, let's move on.'
After that, Jaime was avoiding his sister like the plague, and Cersei alternated between pleading and having a downright nasty disposition toward her twin brother.
***Cuāuhtli 293 AC Riverrun***
Tara wondered if they'd meet Jon Snow this time, the Lord of the Harrenhal, since the keep and its lands were near. Well near enough – he might come to the tourney as well with Whents.
"Lady Mira?" Their sister Myrcella for a three year old was pretty and smart and they'd make sure she didn't die like on TV or was disfigured as Tara read in the books.
"Did you know that Mira received a letter that she'd leave for Winterfell after the tourney at Riverrun?"
"No."
"Yes, she'll be married to the heir Robb Stark, when they become adults." When she bleeds, Tara thought, but considering Mira was eight and Robb was ten or eleven, it would still be some time before they'd be married.
"Oh, I'm saddened to hear that," Myrcella demurred, her voice soft – their little sister took a shine to Mira.
"Cella," Buffy called to them, quietly as to not wake up the Queen who was sleeping – she slept a lot lately, come to think it. She had been taking frequent cat-naps when she was pregnant with Joffrey and Myrcella, and Robara and the twins. Could she be pregnant – again? If so who the heck was the father this time?
"You know, we'll be getting another Northerner instead instead of Mira."
"Who, what is she like, tell me please, Elenei," Myrcella implored. Buffy scooted closer to their little sister, and carefully tucked away a stray lock of golden hair behind her little ear. It warmed Tara's heart to see that gesture – it was something Buffy often did to Dawn.
***Fifth day – Water Jousting***
On the last day of the tourney – the sun was warm old Lord Hoster Tully declared …
"My King, Queen, Prince Joffrey and Princesses, and my Lords, today on the last day of the Tourney in Honor of Princess Argella and Princess Elenei's nameday, I declare the beginning of Water Jousting."
"What stupid thing is that?" Joffrey scoffed disdainfully, "is that something only fish do?" He laughed; Cersei just patted his hand.
"It is the last day my love," she soothed her son in a very syrupy sweet tone – Buffy sent her a mental image of gagging, and Tara sent her a reproachful rebuke to behave!
"Let the Lord of Riverrun pander his sport, it's not like it is as prestigious as jousting," Cersei finished, cajoling the Lion Prince.
'Don't ruin Disney's Lion King, Tara,' Buffy chided her – but she was half serious in this, despite the cruelty that Joffrey exhibited, he was not so bad – he called Buffy Dragon-spawn but only once after Buffy's flippant remarks about his own dragon-spawn status and he shut up about it. He tried physical bullying next, but that ended badly for him. He was so humiliated, that he didn't even tell father, or mother – Tara still didn't know what Buffy did; it was frustrating because Buffy was being all 'Can't tell you, it is a secret.'
Myrcella leaned forward, watching the happenings taking place on Riverrun's lake-river proper."It looks interesting."
Joffrey scoffed at the young girl's words."Jousting without horses is not jousting," he proclaimed.
"Well horses cannot run on water – though maybe you can, do you think to try it out, brother dear?"
Joffrey glared."Elenei, nobody asked you."
Buffy merely raised an eyebrow and smirked at their half-brother."My nameday so you don't have a say," she said, her tone as innocent as fallen snow, but Tara would bet that her eyes were mocking – judging by Joffrey's darkening expression, he saw that as well.
Suddenly the King who sat beside Cersei who sat with him on the platform while their children sat on their padded chairs that were on a platform that was lower than the King and Queen's said.
"Silence!" Robert boomed, "Elenei apologize to your brother."
Joffrey smirked at Buffy; Buffy however just shrugged."I apologize for your ignorance."
"That is not an apology -" Joffrey's face was tomato red now. It was not a good look on him.
"It had the word apologize, therefore it is." Buffy's reply was cool and collected – she learned that that tone of voice infuriated Robert to no end – what was more was that Robert's outbursts later earned him critical reproaches from both Jon Arryn and Robert's grandfather later on. In fact said grandfather had his attention on his eldest grandson.
Robert went red in the face."Close your mouths. The both of you!" he bellowed; people turned and Lord Hoster frowned in worry and sent his son Edmure toward the Royal Box.
"My love YOU are making the scene with your bellowing," Cersei hissed. "You'll shame us."
"Is everything all right, your Graces?"
"Nothing is amiss, we are just curious about the joust that takes place on the water, and father is getting inpatient."
