Disclaimer: I don't own the A Song of Ice and Fire Series.
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who read the last chapter. This one will be a bit longer, and I hope that you all enjoy it.
Unfortunately, I have read a couple of negative reviews for this story that I feel must be addressed so I'll do that here. To the person who mentioned that 20 namedays old is too old for the twins not to have spouses, I'd like to say that this is a plot device. As I'm sure you are aware, a lot of alliances in this world are made through marriages, which is why the main characters do not yet have spouses. This will change later in the story. Also, to the person who claims that Artys should have been betrothed to Lysa, I really don't think that would have worked at all. Artys was still a young child when Jon and Lysa married, and also Artys could still have died so the argument about Jon not needing more children is wrong because Artys is after all Jon's only son.
I do love hearing from my readers, but these two reviews, I felt, did need to be addressed. As always, please feel free to let me know what you thought of this chapter in a review.
Chapter Nine: The Queen of Love and Beauty
The jousts lasted the rest of the day. Artys did as well as Alyssa could have hoped, and she truly couldn't have been more proud of him. Although many as his jousts were long and hard fought, Artys managed to win them all.
"He's really going to do it," Alyssa murmured to Elyse as Artys faced his latest opponent "I wasn't sure before, but he has done so well. I believe that he will win this thing."
"I believe so too, my lady," Elyse's face wore an expression of serene satisfaction. "Ser Artys has done the Eyrie proud. Look, he is victorious once again."
Alyssa looked down and saw that her handmaiden was right. Artys had just won against a surprisingly skilled Riverlands knight, leaving only four competitors in the running to become the champion. These competitors, Artys, Ser Jaime Lannister, Ser Barristan Selmy and the Knight of Flowers, would not be jousting that night. They were to joust the next day, so since the excitement was done, king Robert roared at everyone to return to the castle. It seemed that there was to be a huge feast, not that Alyssa was surprised. Their king was Robert Baratheon after all, and he took any opportunity to host a feast.
"Who do you think Artys will face tomorrow?" Alyssa asked Elyse curiously. They were riding in a carriage on the way back to the castle, and Alyssa's mind was on the jousts that would take place the next day.
"I am not sure, my lady." Elyse responded, giving Alyssa a reassuring smile. "But I'm sure that Ser Artys will triumph nonetheless. He fought brilliantly today, after all."
Alyssa nodded, smiling in agreement. "Perhaps you're right," She said. "And at any rate, Robert will enjoy hearing of Artys's victories today."
"Yes, he will," Elyse replied. "Your little brother looks up to Ser Artys, my lady. I am sure he'd very much like to hear about today."
"Yes, you are right." Alyssa sighed quietly. "I only wish that Artys would see that."
"I am sure that he will, in time," Elyse assured her. "But in the meantime, you are going to a feast. You should put these things out of your mind, my lady. You should enjoy the celebration."
Alyssa considered her friend for a moment, and then she smiled. "You are a good friend," She said, meaning it. "Very well then, I will take your advice."
"I am glad," Elyse responded, smiling. "You need this break, my lady."
"Yes, you're right." Alyssa agreed, and it was true. Tonight, she wouldn't worry about things that, for tonight at least, weren't a concern. Tonight, she was going to enjoy the celebrations, and not worry about anything at all.
Artys was exhausted. All he wanted was to sleep, but as he walked towards the hall in his fresh clothes, he knew that that was impossible. He was one of the final four after all, he had least had to show his face here tonight.
As he entered the hall, he spotted his sister at a table across the room. Feeling relieved to see the spot she'd clearly been saving beside her, he headed towards her and sat down.
"Did you enjoy the jousting today?" He asked her as a servant poured him a glass of wine.
"Yes," Alyssa replied, giving him a small smile. "Especially since you did so well. You might actually win this thing."
"You doubted me?" Artys asked, mock hurt clear in his tone.
"I did," She admitted, still smiling. "I won't again though, you really did do an excellent job today."
"Thank you." He said, and he meant it. He'd been a little surprised himself by his victories today, but he was nonetheless proud of them.
"Oh," Alyssa said suddenly, sounding surprised. "I didn't know that lady Ysilla was here."
Artys's head snapped up, and he looked around the hall, his hand lifting to touch his hair to ensure it was still in place. Lady Ysilla Royce was, in Artys's opinion, the most beautiful lady he had ever met. He had always had a soft spot for her, which Alyssa knew very well.
