The Rogue Stag

Chapter 10- Direwolves.

Standing in front of the King and Queen, I shiver with fright. My young eyes wide, showing terror that a young girl should not show. The feeling of fright curses through my veins and I tremble, the harsh gazes of the people surrounding penetrate my soul. They are like hawks- just waiting for me to do a wrong move so they can swoop down at me, their beaks ready to tear flesh. My flesh.

"I'm sorry." My childish voice is but a whisper as the loud chatter around us suddenly rears up; Eddard Stark, my father, walks through the doors and embraces me tightly, his arms giving me warmth and comfort.

"Are you hurt?" My father asks as he, hesitantly, pushes away from the embrace and looks at my face.

"No." My reply is short but nonetheless, it is the truth. I feel panic eat away at my heart as I shake my head.

"It's all right. What is the meaning of this? Why was my daughter not brought to me at once?" Eddard's annoyed face beams with anger as his lips purse and his jaw tightens, his eyes wild and feral like a wolf's.

"How dare you speak to your King in that way?" Cersei bursts, her voice annoyed and frank. Her face did not bear any emotions as she gazed at me and my father with only her eyes showing the disgust she felt.

My eyes flicker around the hall, I look at the King and my eyes widen with fright as he sits there, looking like he was about to explode with anger. He is a great, fat man that I felt should not have become king. All he does is whore around and do nothing more than spend money on the finer things in life.

"Quiet, woman. Sorry, Ned. I never meant to frighten the girl. But we need to get this business done quickly." Robert says, his eyes flashing to Ned for a second or two before resting heavily on me.

"Your girl and that butcher's boy attacked my son. That animal of hers nearly tore his arm off." Cersei's eyebrows raise, her expression not hiding her anger, disgust and hatred as she gazes at us.

"That's not true ! She just... Bit him a little. He was hurting Mycah." I shout in defence as she mentions my wolf. I feel anger bubble inside of me but I know somewhere deep inside that I cannot say a thing to make this situation calmer.

"Joff told us what happened. You and that boy beat him with clubs while you set your wolf on him." Cersei says in defence of her son and stands tall like a mother lion with a proud look on her face as her lip curls in disgust.

"That's not what happened!" I scream once again as I stamp my foot in hopelessness and anger. They did not believe me...

"Yes it is! They all attacked me and she threw Lion's tooth in the river." Joffrey protests as his eyes became wide, his face set in panic before a roar of laughter bubbled from lips belonging to an unknown to me man and seconds later a glorious giggle accompanied him.

My eyes flash to the man's face and in my anger; I feel amusement pulsating in the back of my mind for the man, he was handsome, I notice before making a comparison between the man and Aunt Aliviah who was standing next to him. She was proud, her eyes like crystal ice daggers but sparkling with love as she gazed at the man standing next to her. They looked very alike and I felt that not only that was the similarity between them. Grinning, anger still brimming in my mind, I noticed that the man held a goblet in his hand which he promptly took a sip of after he was done with his laughter.

"Ser Barristan, escort my brother before he chokes." Robert bristles as he gazes at him with an expression that one could call disgust and shared a warning look with Aliviah who only snorted to herself before whispering something to Renly which he gruffly laughed at before looping an arm around her shoulders with a guaff.

"My brother is too kind. I can find the door myself!" Renly stifles his laughter for a moment before kissing his sister's cheek who only shared a teasing look with him and pushed him gently towards the door which he headed to with a saunter in his walk, acting proud of himself in the moment.

Outside the doors, I could hear one more snort and the words: 'Lion's Tooth' before the remains of a laugh began and the start of another round of chuckling coming from Aliviah who's eyes seemed to be glittering with tears.

"If you so wish, you will be escorted out of the hall as well. Enough, sister!" Hearing that his sister was still laughing, Robert's meaty face turned to her and silenced her immediately. Seemingly confused, Robert began, his face redder and sweatier than when they first brought me here. "Seven hells! What am I to make of this? Where's your other daughter, Ned?"

"In bed asleep." Ned's immediate reply seemed to provoke a smug expression in Cersei's face and as he looks at the king with his expression hard and unforgiving, I looked down at the floor with shame, this was all my fault.

"She's not. Sansa, come here, darling." Cersei looks at Ned with a triumphant look on her face as she smirks in mirth, finding victory in breaking a family.

"Now, child... Tell me what happened. Tell it all and tell it true. It's a great crime to lie to a King." Robert sounds intimidating, his face set stern and even I feel like hiding.

I gaze at Sansa with a triumphant look in my eyes, she is my sister. I was sure that she would truth. After all, Sansa saw everything, she would tell the truth. She would... wouldn't she?

