The day was early as the two men walked the halls of Winterfell. "The hunt last night was something, nephew. Two stags and a deer. You truly are a natural hunter" Tyrion Lannister said.
"I just got lucky. Well, not really, but I don't want to gloat" Prince Alycilles said with a cheeky smirk.
"So, you think Bran is going to be alright?" the prince asked his waddling uncle as they walked through the cold halls. "From what Maester Luwin says, the boy will live, but not a life he'll enjoy" Tyrion said solemnly.
"At least he'll live," the prince said. "Well, I'm sure breaking our fast will change the mood" his uncle said as they entered the guest house seeing their family there.
The queen along with his siblings, minus Joffrey, were present, along with his other uncle. As they walked, Tyrion signaled to a servant who was walking by, telling her of the sort of breakfast he wanted. "Some of those little fishes please, and some bacon burned black also" he said. Alycilles looked to the servant. "I'll have the same but don't burn my bacon please. I actually like to taste my food" he said cheekily to the servant as he saw his uncle roll his eyes. The servant gave them a bow as she scurried off to fulfill their request.
The two made their way to the table as the inhabitants turned their attention to the newcomers here to join them. The prince walked around the table, greeting his siblings, as Tyrion sat in between his brother and Prince Tommen. He rubbed Tommen's head prompting a giggle from the boy.
He went over to his sister Myrcella who was smiling as she watched him, waiting for her own greeting. "My sweet little sister" he said, planting a kiss on her cheek. The young princess blushed as she greeted her brother. He then turned to his twin, who was waiting for him as he sat down in between her and his mother.
"And the other princess who has my heart" he said as he planted a kiss on his twin sisters cheek. She wasn't so easily moved to blush, but by her face she was quite pleased with her brother's greeting.
"Uncle Jaime."
"Nephew" Jaime said smiling at the boy.
He then turned to his mother who seemed to be eyeing him waiting for her greeting. "And of course I can't forget our lovely queen mother" he said and once again planted a kiss on her cheek. She rubbed his hand, giving him a warming smile. "How goes your morning, dear?" she asked. "So far, I won't know until I devour something," he said.
Jaime smirked at him as he turned to Tyrion. "Beloved brother" Jaime said. "Beloved siblings. Nice to have all of the family together for once. Well, at least all of us" he responded back with.
Some servants soon came into view as they laid down the breakfast the prince and his uncle ordered. Alycilles licked his lips as he immediately grabbed a strip of bacon, crunching it in his teeth. "Is Bran going to die?" Myrcella suddenly asked. She turned her head to her brother who was still picking at some bacon when he noticed her looking towards him for an answer.
"Apparently not" he says after wiping his mouth with a cloth. The princess smiled then turned back to her breakfast as the queen and her twin shared a look that the others failed to see except for Tyrion.
"Maester says the boy may live" Tyrion speaks as he drinks from his cup. Queen Cersei and Jaime seem a little off by his words but they hid it well. "It's no mercy allowing a child to linger in such pain" the queen said.
"Only the gods know for certain. Only thing the rest of us can do is pray" Tyrion said. "The charms of the north seem lost on you sister" he said as he tilted his chin up to her.
"Mother brought all the charms of King's Landing with her" the prince said, causing his little siblings to draw some laughter. The queen looked at her son, her eyes sharp, making him look down to his breakfast. She then looked back to Tyrion.
"I still can't believe you're going," she said. "It's ridiculous, even for you."
"Where's your sense of wonder, the greatest structure ever built. The intrepid men of the knights of winty abode of the white walkers" he says.
"Tell me you're not thinking of taking the black" Jaime says. Tyrion looked at him bewildered. "And go celibate. The whores would go begging from Dorne to Casterly Rock, no I just want to stand on top of the wall and piss of the world."
The children laughed at his comment. Saphira gave her uncle a smile holding in her chuckle. Even Alycilles who nearly choked on his bread couldn't help but laugh. "The children don't need to hear your filth. Come Myrcella, Tommen. You too Saphira" the queen says. Princess Saphira gave her brother a look to which he reciprocates a wink with. "Well that was something" Alycilles said.
