Disclaimer: I don't own the A Song of Ice and Fire series.
Author's Note: Thank you to anyone who read the last chapter. I'd especially like to thank those who have followed and favourited this story, I really do appreciate your support. As always, please enjoy the chapter and feel free to review.
Chapter Eleven: The Departure
The morning of Robert's sixth nameday dawned bright and warm. Alyssa found herself waking late, and she smiled as she saw the thick bars of golden sunlight streaming in through the windows of her bedchamber. She was pleased that it was such a fine day, and she knew that the weather conditions would make their journey back to the Vale the next day that much easier.
A light knock on her chamber door drew her out of her thoughts, and she sat up, smiling as Elyse entered the room.
"Good morning, my lady," Elyse said, smiling as she handed Alyssa a steaming cup of tea, and a plate with bread and honey on it.
"Good morning, Elyse," Alyssa returned, beginning to eat her food. She had asked Elyse to bring some food to her that morning, so that she would have broken her fast before Robert's nameday feast which would be held that afternoon.
"Which dress will you be wearing today?" Elyse asked Alyssa, heading towards her wardrobe.
Alyssa smiled, amused by her friend's automatic question. "You know that there are only two dresses left in there, Elyse. I'll wet the ivory one, with the sapphires on the sleeves."
"Oh, of course," Elyse flashed her a smile as she took the dress out of the wardrobe. "Are you ready for tomorrow?"
"Yes and no," Alyssa murmured, sipping her tea thoughtfully. "I'm excited to go back to the Vale of course, but I'm worried about father. Lady Lysa is not going to be pleased when we leave, and he has enough to deal with ruling the Seven Kingdoms. More stress won't be any good for him."
Elyse murmured in agreement, and after carefully laying out the dress on a chair, she came over and sat beside Alyssa on the bed. She began to run her hands gently through Alyssa's hair, carefully untangling it before beginning to weave it into smooth heavy braids. Alyssa felt herself relaxing. The feel of her friend's fingers in her hair was familiar, and that familiarity eased her anxiety somewhat.
"Your father will be all right," Elyse told her reassuringly. "He is strong, and lady Lysa will calm down eventually, I'm sure of it."
"Well, I hope you're right," Alyssa said as Elyse started on another braid. "But Lysa is very protective of Robert, you said so yourself. It will take her ire a while to cool, I think."
"Yes," Elyse agreed, sounding thoughtful. "That is true. Perhaps though, there is something you could do to hasten that process."
Heedless of her hair, Alyssa turned her head to look at her friend. Elyse's green eyes were steady, as they always were, and as she looked at her beautiful, familiar face, she felt a strange flutter in her stomach. Trying to ignore the strangeness of it, she did her best to focus on the matter at hand. "Really? What were you thinking of?"
Elyse gave her a small smile, the expression in her eyes turning thoughtful. "Well, you could always write to lady Catelyn Stark. She is lady Lysa's sister, and from what I've heard, she is a good and reasonable woman. She could, perhaps, reason with her."
Alyssa considered her words, a small frown creasing her forehead. "You know, as always, your wisdom is impressive," She noted, smiling at Elyse. Elyse smiled in return, making her eyes sparkle like emeralds. Alyssa mentally shook herself. She'd had thoughts like this before about Elyse, but it hadn't happened in a while. As she always did, she pushed them away firmly, unwilling to look at them too closely, or to consider what these strange thoughts and feelings could mean.
"My lady?" Elyse's voice brought her out of her thoughts, and she blinked, not meeting her gaze.
"I'm sorry," She said, slightly distractedly. "You're right, I will write to lady Stark and perhaps explain the situation."
"I think that's wise," Elyse smiled, but Alyssa noticed a flicker of something cross her friend's face, a mixture of concern and confusion. She tried not to worry about it, surely Elyse couldn't know how she was feeling, could she? "Is...is everything all right?" She asked at last.
"Yes," Alyssa said quickly, still not meeting Elyse's gaze. "Of course, everything is fine. And Elyse...remember, you can call me Alyssa when we're alone, we've talked about this."
It was true, they had spoken about it. Elyse had never truly gotten used to it, but right now, Alyssa didn't want to hear her title from Elyse. She wanted to feel like they were equals, and that feeling confused her. She and Elyse had been friends for years, and despite the strange thoughts and feelings she sometimes had for her, usually she could push them away easily enough, and try to forget. Today, that didn't seem to be going well, and she didn't understand why.
"Of course," Elyse was saying, a small smile on her face. "I am sorry, Alyssa, I will try to remember. Now, please would you turn your head back around? I have to finish your hair, or you'll risk being late to the feast."
Alyssa nodded, unable to reply. She turned her head back around and silently finished her breakfast. She did her best to fill her head with thoughts of Robert, and of the journey ahead of them, but all she could see, even when she closed her eyes, were a pair of green eyes that sparkled like emeralds as they looked at her.
Artys had never cared much for extravagance, and the feast that had been prepared for Robert's nameday was exactly that. The Small Hall inside the Tower of the Hand was full to bursting with lords and ladies, and the tables were laden with countless platters and meat and vegetables of all kinds. There were towers of lemon cakes too, and on the central table, a huge sugary cake sat, covered with pieces of candied fruit that glittered like gemstones in the candlelight.