"I don't know. I don't remember. Everything happened so fast. I didn't see." Sansa panics and her eyes water as she looks at Joffrey with her bottom lip in a pout.

Eyes slitting, my jaw clicks as I grit my teeth and suck in a breath. Sansa! LIER! I pounce, hard. My hands tugging and pulling at her hair, harder than I ever have done before. LIER! LIER! LIER! Screaming at her, I scratch and tug until I hear Sansa's pained shrieks that only determine me further. My eyes crazed and tearful, I pull harshly until I hear a scream and even then, the wolf inside of me does not stop roaring.

"Arya!" Sansa shrieks and cries out with pain and embarrassment as I pull harshly on her hair, ripping strands of fiery red silk. LIER!

Ned's eyes widen and he tries to intervene between us both but my thrashing makes it difficult. "Stop it! That's enough of that!" Ned's command fazes me slightly but I do not stop until he picks me off of Sansa with a strong hold. Cersei looks at me with a look that can only be explained as repulsion as she turns her nose up at us.

"She's as wild as that animal of hers. I want her punished." Cersei's growl stopped my fighting and I look at her with wide, scared eyes. It was not me who lied!

"What would you have me do, whip her through the streets? Damn it, children fight. It's over." Forgetting the incident almost immediately, Robert replied with a look of disgust and boredom to Cersei and scoffed.

"Joffrey will bear these scars for the rest of his life." Cersei hissed, her eyebrows furrowed and her chest puffed out. Anyone could see that she was furious that her husband and the father of her children would not do anything.

"You let that little girl disarm you? See to it that your daughter is disciplined. I'll do the same with my son." Robert ignores his Queen and directs his look at his oldest son, it was a look of disappointment and amusement.

"And what of the direwolf? What of the beast that savaged your son?" Cersei confronts Robert but as she does a soldier comes forth and says that he could not find the wolf and so Robert just glances at her with a look of contempt.

"We have another wolf." Cersei says, her eyes triumphant as she got what she wants. Sighing, Robert seems to chew her words for a moment or so before finally, nodding his agreement.

Eyes widening, I quickly snap my eyes to Aliviah's who was already glancing at Sansa with a look of dread which promptly made her protest. "Robert, please. She is but a child, let her have her wolf! " Aliviah's outraged cry trembles the crowd but her brother doesn't pay her any heed and instead directs his attention to Ned with his eyes stern but tired as Aliviah's protests fall on deaf ears.

"You can't mean it." My father seems not to believe his old friend as his eyes glare at Robert which seems to frazzle the fat man who glares back at my father. His eyes cold.

"A direwolf's no pet. Get her a dog. She'll be happier for it." Robert justifies his actions but I can tell that he was feeling torn about it himself.

Sansa's eyes start to tear up as she comes to realize as well- my face twists as I look at her upset expression. Lady was going to be put down because they couldn't find Nymeria, this wasn't fair! Joffrey was the one to blame! Not Sansa, Lady or Nymeria! This wasn't fair!

Eyes watering madly, Sansa's grip on my father tightens. Her eyes wide and frightened as she shakes our father's arm in desperate need to know if it was Lady that they were talking about. Not Lady... This wasn't justice... This was cruelty. "He doesn't mean Lady, does he? No no, not Lady! Lady didn't bite anyone! She's good!" Frantic pain in her voice, Sansa's body trembles in desperation but Robert seems not to hear it and if he does... He does not change his mind.

Hysterically pulling on her father's sleeve, Sansa begs him to stop this as tears flow down her face furiously with no sign of stopping as she tries to save her wolf's life. "Stop them. Don't let them do it. Please! It wasn't Lady!" Sansa keeps repeating as I look at her eyes, they were filled with tears that flew down her face furiously and I could not look at her as I lowered my head down. My own eyes filling with tears that could not stop. This was Joffrey's fault!

"Brother, please!" The heartbroken voice of Aliviah seemed to break Robert out of his stupor and with a vile look of disgust at Cersei, he shakes his head at Aliviah who then tightened her jaw and readied herself for the strike of heartbroken pain from Sansa that she was about to hear and she did not have to wait long. The pain stricken wail of Sansa's penetrated everyone and Aliviah's cold, ice eyes flickered to her brother in sick satisfaction.

"Is this your command, Your Grace?" Ned's eyes were narrowed, his voice a growl. In that moment, Robert was a coward, he couldn't deny Cersei. The bitch had to be put down herself and I felt like I should be the one who would put her down.