"So, you won't be in Kings Landing for my name day uncle" the prince said looking slightly sad. Tyrion looked upon his nephew, his face making the little Lannister feel a little bad.
"Don't sulk nephew. I won't be there, but my gifts for you and your sister will be" he said. That seemed to brighten the boy's spirit as he smiled and nodded his head to that. Suddenly, a servant walked up to Alycilles as he gained his attention. "What is it?" he asked. "My prince, the king is asking to see you," the man said.
The prince dropped the bread he held onto his plate. Great, he thought. He took a few more bites of his sausage and washed it down with a long gulp of wine before he made his leave. "Just like your mother" Jaime said with a side smirk to which the prince replied with a burp.
He found his father, along with Lord Stark in the great hall, just the two of them as they were speaking until they noticed the prince's arrival. He flipped his hair, untangling it as he greeted the two men. "Father. Lord Stark."
"Aye, come here my boy. Ned and I were discussing some business and such detailing our families" the king spoke. The prince gave him curious eyes, wondering where his father was taking this. "We've decided to betrothed Joffrey to Sansa," he says. The prince looked puzzled. "And what does that have to do with me?" he asked, slightly shrugging his shoulders. There was a silence for a moment until the king spoke again.
"And you will be betrothed to the other one."
His eyes widened at his father's words as his heart seemed to skip a beat the second he finished speaking.
"Father, I have nothing against Arya, but do you recall the agreement we came to?" he said, raising a single eyebrow. "Aye, I do, but I've decided this match will be better. To unite the north with the crown" the stag king says. The prince clenched his teeth as he digested the excuse his father was giving him.
"It's not the choice I wanted. And besides, isn't the crown and the north united through your friendship with Lord Stark" he said, his voice slowing rising. "Watch it boy. What would you have me do, marry you to the Tyrell girl you fancy so much" the king bellows, his voice reverberating against the walls. Alycilles turned, slightly embarrassed as his face turned red. "Yeah, Renly always has lots to say from your trips to Highgarden, but my decision is final and I'll hear no more about it" the king says. With that the prince turned on his heel ready to leave but before he did he gave his father a light bow. "Your grace" he said and then stormed off.
"Maybe it wasn't necessary to force a betrothal on him so early. He didn't seem quite pleased" Ned Stark said. "Ah, let him sulk. He always had a habit of throwing tantrums when he didn't get his way. He does have the Baratheon fury, that's for sure" the king said.
The prince was furious as he marched through the halls of Winterfell. He couldn't believe his father. After all I did to show him nothing but respect and obedience like a dutiful son and this is how he rewards me. A promise, a king's promise, broken, so he could have a union with his old war buddy he thought. His feet were stomping down hard, and loudly that he didn't hear the other footsteps heading his way.
As he turned around the corner not paying attention in front of him, he bumped into a familiar face as her fiery red hair fluttered as she fell backwards. She would have hit the ground if the hands of the prince hadn't grabbed a hold of her. He pulled her in close, straightening her back as their eyes met. She was flushed red once she realized who had caught her. "M-my prince" she says with a slight stutter. His temper was lightly soothed once he saw the young Stark girl.
"Lady Sansa" he says as his voice was ever calm and melodic.
She was able to keep his gaze longer than she usually did before she turned away from him and realized that her hands were pressed against his chest. She quickly removed them, falling into a deeper bush. "Forgive me, my prince," she said. He tilted his head slightly at her words.
"There's nothing to forgive my lady" he says smiling at her. She couldn't help but stare at his face. His smile warmed her body.
"So my lady, how does it feel to be betrothed to my brother. One day you'll be queen" he said.
Her eyes widened as she beamed a little at his words. "It feels like a dream come true. I can't wait to see Kings landing" she says smiling ear to ear. "Well you have the look for it" he says moving a strand of her hair to the side of her ear, as he slowly caressed her cheek. She seems to lean into his hand unknowingly enjoying the feel of it. He moved it away back to his side to which she felt a little disappointed. "Well I must go. We'll be leaving soon" she said.
"Of Course my lady" he responded to her with. She gave him a curtsy then walked off. The prince stood there, waiting until he felt no one else would walk on him. "Are you going to come out now?" he said aloud.