"Pretty, isn't it?" Artys blinked, coming out of his thoughts to find Ysilla beside him, smiling shyly. She looked beautiful in a rose—coloured dress, which fell around the slim body in shimmering folds.
"I'm not sure I'd describe it that way, but it is certainly...extravagant."
Ysilla laughed softly, her grey eyes shining. "Oh, where is your sense of fun? This is your little brother's nameday celebration, remember?"
Artys did remember that. Robert in pride of place at the high table, being fussed over by everyone. He couldn't see his sister with him, and he frowned slightly. Alyssa had been very pale when he'd seen her earlier, and she'd seemed...distracted. Something had clearly happened, and he really wasn't sure what it was. "Yes," Artys murmured, realising belatedly that he had not yet answered his betrothed. "I know, it's just that this is...a lot. He is six namedays old after all, he can't even drink wine yet. Just look at the king, he has already drunk a barrel of it, I'd wager."
It was true. Robert Baratheon, who had come to the feast to celebrate with them, was roaring with laughter at something his brother lord Renly was saying. He was guzzling down cup after cup of Arbor Gold, and Artys thought unkindly that their king was more disposed to being a drunk, than he was to ruling a castle never mind seven kingdoms.
"Hush," Ysilla whispered, looking around anxiously. Despite her tone though, Artys caught the barest flicker of an amused smile on her face, and he couldn't help being pleased.
"Have you seen my sister anywhere?" He asked her, thinking that it would be best to change the subject before anyone overheard what they had been speaking about.
Ysilla's smile widened, and she nodded. "Yes, of course. Look, she is right over there, with Andar and my other brothers."
Artys looked across the room, and saw that Ysilla was right. Alyssa was sitting with the other Royces, drinking from a cup of wine. She was smiling, and talking to Ysilla's brothers, but there was clearly something troubling her. Her blue eyes were dark with worry, and although she was smiling, it just didn't reach her eyes.
"Why don't we go and join them," He suggested, glancing sideways at Alyssa. "Before the king decides to call us over again."
He saw Ysilla shudder slightly, and he smiled a little. Robert had called them over earlier, heartily congratulating them on their betrothal, before launching into a rather bawdy story about his own wedding night. Jaime Lannister, the queen's brother, had been the Kingsguard who was currently on duty, and his face had flickered with anger at hearing the king talk about his sister that way. Honestly, Artys hadn't blamed him. Robert did not show the queen an ounce of respect, and Artys couldn't imagine ever treating his own wife that way.
"In that case," Ysilla replied, "Let's go, I don't want to hear any more of his grace's stories."
They made their way over to the table where Alyssa and the Royces sat. Artys slid into the seat opposite Alyssa, and Ysilla slid into the one beside him.
"Ah, there you two are," Robar noted, smiling at them both. "We were beginning to think you had decided we weren't good enough company."
Artys chuckled, flashing a smile in his friend's direction. Robar always knew how to lighten a mood, and as he glanced at his twin, he saw a flash of a smile on her face too.
"Oh, you're not good enough company, Robar," Ysilla told her brother, smirking. "But, you're still my brother. I'm used to it by now."
Robar, pretending that his sister's words had mortally wounded him, gasped and clutched at his chest. "Oh, Ysilla, what cruel words you speak," He said, wiping imaginary tears from his eyes.
The others laughed, and Ysilla rolled her eyes at her brother's antics. "Honestly, Robar, you should have been born a mummer," Andar remarked, his voice light. "You would have been a natural."
"You know, perhaps you're right." Robar's face was mock serious, but his eyes were full of amusement. "Perhaps I shall run off and join a pack of them. They would not be so cruel to me, at least."
Again, the others laughed, even Alyssa, and Artys found himself relaxing. He poured himself a cup of wine from the flagon on the table, and for the rest of the feast, he enjoyed himself in his friends' company, and he tried not to think about what had troubled his sister. After all, he could speak to her about it tomorrow when they were safely out of the capital. For now, he decided, he was simply going to have fun with Ysilla and the others.
Before dawn the next morning, Alyssa crept down the hall to Robert's room. The servants had already successfully gotten all of their belongings out of the castle, and now all that was left to do was leave. Artys was already waiting for them down in the courtyard, and so as she carefully opened Robert's door, she prayed to the seven that Elyse had already gotten him dressed and ready to go.
As she stepped into the room, she found that indeed, Robert was waiting for her. He beamed when he saw her and ran forward, throwing his arms around her.
"Hey, sweetling," She murmured, bending down to pick him up. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes!" Robert whispered excitedly. "Can we go now?"
"Of course," Alyssa smiled down at him. "Has Elyse already gone down?"
"No," Elyse answered, stepping out of the shadows. "I thought I would wait and go down with you."
"Oh," Alyssa smiled, her heart giving a little leap inside her chest. "I see. Well, let's go then, shall we?"
Both Elyse and Robert nodded in agreement, and so the three of them headed out, to start the long journey that would take them out of the capital, and home where they belonged.