"Ah, is that all, Princess Elenei?" Edmure Tully bowed before the King."Your Grace," he bowed to Cersei and Joffrey, who sneered, then Edmure turned to the flustered Robert, whose anger simmered down because of the sudden inclusion of the heir of Riverrun and because his blue eyes connected with the infuriated gaze of his grandfather.
'Somebody is in trouble, oh no,' Buffy sang.
Tara sighed, 'Must you provoke him?'
'Yes.'
'Why?' Tara asked curious; Buffy's tone when confirming had been serious – deadly serious.
"My King, the joust is about to begin. If I may, Water Jousting is only present in the Riverlands. It's jousting where the adversaries, carrying a lance and protected only by a shield, stand on a platform on the stern of a boat. The boat is propelled by oarsmen, the aim of the sport is to send the adversary into the water whilst maintaining one's own balance on the platform. As the two competing boats draw level with each other, each jouster, protected by their shield, uses their lance to push their opponent off the platform and into the water," Edmure explained, and just as he was done(,) the two boats lurched forward.
'Because he needs to be fed up with me to send me to stay on Estermont Island. Or Elia Martell and her two children will die; now I don't know what kind of role Estermont plays, but I need to be on that island soon after you stay in Dorne.'
Tara could say nothing to THAT.
***Later at the feast***
Mira approached with a tall young girl about their age – the girl had tawny colored eyes, freckles, and shoulder length wild hair the color of polished copper. She was dressed in a simple northerner woolen gown in black and green with red trimmings.
"Princess Argella, Princess Elenei, Princess Myrcella," Mira curtsied, "may I present my replacement from the North, Lady Lyra Mormont."
***294 AC Dorne ****
They left by ship – from the Royal Fleet of Dragonstone the ship was a war galley called Seaswift, accompanied by three others, a war galleys Bold Wind, Lady Lyanna, King Robert's Hammer, and Lionstar.
Upon their arrival, they were greeted by a delegation of Dornishmen and women; one of the Dornishwomen stepped forward as their party was face to face. She was olive skinned, honey blonde with sapphire blue eyed, and was dressed in a sheer floor length kaftan in gentle pink, with lots of myrish lace and seedling pearls embroidered on the gauzy silks. Her hair was masterfully braided up and pinned with ivory hair needles.
She inclined her head, to the present court, and curtsied, a shallow curtsy – as was custom of Dorne; they never bowed to the King that sat on the Iron Throne or his family – as they were never conquered and they never surrendered.
"You Grace, welcome to Dorne; Prince Doran Nymeros Martell wishes you welcome and a pleasant stay. My name is Lady Aliandra of House Briar, since I will be leaving as Princess Elenei's Lady in Waiting, Prince Doran appointed me to be your guide.
'That is Tyene,' Buffy stated.
'Are you sure? You didn't meet her then.'
'No but I did tell Oberyn and the others that Tyene Sand would be going with me under an allies.'
They were shown to their mounts sand steeds were very pretty horses. There were also mules and camels.
***En Route***
They were all on horseback, except for Robert; he insisted on riding in full armor so no sand steed could carry his weight, so he had to ride on a camel – their trunks were being carried by camels and pack mules.
Dorne, the place where she would stay as Prince Doran's coup bearer and later marry his oldest son, or Ellaria and by extension Oberyn.
Cersei was frowning and harrying anyone that would listen before they set out – and in the end, her, Joffrey, Myrcella, Robara, Tommen, and stayed in King's Landing.
Robert was grumbling about the heat, "Why is the blasted sun so hot!" and he was definitely green tinged in the face. He did discard his helmet and shield a while ago.
'Because we are in the desert, idiot,' Buffy cattily commented, then added in a waspish tone, 'at least he won't be frying any of his brain cells – 'cause he doesn't have any.'
Tara had to agree – what was Robert trying to prove; it was posturing, yes, but to the Dornish, his behavior was downright silly and also foolish.
'And dangerous,' Buffy observed, and there was a hint of worry, 'perhaps he'll get a sun stroke.'
***Sunspear***
Upon their arrival – Robert and half the court dispersed Buffy and her were shown to their room, a room that would be Tara's own, when the King left after the tourney.
"So what do you think?" Buffy asked out loud, but before Tara could answer there was a knock on the door and their ladies – the ladies that would stay with Tara entered; both Frey ladies, lady Carellen Smallwood, and Lady Arenyes Velaryon, and lady Jayne Westerling, closely followed by Lady Myranda Royce who would be returning with Buffy to King's Landing – and then travel to the Vale, where she'd be wed to the man she was betrothed to– her uncle Jasper Royce.