It was silent for a while almost like he was talking to himself, until sounds of footsteps came around the nearby corridor. "You seem to always know when i'm around," the silvered haired princess said, stepping up to him.
"You're my twin. It almost seems natural that I do."
She smiled, looking so much like Cersei.
"So what do you think of her?" she asked. "She's a pretty thing. Joffrey will mistreat her. He doesn't deserve her" he responded with.
She turned to face him.
"You know. I've only heard you call Margaery pretty. Other than Myrcella, mother, and I of course" she said. He shrugged his shoulders to which she narrowed her eyes too. "You want that Stark girl, don't you?" she asked, keeping her voice low. "Sweet sister," he said cupping her cheeks, rubbing them with both hands. "I want everything," he finished.
Crossing The Neck had been some trip for them for them heading on their way to King's Landing. Twelve days on the road and they finally decided to make camp at Castle Darry once again. Prince Alycilles, and his sworn shield, Tyrek Lannister, were walking along the road near Castle Darry itself, as the rest of the king's entourage was settling in.
"The Ruby Ford. Not as ruby as I thought it would be," Tyrek said as he stared into the water. "Don't tell me you actually believe there are still rubies in the water" Alycilles said.
"Of Course not, they all would have been claimed by now if not washed away with the current" the Lannister boy said. They stopped to rest on a patch of grass underneath a tall tree, taking in the shade. Alycilles had his eyes closed, with his arms behind his head taking in the serenity of nature as he hummed a tune. His peace though was abruptly interrupted when he heard what sounded like clacking of wood on wood, ringing through the air.
"Hm, what's that?" Tyrek said, turning towards the point of their interest. The prince opened one eye as the sounds caught his attention too. "Hmm, something worth checking out. What say you cousin" the prince said.
"Let's go rumble in some trouble" Tyrek said as they proceeded to walk towards the noise.
They made their way towards a clearing near the Ruby Ford catching Arya along with a chubby boy, both wielding long wooden sticks swinging them at each other very poorly as they pretended to be knights.
The chubby boy was struggling against Arya's blows. She was giving him hard swings, sending him wailing to the ground as his stick sword flew out his hands, landing just in front of the prince. Arya turned her head and saw Prince Alycilles walking towards them as he twirled the stick between his fingers. "You know cousin, your betrothed isn't so bad with a stick, better watch out" Tyrek sneered.
"Ha, she'll have you on your ass before me, wet nurse" Alycilles said with a smile as Tyrek gave him a mocking laugh. They casually made their way to Arya and the boy wondering what they were doing.
"What are you doing here Alycilles?" she said with curious quickness and wild energy. "Calm down little wolf, do you own the Ruby Ford?" he said. She looked at him with narrow eyes and pursed lips.
"We heard some comotion so we came to check it out," he says. "We were just playing your grace, just playing" the red headed boy said with some worry in his tone. "I'm not the king, Mycah, I'm just a prince. Prince Alycilles that is." Mycah's eyes widened.
"You know my name, my prince," he said, astonished.
"Yeah, you're the butcher's boy right. I heard your father call your name out once or twice" Alycilles said. The butcher's boy had a smile across his face from being acknowledged by the prince. "So you two have an interest in knights yeah?" he asked as he handed the stick back to Mycah who was looking at Arya timidly.
"We like to pretend, my prince. I've always wanted to be a knight but my father said I shouldn't waste my time with it" he said. "Oh, and what about you, Arya. I know you're not the average lady" he said. "I'm not a lady" she retorts. "Oh, so you have a cock and balls then. Dear cousin I didn't know you swung that way" Tyrek snickered. Arya and the prince both glared at Tyrek while Mycah stifled a laugh as his face turned red.
"Alright you two, square off with each other, let me see what you got" he said as he walked in front of the two, eyeing them. They nodded as they took a few steps away then turned to face each other.
"Alright. Let me see your forms. How you handle your...wood swords" the prince said with a smirk. Arya as small as she was gripped her stick with her small nimble hands holding her arms up high.
