Chapter 5: The Red Keep
Eddard felt his eyelids fall heavy onto his face as yet another hour passed in the council chambers. The only thing that was a bigger nuisance to him now was the sun shining brightly into his eyes. He had come here near dusk, yet now it looked to already be midday.
"And now my lords, I believe we should move on to more pressing concerns." the Spider, Varys, spoke up as he lavishly swung his fan back and forth to keep away the heat.
"Indeed, such as the tourney that is to be held for our newest member." the King's youngest brother and Master , Lord Renly, said.
"And here I was nearly forgetting the whole debacle." Ser Kevan Lannister sighed, the Master of Coin brought a hand to his temple and then turned to Ned. "Very well. My lord, do you have any objections on the details?"
"No objections Ser. Merely a question." his words were tired, his demeanor was tired, Gods be damned he was tired. But still, there was a job to do, and he would not be caught falling asleep a day into his service as Robert's Hand.
Bringing up the papers detailing all the events and showmanship involved with the tourney, as well as the hundreds, if not thousands, of participants, Eddard read through them all in a quick motion once more, before turning his attention back to the council members. "What of the rewards? I do not see them marked here. Do you not think that is vital information my lords?"
"Most certainly vital to the winners." Renly commented.
"And vital to us as well." Kevan interjected. "You are correct Lord Stark, the rewards are not marked down, as they have not been decided yet, and that is the matter which we had wished to discuss with you."
'And you no doubt wished to leave it for last to make me not pay attention.' Eddard thought, a frown forming around his face as he allowed the Lannister to continue.
"As of now, the agreed upon amount for each category is as such." Kevan pulled a record book from the sides with a single wrap of parchment placed in-between the pages. "For the winner of first place, a prize of fifty-thousand gold dragons, for second, twenty-five, and for third, twelve-and-a-half thousand. This is of course for the main event of the joust, there are also prizes for the first place participant of the melee, the archery contest, and the tests of strength, speed, and valor."
Eddard listened intently before jumping in. "Tests?" he raised a brow. For all the years he had participated, watched, and heard of tourneys, never before had he seen or heard of anything close to 'tests of strength, speed and valor.'.
"Of course." Grand Maester Pycelle commented. "It was an invention of the King some… uhm… oh dear how long was it now?" the Maester fumbled before the Spider came in to finish the old man's explanation.
"Ten years, my lord." Varys said. "During the tourney celebration of Prince Tommen's birth. Though the King cherishes his feasts and tourneys, too much of a sweet thing eventually turns one's taste sour and thus unable to enjoy. That day was such an example."
"Fortunately for us, a wild Boar managed to get itself stuck inside tourney grounds and ended up chasing down old Boros and his horse throughout the whole field." Renly continued on from Varys' words. "I don't think I've ever heard Robert laugh as much as he did that day."
As much as he hated to hear it, that did sound like something Robert would do, frankly Eddard was more surprised it hadn't happened sooner. He was prone to such epiphanies, in the strangest of times no less. Though he may not have retained his warrior-esque physique, Ned was glad that at least some part of him remained the same.
'I'll let the ghost of who Robert was go on with Renly, for now, let us be done with this thrice damned tourney.'
"So, do we have your blessing Lord Stark?" Kevan interrupted his thoughts.
"What of the King, does he have no say in this? Robert is far more experienced with such things than I."
"Be glad that he doesn't, my lord." Lord Renly commented, taking a bite out of the apple that was laying in front of him on the table. "If it wasn't for my dear brother Stannis and the noble Ser here the crown would be drowning in debt."
Eddard listened to the young man's comments in confusion, before turning to Kevan who seemed prime and ready to answer questions. "His Grace has left these matters in our hands long ago. As Lord Renly so tactfully explained, thanks to the council of both Lord Stannis and I, matters regarding coin and the spending of it have been delegated as duties purely for the Master of Coin."
The more his fellow council members would explain, the less Eddard understood the current situation facing the Seven Kingdoms. He knew of Robert's diswant to rule long ago, the man was a soldier through and through, yet from the words the two had spoken he did not think he was utterly uninvolved with ruling his own country. 'I suppose it should be expected from him.' Eddard concluded with a sigh.
"Very well then. But can the crown afford such expenses?"
"We shall have to take out a loan I believe, but it is nothing we cannot pay back within a year." the Lannister told him rather matter-of-factly, yet Eddard immediately stopped him.