"Princesses, your father took to bed to cool down. We were sent here to get you ready for the welcoming feast."
***Tourney***
The tourney opened with a Dornish horse race – no other knight competed, neither did the King attend. Which was just fine since Buffy enjoyed the freedom and had a good time with all the Sand Snakes and the Red Viper.
After the race they enjoyed a whole afternoon with a game called Dornish Horseshoe; the game had nothing to do with horseshoes, but it did have bottles and a frisbee – it began with the first team tossing the frisbee, aiming it towards a glass bottle that was placed on top of the stake opposite them. Buffy was on that team, so naturally Tara cheered that team on.
Then Oberyn's team threw the frisbee at the first team's bottle.
The rules were that the team gained points when the frisbee hit the stake or the bottle, when the bottle was knocked off the stake and hit the ground, or when the receiving team failed to catch the frisbee. Playing continued until one team had reached a twenty-one points, beating their opponent by at least two points.
Then they all moved into the cooling pools in the Water Gardens. And finally both Buffy and Tara managed to swim and splash around like normal girls, and not like princesses.
The second day of the tourney was jousting – Robert participated in that, grumbling that it was a pity that the Dornish didn't have melee fights.
The third day was archery on horseback and jousting games, and the last day the Dornish set other knights versus Dornishmen and women in a polo match.
***The highest balcony overlooking Dorne***
Tara was watching the departing caravan; she was staying behind and she was watching Buffy leave, accompanied by her new Lady in Waiting – a blue eyed, golden haired Dornishwoman Lady Aliandra of House Briar, who was actually one of the Sand Snakes in disguise, Tyene Sand.
***295 AC Sunspear – Dorne***
Tara was sitting in the Water Gardens when a series of images came to her from Buffy.
***Buffy in (King's) Landing***
"Elenei, this cannot go on, I'm sending you to Dragonstone to foster."
"Oh, I always wanted to go and live on Dragonstone island."
Robert face darkened in anger, "Bah, you won't go there ..."
"Oh where will I go, father, to grandfather Tywin's? I'd like to visit Casterly again. How about at Winterfell? Oh the Storms End that would be exciting!" Buffy exclaimed, bouncing on her toes, then she added more quietly, but still audible, "Not as exciting as with grandpa Mycheall; he said that I'd be miserable there."
"It's settled," Robert bellowed, "you are going to be fostered by my Lord Grandfather until the day comes for you to wed."
***Back to Tara in Water Gardens***
Thinking over the conversation she had with her sister, Buffy was excited to go grandfather's castle on Estermont island.
On purpose.
Robert wanted to send her to Stannis on Dragonstone, then Buffy manipulated him into NOT sending her to either Dragonstone, Casterly Rock to Tywin Lannister, or to Storm's End to Uncle Renly.
She traveled from King's Landing with Samwell Tarly and his Lady Wife Lyra Mormont, Ser Domenic Bolton, Tyene Sand – who was under alias and Buffy's sworn shield Ser Richard Horpe.
***296 AC Dorne – Water Gardens***
Tara was reading a letter from Lady Mira Forrester. She was visiting Winterfell for the crops celebration and and apparently there were changes in canon – again Tara could not see how they – Buffy and herself caused such divergences BUT the Starklings now had Direwolf pups. And Benjen Stark was followed around by the pups' mamma wolf – a pepper gray with reddish brown markings that Lord Benjen called Liia.
Mira sent a copy of the drawings to Buffy on Estermont as well.
Mira rendered all the wolves and Starklings in watercolors. Each Stark was rendered in a portrait holding their direwolf, except for Lord Benjen, his was only the head of his direwolf with Benjen Stark's.
Windblown red-brown hair with a square face, high cheekbones, prominent chin, and upturned nose, with a vibrant wide set of steel blue eyes and pale skin, holding a dark gray and black direwolf with yellow eyes – the inscription below in Mira's handwriting read Robb Stark and Night.
Robb Stark, Tara thought – Mira Forrester's fiance and Heir to Winterfell. Buffy had a theory why that happened, since Robb was not engaged in the TV show or books. It could be that the heir to Winterfell had to take a Northerner bride, because his mother was Southerner. She absentmindedly wondered if Sansa would make a Southern match or if she'd be engaged to one of the Stark's bannermen.