She has good form, and confidence Alycilles thought. He then turned his gaze to Mycah. He was wobbly, standing taller than Arya but his stance was a little off. He gripped his stick with his hands a little too far away from each other as well. He'll learn along the way Alycilles thought.
"Alright. Go" Alycilles shouts.
Arya was first, swinging her stick with her own finesse as Mycah did his best at confronting her with his own but Arya seemed to be putting more effort into it. Tyrek went to stand by his princely cousin as they watched the two amateurs at play. "Well the girl has some fire in her," Tyrek said.
"Come on Mycah. At least use your height to your advantage" Alycilles shouted. The two were enjoying the show, watching them go at it, but their fun was interrupted when they saw two familiar faces appear from around some shrubbery.
Prince Joffrey, along with Sansa Stark had appeared before them.
"Arya" the red headed shrieked. Arya lost her concentration by her sister's disturbance as she failed to block Mycahs attack.
"Ow," she said as she scowled at Mycah then turned to her sister.
"What are you doing here? Go away" she shouted in a high pitch voice. Joffrey looked towards Sansa. "Your sister I presume," he said, gaining a nod from her. He then looked towards the startled boy. "And who are you boy?" the prince asked with a tilt of his head.
"Mycah milord" he said nervously. "He's the butcher's boy" Sansa said with some sass in her tone.
"He's my friend" Arya shot back. Joffrey slowly walked towards him, stumbling somewhat in his walk. "A butcher's boy who likes to play knight."
He then drew his sword, Lion's Tooth, and held it towards Mycah.
"Go pick up your sword knight, or do you only fight girls." The terrified Mycah began to stutter. "She ast me to milord, she ast me too."
Before Joffrey could retort, Prince Alycilles crossed in between Mycah and Joffrey, blocking the butcher's boy from Joffrey's wroth.
"Stand down Joffrey," he said. Both Joffrey and Sansa had a surprised look on their faces having not noticed Joffreys brother and Tyrek standing on the side.
"Well, well, well. I shouldn't be surprised you're playing with a peasant brother" Joffrey sneered.
The crown prince was holding his sword up to him, swaying left and right awkwardly. Alycilles noticed the wineskin in Sansa's hands and realized the situation. "Go back to the camp brother. You're drunk" he said sternly. Joffrey simply smirked. "What. You're not the only one who can hold their alcohol. Besides, I decided I wanna play knights too" he said with a slur.
Alycilles frowned at his brother to which Joffrey, for once, didn't falter under. He turned his back to him, calling out for Arya, Mycah, and Tyrek to follow him and leave Joffrey to his own devices.
The crown prince, with his fury rising, took a swipe at his brother, cutting his right arm, tearing the fabric of his cotton shirt. "Ow," he said as he turned to see the tip of Joffrey's blade covered in his blood. He felt his temper rising, and he started to march on Joffrey, but before he could retaliate, he noticed Arya making her way behind his brothers back. With a thwack she broke her wooden stick against Joffrey's skull, splintering the thing in two.
Sansa simply stared there, afraid as everything seemed to happen so fast before her horrified eyes. Joffrey staggered as he whirled around screaming out, cursing, attempting to slash Arya with his sword. "I'll gut you, you little cunt" he shouted.
The little girl ran avoiding his onslaught, dipping and diving as Lion's Tooth missed her by a hairs inch. She began running towards the woods, but Joffrey was hot on her trail. "Stop stop, you're spoiling it, you're spoiling everything" Sansa shrieked as she watched her prince chase around Arya.
"Sansa, calm down" Alycilles shouted at the girl. She jumped at his voice as she held her mouth open but couldn't bring any words out. He felt the tension in the air so he moved quick, chasing down his brother before he did something stupid and hurt someone else. He ran as fast as he could, looking for his brother and Arya when he picked up a girlish shriek coming a few paces away. He ran towards the noise, able to hear his brother still cursing as they seem to come from every corner of the forest.
He scanned through the trees and saw Joffrey with a cornered Arya with her back against a tall oak. Tyrek and Sansa, along with Mycah were following Alycilles trying to keep up with him watching the scene play out. Joffrey raised Lion's Tooth high above his head with a twisted look on his face as he was truly intent on striking the Stark girl down.