"Stop that," Alyssa murmured from beside him, sounding amused. "She's at the table behind us, Artys, with the other Royces."
Artys looked over his shoulder and saw that Alyssa was right. Lady Ysilla was there, currently laughing at something her brother Ser Andar had just said to her. She looked as beautiful as ever, in a dress of black silk with delicate bronze detailing on the sleeves. Her grey eyes sparkled, and Artys thought that he'd never be able to look away from her.
"Artys," Alyssa's voice snapped Artys out of his daze and he looked back at his sister.
"Yes?" He asked her.
"I asked what you were waiting for," Alyssa smirked at him. "Stop staring at her like a fool and go over to the table. Ask her to dance with you."
"I can't do that, Alyssa," Artys protested. "Her father and her brothers are there."
"Never mind that," Alyssa answered. "Her brothers are our friends, remember? Besides, I have always thought she liked you, Artys. She just knows how to be...well more subtle about it."
"Are you saying that I am not?" Artys asked her, hoping that he wasn't turning as red as he felt.
Alyssa laughed quietly. "No, you are not. Now go, Artys, ask her. You will regret it if you don't."
"Perhaps you're right," Artys sighed after a few moments of thought. Then with an encouraging smile from his sister, he got up, and headed for the table where the Royces were sitting.
When he reached the table, all four Royces looked up at him. Andar and Robar Royce gave him warm smiles, and their father lord Yohn nodded at him respectfully. Ysilla smiled shyly at him, and her cheeks, if he was not very much mistaken, turned the slightest bit pinker.
"Artys," Andar greeted him. "It is good to see you well."
"Thank you," Artys replied, smiling. "It is good to see all of you well as well."
"You fought well today," Lord Yohn told him solemnly. "Your lord father will be proud."
Artys inclined his head respectfully to the formidable lord of Runestone. "Thank you, my lord, you are too kind."
"Oh, you're being modest," Robar told him, grinning. "You were the best knight out there today."
Artys chuckled at his friend's exaggeration. "I hope your faith in my skills is warranted, my friend."
"Oh, more than warranted," Robar assured. "Especially when you win tomorrow and crown your queen of love and beauty." Robar shot a meaningful look at his sister, whose blush seemed to deepen.
Deciding that it was time to get away from Robar before he could make him feel any more flustered than he already did, Artys quickly turned to Ysilla and offered her his arm.
"My lady, would you honour me with a dance?"
"Of course," Ysilla replied, rising and taking his arm. "I would like that very much, my lord."
As he lead Ysilla in a slow dance, Artys began to relax. Ysilla was smiling warmly, and when her eyes met his, he found himself smiling back at her.
"Are you enjoying your stay in the capital, my lady?" Artys asked her.
"The capital is very different from the Vale," Ysilla replied thoughtfully. "The stay itself has been enjoyable, but it is not what I expected of the capital. The streets are so full of poor, unfed people, it is not Gulltown."
Artys found himself chuckling at her honesty. "You are right, my lady," He said. "It certainly is not Gulltown. I am glad that you are here though, it pleases me to see you well."
"Thank you, my lord," Ysilla murmured as he turned her. "It pleases me to see you well, also. And may I say, you were most gallant on the field today."
"You are too kind, my lady." He replied, and then the pair lapsed into a comfortable silence.
When the dance was over, Artys tried not to feel disappointed. He had enjoyed Ysilla's company, and he wished that the dance had not ended so soon.
"Can I escort you back to your table, my lady?" He asked politely.
"Oh, yes of course. But...my lord, do you think that perhaps you would dance with me a second time, perhaps later in the evening?"
The direct question caught Artys off guard. Few ladies would ever ask a lord for a second dance, but the fact that she had made him smile.
"I have an alternative," He told her. "Would you like another dance now, instead?"
"I would, my lord." She said, and so they danced.
Alyssa watched with a satisfied smile as her brother danced and talked with the lady Ysilla. Ysilla was practically glowing with happiness, in fact both of them were, Alyssa mused. She was sure, based on tonight's events, that there would be a betrothal soon in Artys's future.
"My lady?" At the sound of the voice, Alyssa turned to see Ser Andar Royce smiling warmly down at her.
"Ser Andar," Alyssa replied, smiling back at her old friend. "Would you care to join me for a cup of wine?"