Hacking, Aliviah bent over as sharply as if she'd been punched in the stomach, drops of blood spattered across her lap, her eyes widening at the quantity of scarlet blood glittering. By slow, torturous degrees, the coughs eased in intensity and then slowly, slowly passed. She didn't notice the girls' gazes but she was sure they had been fully awake when her lungs were restricting the pass of oxygen.

"It's alright, girls. I'm alright, now," Aliviah's voice was scratched and sounded like she was thousands of years old, her eyes were weak and anyone could see that she was ill in that moment but she made sure the girls were alright before making any sudden moves.

Slowly, Sansa and Arya peaked from their closed eyes to see a gently smiling Aliviah- her lips were stained with crimson but the sight of blood on her lap was erased, only the copper smell hung as a reminder, a bitter reminder. "Shall we get the maester?" Sansa suggested, her small voice frail as she clutched onto her sister's hand with hope that she would not need one.

Giving out a weak chuckle, Aliviah shook her head, appreciating the thought. "No, no. I'm alright, Sansa. Please do not tell your father about this- I would not want him to worry." Her voice was broken, but she managed. "Now, girls- get changed. Don't stray, I wish to talk to the both of you." Aliviah said as an afterthought and tumbled out of the carriage and into her own.

"Rosa..." Aliviah's sobs tore through her body as she trembled in Rosa's arms, her eyes tightly closed as a shiver passed her body.

It happened again, Aliviah's body was overcome with trembles and racked with spasms her body could not control. She managed to get to her carriage in time... The gods indeed were as good as they were cruel.

"M'lady, the gods are cruel but most gracious. I will prepare some milk of the poppy, do not fret- the pain will soon perish." Rosa kindly offered and Aliviah replied with a nod, she did not wish for the pain.

She didn't wish for this gift either.

Rosa quickly left the carriage, her pace set quickly. Aliviah softly hummed to herself, the pain swiftly leaving its effect on her as she heard snake's hissing.

"Nero, Tatius, Numerius?" Aliviah voiced weakly, her voice reminding Nero of the torture Aliviah went through the last time her condition made itself known.

"What has happened, mistress?" Nero's unforgiving, sharp hiss broke Aliviah but she refused to look at him and instead directed her gaze onto the hard ground.

" Never mind that, what happened? Has someone injured you?" Hissing back at Nero, he bowed his head and looked undeniably sheepish. That was something that Aliviah noticed, instantly.

"A hunter in Dorne, mistress." Nero answered, his head still bowed as Aliviah gave a sigh and rolled her eyes in exasperation. Dorne. Of course it was a Dornish Hunter, who else would want three of the most rarest snakes in the Seven Kingdoms?

"Did you kill him?" Aliviah asked, her eyes on Nero but he did not answer and instead Tatius' black head reared up and he nodded with a big hiss. Numerius' blue eyes contrasted his white body but as he gazed at me, it was a gaze of pride.

"Good. Have you got news for me?" Aliviah asked, her eyes expectant and cold. Her illness was far gone now, she felt better than she did before.

"There was an intrusion in Winterfell. Someone tried to kill Bran Stark- we presume it was the Lannisters, mistress." Nero said, his snake eyes looking colder than ice. Hissing broke their stare and as Aliviah directed her gaze to Numerius, his hood seemed to enlarge and his body tightened like a sword on the ready.

"What is it?"

"Someone's coming." The sharp hiss instantly broke Aliviah as she quickly hissed her goodbyes before they left. Completely vanishing for a while once more.

The carriage's door seemed to open gently and the beaming face of Ned Stark entered, his eyes a little cautious but no more pleasant than always. "Is everything alright? I heard hissing..." He spoke with a grace that only Northerners could have, it was one that was not fake but was not as pleasant as the Southern gentle one.

"I am more than splendid, I was feeling a little tired so I retreated to my carriage. I am fine now, Ned." Aliviah spoke, her eye falling on his before the ghost of a smile passed her lips. "Come, let's go on a stoll." Thoughts of Bran still on her mind, taking priority, she could not say anything.

Taking her arm, Ned wrapped it around his before exiting the carriage and taking her towards his own where she was going to start searching for Arya and Sansa in.

"Have you seen Arya and Sansa?" Aliviah asked, her lips pursed as she saw no sign of either girls and Ned only shook his head, his eyes narrowed.

"What is it that you want with Arya and Sansa?" He asked.

"Both of the girls wanted me to tell them tales of Dorne and the Princes." Giggling, Aliviah sent a cheeky look to Ned.