Alycilles rushed forward, tackling his brother to the ground, gripping his wrist while he held him in place. "You need to CALM DOWN NOW" he said to a snarling Joffrey. "Who are you to tell me what to do. I am your older brother. The crown prince" he shouted through gritted teeth.
"Well then start acting like it" his younger brother retorted getting close to Joffrey's face. He looked away from Joffrey and looked up at Arya, who was visibly terrified and jerked his head to the side signaling her to get behind him. As she did he waited for Joffrey to cool down before he released him. The boy struggled at first but Alycilles was much stronger than his lean brother. Joffrey stood up with a rush as he stared off with his brother.
"I suggest you sober up and head back to camp," Alycilles said sternly as he once again turned his back to Joffrey.
Joffrey felt his rage building up once more after being talked down to by his little brother. His perfect, adored little brother. He clenched his teeth, gripping his sword till his knuckles turned white. What happened next nearly made Arya's heart stop as she saw Joffrey intently lunge his sword at his brothers back.
Sansa started screaming, Tyrek began to grip his own sword ready to move. Alycilles didn't know what was happening, but in that split second as he turned his neck a grey blur caught his eyes.
Next thing he knew, Joffrey was on the ground crying out as a wolf was biting down on his hand, snarling as it whipped it head back and forth. He saw the wolf, its growl loud and muzzle wet with blood as its fangs ripped apart Joffrey's hand.
"Down Nymeria" Arya shouted, and following her mistress's command, let go of Joffrey's skewered hand and moved to her side. The butcher's boy fled running away somewhere in the forest while Arya took Joffrey's sword and ran off with Nymeria entow. Sansa stood by Alycilles' side, looking at him with pouty eyes as her head was low. He looked at her and sighed. In his fury, her charm had no affect on him so he left her there with his brother.
"Make sure he gets back to the camp now to get that hand checked out" he said to her, she nodded her head then bent down next to Joffrey. Alycilles simply shook his head as he departed with Tyrek who had slowly sheathed his sword in that time.
It didn't take long for a serious commotion to start. The king and queen soon found out about Joffrey's little incident with Arya's direwolf and wanted them both presented forward. Resting outside with Tyrek, Alycilles sat on a barrel as he cleaned the cut Joffrey gave him when they saw Lannister men rushing past them looking to be in a hurry.
"I knew we should have gone looking for her. Let's go Tyrek" the prince said as he tightened the bandage around his cut.
"Alright, but you need to keep track of your wife" Tyrek said.
"Yeah, yeah, let's just go before any of my father's men finds her. There's no telling what my mother told them to do."
The sun went down faster than Alycilles liked, making it harder for them to find Arya, until they found her hiding underneath a turned over tree. It was by chance of luck that Tyrek spotted her out of the corner of his eyes. She was still frightened when they found her but she calmed down when Alycilles held his hand out to her. With that they took her back, ignoring all the soldiers who walked up to them, offering to take Arya before the queen themselves. Alycilles took note of how it was the queen they were planning on bringing her to, his mother, so he sent them all away, and kept Arya close to him.
Ned Stark entered Darry's hall as he pushed his way through Lannister and Baratheon men alike. Arya stood in the center of the room, with only Jory by her side while Lannister men surrounded them. "Arya" Ned called out loudly. He went to her, his boots ringing on the stone floor. He saw her and immediately rushed to her side, pushing his way through Lannister men who were all eyeing him. He went down to one knee and took her in his arms, asking if she was alright.
After that lord Stark came back to his feet facing the king.
"What is the meaning of this?" he said calmly, holding back the intensity to his tone. The king and queen were sitting on Darry's high seats being elevated able to see all those in the hall. He looked around for friendly eyes but there were few. Ser Raymun Darry himself had a disguised look on his face, while Renly had a half smile, and Ser Barristan looked worrisome himself. Stark then suddenly saw Alycilles leaning against a pillar, catching his eyes but his expression didn't change.
Everybody had their eyes set on Lord Stark, a bunch of lions and a surrounded wolf.
"Why was I not told that my daughter was found?" he said looking at the king but it was the queen who spoke.
"How dare you speak to your king in that manner." At that the king stirred up like he was waking from a drunken sleep.