"I would be delighted," Andar replied, sitting down. Alyssa poured him a cup of wine from a nearby flagon, and Andar took a small sip, nodding his thanks to her as he did so.
"How are things at Runestone?" Alyssa asked him. "Has Waymar left for the Wall yet?"
Andar rolled his eyes at the mention of his arrogant younger brother. "No, he's leaving when we get back. My mother is insisting we have a huge feast to send him off."
"Waymar will enjoy that, at least." Alyssa observed, and Andar chuckled quietly.
"Yes, that is true," He murmured. "How is your own younger brother, Alyssa?"
"Robert is still sickly, I fear," Alyssa explained. "It is good to spend time with him, though, and with my lord father."
"Of course," Andar nodded. "I am sorry that the boy is still ill. Mayhaps your lord father should send him away from here for a while. A change of place could do him some good."
"Perhaps my father will do just that." Alyssa murmured, not wanted to tell Andar the plan with so many potential eavesdroppers around.
"Well, in any case, I am sure your father will do what's best," Andar said, finishing his wine and rising. "Now come, you look too serious for a feast, Alyssa, if you don't mind my saying so. Will you dance? Mayhaps it will lighten your mood."
Alyssa nodded, smiling at her friend. "I would not wish to be thought of as not enjoying this feast," She said, rising. "Let's dance then, and enjoy this rest of the evening." And so, in a company of an old friend and with a few cups of good wine, Alyssa truly did enjoy the celebrations going on around her.
The sheers of the crowd the next day were deafening. Alyssa sat in the stands with the Royces, hoping that her brother would make it to the end. They had just watched the Knight of Flowers beat Jaime Lannister, and the king's laughter still echoed around the field.
"Do you truly think he'll win?" Alyssa murmured to no one in particular. Beside her, lady Ysilla nodded her head, looking absolutely certain.
"He will," She said, giving Alyssa a smile. "He is skilled, my lady. He will surely triumph."
"Yes, I am sure you're right," Alyssa replied, and she smiled at Ysilla warmly. Her faith in Artys's skill was touching, and Alyssa knew that Artys would have been pleased if he had heard her words.
Just then, the trumpets blew and Artys and Ser Barristan Selmy rode out to face each other on the field.
It took eight passes before anything interesting happened. The opponents were both skilled, and although their lances were true, neither managed to hit anywhere but the other's shield. On the ninth pass though, Artys had sped up his horse, and with his lance angled down, he hit the knight's side and his lance shattered. Barristan had not expected it, and so he wobbled, before falling out of his saddle with a loud crash.
"You see," Ysilla said, shouting to be heard over the roaring crowd. "I told you he'd do it!"
"Yes, you did." Alyssa beamed. "Now all we can do is to hope that he will win." Please let him win, she prayed silently. He's done so well, don't let his lance falter now. And as the trumpets blew again, Alyssa sat back in her seat, hoping to see her brother get the victory that he deserved.
Artys sat atop his horse facing the Knight of Flowers, and hoped that he would win. The Tyrell boy had shot him a smug look from behind his visor, and Artys did his best not to let it annoy him. Instead, he took his lance from his squire, and dug his heels into his horse, riding hard towards Loras Tyrell with his lance held steady.
As the horses bore down on each other, Artys saw Ser Loras shift his lance from the corner of his eye. He quickly changed his own lance's angle, and as Loras's lance struck his shield with a shattering crack, his own slammed into the knight's shoulder. He was thrown back from the force, and to Artys's delight, Loras hit the ground below with a loud clang of armour.
The crowd erupted with cheers, and Artys couldn't contain his grin as he did a lap around the field. He stopped beneath the royal box, and bowed his head to the king, who was beaming down at him.
"Lords and ladies, your champion!" The king roared, much to the delight of the crowd. Then, his gaze on Artys, he added. "Now, Artys, crown your queen and let's get back for the celebrations!"
A steward came forward with a crown of golden roses, and Artys took it. Heart pounding hard against his ribs, he rode up to the stands where Ysilla sat beside his sister, and bowed his head to her.
"Lady Ysilla," He said to her. "I would crown you my queen of love and beauty."
He then gently placed the crown of roses atop her long black hair, and again, the crowd roared their approval. Artys didn't notice them though. All he saw was Ysilla, and the warm smile that was on her face as she looked up at him with shining eyes. This, he thought, might well be one of the best days of his life, and he could only hope that Ysilla felt the same.