"Oh? Prince Oberyn would certainly be pleased." Ned chuckled, shaking his head at his childish friend. It was a wonder that Aliviah maintained her childishness. To Ned, it was foolishness that prevented her from becoming a level minded adult. Aliviah could not play the Game of Thrones, at least in Ned's opinion... However, he could not either.

"Apparently, not. He has a paramour... and eight children."

There were few things in this world that riled Aliviah's blood in this world, one of them was Jaime Lannister. Alivah did not think that she was going to see the Kingslayer on a day such as this, the sun was shining too brightly and she presumed that he would be with Robert. He wasn't. Clearly.

Jaime Lannister, in all of his golden glory stood, proud. "Powerful horse." He comments, Nelia nickers softly at his contact- pushing his hand gently, requiring more affection from the golden blonde.

"She's mine." Nicking her brow, Aliviah pursed her lips. "Is there anything you might need from me, Kingslayer? Unlike you, I must go and see my godchildren."

"Not at all, Lady Baratheon, please, do not bother yourself." A slight tilt of his lips and Aliviah stopped right where she began to walk.

"What is it? Does my brother need me? Is there a fire? Come out with it, Jaime." Aliviah snapped, her eyes crystals.

A sharp movement, a nickering from a startled horse and Aliviah was laid on the dirt; her eyes reflecting the green emeralds of Jaime Lannister. "Why?... Hello there,"

"Get off of me!" Wiggling beneath, Aliviah frowned. She had to find Arya!

"Only for a reward." There was a hint of mischief in Jaime's eyes, a hint of desire and a hit of want.

Aliviah was suffocating, the touch of Jaime's hand on her bare shoulders igniting a fire across her skin. There was not a way for her to hide, his scent and overwhelming presence taking over her as she panicked. "Jaime, release. I am prepared to call for help."

With a sigh, Jaime slightly leaned in, took a long breath then exhaled- his eyes on her the whole time as her crystal daggers shot into his. "I am not surprised you are still a maiden."

And with that, Aliviah Baratheon not only sneered at Jaime but punched him solidly in the throat- leaving him choking and crying as Nelia snorted and pounced. It was all quite humorous.

The lake. The lake was the main part of Aliviah's vision. With renewed speed, on lookers would describe her as frantic, searching for her godchildren with a fever one could compare to a mother searching for her children.

"Arya!" There was not a soul around as Aliviah ran towards the lake, heartbeat flickering widely and her chest conflicting painfully with the sharp intakes of oxygen.

A petrified scream alerted Aliviah and without a moment of hesitation, she arrived at the scene; hair tousled and bright crystalised eyes dim. "Nymeria." Her command was thoroughly accepted and noticed- Nymeria's ears flatted and with a whine, she stepped away.

Aliviah was too late, the damage has been done, there laid Aliviah's nephew- a bloody arm as well as a tear stricken face across his adolescence face. Pathetic monster.

"Lady Aliviah, it wasn't Nymeria!" Arya raised her wet face- her eyes almost popping out of her sockets with worry. "Lady Aliviah, please do something!" The plea came from Sansa, her body crouched towards her prince who sneered at her with a vile sneer on his painfully thin lips.

"Get up. I will not tolerate such foolish behaviour. Are you a girl?" Aliviah placed a comforting arm on Sansa before turning her eyes to her nephew- grasping him from the back and raising him up with no trouble at all. "Do not threat, godchildren. You or your wolves are in no trouble."

"What do you mean they're not in trouble! Look what that damn beast did to me! I will scar because of that beast!" The exclamation did not only come with a shriek but a slap to Aliviah's hands when she tried to pick him up.

With a snarl, Aliviah dropped Joffrey, him landing with a girlish scream. "You pathetic... child! How dare you. You think that canine marks are hideous? I have hopes that it will teach you how to be man." Growling, Aliviah raised her skirts, showing Joffrey her leg.

"There are many great dangers around this world, Joffrey. Be satisfied."

No more words were spoken, Aliviah did not lend her hand to Joffrey again, beginning to walk. Nymeria by her side and the girls trailing behind her and Joffrey, there echoed the occasional sniffle which came from Joffrey who's slow trailing tears ran down his face.

"Girls, go and get your father. I can assure you that there will be no harm to anyone." A soft smile sent their way, encouraged Sansa and Arya to scurry off and find their father. Nymeria, standing by Aliviah's side as they began walking again.

"I will tell mother about this." Almost shyly, Joffrey glanced up at Aliviah's face, his small moldy eyes peering into her crystal ones.

"I hope so, dear. I hope so." With a twist of her lip, Aliviah giggled- hearing but a miserable sniffle as they neared the main tent.

"Your mother has assured you to be a monster."

REST WILL BE CONTINUED.