"Quiet women" he snapped. "Sorry Ned. I never meant to frighten the girl. It seemed best to bring her here and get this done quickly." That's only because you didn't show any backbone when I offered to deliver Arya to Stark first but mother managed to convince you otherwise Alycilles thought. "And what business is that?" Ned said to the queen with ice in his tone.
Queen Cersei narrowed her eyes as she stood. "You know full well Stark. Your girl here attacked my son. Her and that butcher's boy. That animal of hers nearly tore Joffrey's hand off."
"That's not how it was. Joffrey was about to Stab Alycilles with his sword and Nymeria stopped him. She was simply defending Alycilles," she whimpered out. Everyone looked at each other, some not realizing the second prince was somehow involved with this.
"My son didn't tell me he was a part of this. Alycilles what do you know?" the king asked his son. Everyone looked towards the prince who was still leaning on a pillar near Darry's high seat with Tyrek around the side. The Queen and Joffrey looked at him, Joffrey with a pouty face while the queen was silent but her eyes were trying to speak something to him. Ned and Arya looked at him as well, Arya was silent but her eyes were pleading to him.
"Well boy" the king had said, losing his patience.
"Alright, but everything I'm about to say is the truth and the whole truth" he emphasized at the end.
"I was with Arya and Mycah, watching them as they played with their sticks when Joffrey and Sansa made their way towards us. They had a wineskin with them and I could personally tell that Joff was under some sort of influence. He walked up to Mycah drawing his sword trying to instigate a fight with the boy. That was when I intervened, trying to stop it before things got out of hand. I must've made my brother mad because after I turned away from him, he cut me on my arm as you can see here" the prince said showing them is bandaged arm.
"After that Arya did hit Joffrey with her stick. She might have been defending me even when I told her not to escalate it, but she still hit a prince." Arya's expression seemed to change as she grew a somber look.
"After that Joff grew angry and began to chase after Arya." Joffrey was starting to dart his eyes all over the room, growing more angry as his brother spoke. "I managed to stop Joffrey, subduing him before he hurt Arya any further. Once I realized she was safe I released Joffrey and began to walk away from him, but I hadn't realized in that moment that he was planning to attack me again till now" Alycilles said with ice in his voice as he stared at a flincing Joffrey.
"It was then Arya's direwolf attacked Joffrey. The bite might have been bad, but it's nothing to lose a head over." Lord Stark seemed somewhat calmed down but the queen wasn't having any of her sons' words.
"And what of your brother who nearly lost his hand to that beast" she said. "He's a boy, mother. We get into trouble and sometimes those end in consequences. He still has his life, and a moderately functional hand so let it be a lesson for him if he ever wants to be a good king" he said the last part half believing it himself.
"Well father" the prince said.
"Wasn't Sansa there as well. Let's hear what she has to say" the queen said. Why bother, I already told you what happened.
"Where's your daughter Ned?" the king asked. "In bed sleeping" the lord responded with. "No she's not. Sansa, come forward darling" the queen said. Sansa suddenly appeared from out of the crowd hesitantly. She wore the same thing she was in earlier, a blue velvet dress.
She walked until she was standing just in front of the king and queen, her father just a few feet behind her.
"Now, tell us what you know girl. Tell it all and true. It's a great crime to lie to a king."
Sansa eyes darted from Joffrey and the queen, then to her father and finally Alycilles. He kept his expression plain keeping his eyes still on hers until she flinched away, turning down to her feet. "I don't remember. Everything happened so fast I didn't see-" she didn't get to finish as Arya started pulling her hair wailing, "liar, liar, liar" as they two fought with each other.
Alycilles closed his eyes as Ned pulled them apart, standing in between the fighting girls as Arya tried to reach out for Sansa who was cowering behind her father's back. "She's just as wild as that filthy animal of hers. Robert, I want her punished" Queen Cersei said. I should have expected mother to be persistent when it involves Joffrey.
"Seven hells" Robert cursed. "What would you have me do, whip her through the streets, dammit, children fight. It's over. No lasting damage was done."
The Queen was furious.
"Joff will carry these scars for the rest of his life."