On the next sheet of paper, there was another boy, with curly, almost in ringlets, dark brown hair, fair skin, sharp cheekbones, and a high forehead with a long face and sparkling slate gray eyes, holding a solid reddish brown with black paws and legs and black eyed pup. Below it was written Jon Vermilion, Lord of Harrenhal and Specter.
Then there was a girl with a heart shaped face with deeply set glacial blue eyes, and creamy skin framed with straight and smooth copper red hair. In the pretty girl's arms was a gracefully poised cream pup with black markings and blue eyes. Below it was written Sansa Stark and Lady.
In the next and last portrait was of a pallid, long face child-girl with brown hair and wide and lively storm gray eyes, and in the arms of this lively girl was a dark amber eyed, silver furred direwolf pup with dark gray markings. Inscription on the painting was Arya Stark and Amber.
'Tara!'
Speaking of willful rugrats.
'I'm not short this time around, ya know!' came a indignant thought shout.
'You sound flustered, did something happen?' Tara was curious; Buffy was well agitated and flustered about something.
'Something oh yeah. Stupid, stupid – puberty hit – I keep forgetting I'd have to go through this again. And I wasn't looking forward to it!'
'You got PMS?'
'Nah, not that – though I should enjoy the reprieve while it lasts. Nope I got hit by a crush, darn it.'
'Oh.' Tara covered her mouth with the palm of her hand to stifle giggling that seized her.
It was similarly humorous situation that occurred with Spike– when they started to have nightly sex trysts and Buffy was similarly flustered when she told Tara that she was having sex with Spike.
'Not funny,' Buffy hissed.
'It kinda is,'
'Fine, it is. And argh are you alone? Can I send you a memory?'
'Yes.'
'Memory coming right up.'
Tara closed her eyes – and soon enough images came to her mind's eye. She saw Buffy as she and Tyene Sand swam around the coves of Estermont. Along with very humorous meeting with, an admittedly very handsome, man that was very obviously bare chested and well ….
'As Cordelia would say; Hello Eye candy. Salty goodness.'
Tara agreed with Buffy.
'He is also smart, sassy, and funny.'
***Months Later***
Tara was helping the Prince Doran with the documents – she, as usual, dealt with correspondence after tending to Doran's leg with maester Caleotte – the maester was impressed by Tara's knowledge and asked for her assistance with caring for the Prince's troubles with gout.
'Tara! Its happening now!'
The sudden voice in her head made her jump.
'What is happening?' she asked Buffy, reeling in sheer furry of emotion that flew from Buffy's side of the link. Outrage, giddiness, exhilaration, and glee.
'Oh the annoying attack from the squid aka Greyjoy aka Captain Hook wannabe,' came the cheerful reply along with the image of a man, pale and handsome – black haired with a black patch over his left eye; his right eye was the color of the summer sky.
Tara's brain stalled, 'What?'
'He has an pirate-y eye patch … at the moment no hook instead of hand, I might have to fix that.'
'What?'
'Busy setting his ship on fire, and ohh Brianne is awesome and Tyene is not a slouch either, and Dom just joined the fray …. catch you later when I finish unleashing one hell of a whoop ass on Ironborn!'
Tara might have been mistaken but she definitely did not imagine the cackle and sheer glee Buffy let out. She really felt sorry for the Ironborn at this precise moment – Buffy was chomping at this bit for years, and it looked that she went Hell Hath no Fury like an Unleashed Buffy on those poor, poor Ironborn.
"Princess, did you say something?" Doran's voice was jarring as she was pulled away from the images of Buffy dancing with – was that a Valyrian steel short sword? - about the ship with a red hull and black sails flying a golden Kraken, the sigil of House Greyjoy.
"My sister – the Estermont Isle was attacked by Ironborn, she says that Balon Greyjoy crowned himself King of the Iron Islands."
"The Maiden dances through the sky,
she lives in every lover's sigh.
Her smiles teach the birds to fly,
and gives dreams to little children."
And so we came to Greyjoj Rebellion THE conclusion of Slice of Life Arc chapter titled The Stranger; but before that there are many Bonus PoV's that hadn't been used. So I decided to post those first: I have Varys, Doran Martell, Ollena Tyrell, Gendry Waters, Cersei Lannister, Holster Tully and Tywin Lannister.
Now if you want to see/read something specific … like say Oberyn's PoV about tourney when princess approached him with marge proposal or are wondering what Ollena or Hoster think about Jon Snow legitimization?