Robert locked eyes with his eldest son. "So he will. Perhaps they will teach him a lesson. Ned, see that your daughter is disciplined. I will do the same with my boy."
Ned nodded his head. Gladly, your grace" he said with vast relief. Prince Alycilles exhaled the breath he was holding in, ready to get some rest, until. "And what of the direwolf" she called out, halting the king from his leave. He turned back and frowned. "I'd forgotten about the damned wolf."
Alycilles saw Arya tense up in her father's arms as her face turned to horror. She was scared for Nymeria's life.
"We found no trace of the direwolf, your grace, one of Stark's men, Jory said.
"No? So be it" Robert said quickly, ready to head off but the queen spoke again.
"We have a wolf" she said, her voice quiet with her face lacking emotion but her eyes shone with victory. It took everyone no time to realize what she was talking about.
"As you will, have Ser Ilyn do it." Sansa looked at the king, then at the queen. "She doesn't mean Lady, does she?" Sansa said looking at her father. Ned could only give the girl a sullen look, one a father hates giving their child.
"Is this your command your grace" Ned shouts out to his oldest friend. The king turned back saying, "Ned, I will hear no more of it," and proceeded to leave. Sansa began to panic, eyes watering as she tried to hold her tears back. "No, not Lady, Lady didn't bite anyone" she said, her voice rising with each word. "Lady wasn't there, you leave her alone" Arya shouted angrily. Unbeknownst to them all, Prince Alycilles had left a while ago, sneaking out the hall while the tension was high.
It was dark, very dark as the prince and his cousin made it through the camp, trying to be as quiet as they could be as they made their way to the post that Lady was tied to. The young direwolf seemed to perk up at his appearance.
"Hey there girl" Alycilles said. She wagged her tongue, licking at the prince's hands as he gave her a piece of a bread biscuit he brought. "We don't have a lot of time before Ser Ilyn shows up," Tyrek said whispering.
"Right" responded the prince. He pulled out a dagger, gleaming in the moonlight causing Lady to move back with a whimper. He brought the blade to the wolves leash, cutting the rope as he held the other end still attached to Lady. "alright let's go."
They walked into the forest, way past Castle Darry until they were deep into the woods. Lady was oblivious to what was happening as they stood there under the moon, just waiting. "If we are missing too long, people will get suspicious of us" Tyrek decided to input as he looked over his shoulder and around the dark forest.
"Just, give it a second. They always show up when I need them to, no matter how little." Tyrek didn't fully understand what his cousin meant but he didn't have the chance to ask. They soon heard some rustling from the nearby shrubbery in front of them along with soft footsteps. Out came a figure wearing a long black cloak with a dark red dress underneath. The figure stepped into the moonlight as they were able to fully see them. A woman with a small alluring face that Tyrek couldn't help but stare at as Alycilles stepped forward.
"My prince. You are in need of assistance?" the woman asked. She had an accent Tyrek noticed. Alycilles nodded his head and held out the leash that was wrapped around Lady.
"Yes, I need you to take this wolf safely to King's Landing and hide her. You know the spot, and make sure you're not followed. Use all the secret routes I showed you, just make sure no harm comes to Lady" he said as the direwolf perked up at the prince. She smiled and nodded her head, taking the rope leash the prince held. Lady seems willingly to go, more cooperative and benign than her siblings. "It will be done at once my prince."
With that the cloaked women left into the darkness of the forest, all trace of her vanishing along with Lady.
"Alright, we can go now," Alycilles said, turning on his heel as he put some speed to his steps, racing to return to camp. Tyrek who was still caught in the moment, had to jog to catch up to his cousin. "Who was that back there?" Tyrek asked, rushing to his side.
"Who was what" the prince said as he kept walking.
"Don't play dumb. How did you know that women would show up. And how do know she'll even make it to King's Landing safely with that wolf?" he asked with a serious tone.
"Don't worry about it Tyrek," Alycilles said flatly not bothering to look at him. Tyrek was about to retort with some sort of comment, but his cousin's tone of voice showed he was in no mood for a questioning. Oftentimes Tyrek found his cousin a strange mysterious man involved with mysterious things that he couldn't put his tongue too.