"Aerys left the Crown's treasuries overflowing. Are you saying Robert spent it all in a mere few years?"
"No, my lord, I am telling you he had spent it all within the first five years of his reign. And afterwards plunged us into about 5 million dragons worth of debt."
"What?!" he nearly sprung from his seat at that, but Kevan retorted quickly.
"Four fifths of which we have paid since then, thanks once again to the intervention of Lord Stannis."
"You give yourself too little credit, my lord. Stannis was Master of Coin for nary a year, you have been in his place for four times that length." Pycelle said.
"I merely continued the man's work, he was the one who spawned it all."
"Something you have much experience with I'm sure." Renly commented, taking another bite of his apple.
"My lords, please! May we come back to the matter at hand." Eddard felt the veins in his body begin to boil. How could Robert let such a thing happen? "Lord Kevan, you say that you have already paid off the majority of the debt, how much does the crown still owe then, and to who?"
"One million in total, my lord." Kevan once more grabbed his records and flipped through the pages in a succinct manner. "Seven hundred and fifty thousand to the Iron Bank, two hundred thousand to House Lannister, and fifty thousand to House Tyrell. By the end of this summer, we hope to pay off what is left of our debt to the Iron Bank, afterwards, we shall begin paying off all our debts to the Houses of Westeros."
'And I am sure your brother shall earn himself a fine sum of gold in interest from those debts.' he thought.
"Very well…" Eddard said dejectedly, tapping the table with his index finger. "You say that you shall take a loan out for this tournament. How much will that be and from whom?"
"One hundred thousand should be more than enough to pay for the prizes. All of the further expenses regarding the setting up of the event have been all planned out and fully funded. I hope you do not take grievance with that, my Lord, we had foresaw that your journey would be a tirring one, so we had already made preparations in advance for the more tiring parts."
"Not at all." Eddard commented simply, yet he could not help but wince at the mention of more money being put into their debt.
"In terms of who we shall be taking it from, I will contact Lord Tywin regarding it, Casterly Rock should be more than willing to provide."
'Of course.' he thought. "Very well. I shall speak to the King of this whole debt matter, it seems I was being withheld information." Eddard slowly began to rise from his chair as all his fellow council members did the same after him. "My lords if there is nothing else to discuss I shall take my leave."
"Should the need arise to discuss anything else you can be certain that we shall come first to you Lord Stark." Varys bowed gracefully. "We are here to serve on your command." and with those words the eunuch made his way out of the council chambers.
"Farewell Lord Hand. Should you ever have need of my services, I shall be in my quarters." Grand Maester Pycelle bid his goodbyes and slowly waddled away, the thrice wound chain around his neck ringing across the halls long after he was gone.
Kevan however remained seated, bowing courtly to the lord before returning to his records book and writing down something Eddard could not see, however he had no wish to see it either. As he made his way to exit the chambers himself however, Renly had stopped him.
"Lord Stark, a word if I may?"
"Of course, what is it Renly?"
"You'll forgive me if I address matters a bit too personally, but it is regarding your children. More specifically the ones currently residing in the Red Keep."
"If you're looking for a chance at betrothal I'll have to disappoint you. Sansa is already taken, and Arya is much too young for you."
Renly laughed heartily at that, he had Robert's smile and features, for those that didn't know the man longer they would say that he was actually the one all the stories referred to. Eddard still remembered the first time he had seen him as a little boy, not even ten years old but full of life. He was glad that the boy managed to live a good enough life to be at this point, and grow up with a better childhood than the one stolen from him and Robert by Aerys' war. Still, it was rather strange for him that a man like Renly did not find himself a bride yet.
"If only, my Lord. I'm quite sure Robert would hand me the crown right here and now if I brought him news of finally binding our houses together. It's been his dream ever since…" Renly stopped himself there, clearly realizing what he was about to say. "But enough of the past, I've come to ask you of the future?"
"And by that you mean my children."
"But of course. I have seen your two eldest save for that Robb boy that is still in Winterfell. My nephew must truly be blessed by the Seven themselves to be marrying such a beauty."
"When Robert first offered me the terms of the betrothal, I could not even think to refuse, mainly because Sansa would likely have smothered with a pillow as revenge."
"And what of the boy? Cregan was it? I had heard of him when news from Highgarden reached me that a Stark was being warded by Mace Tyrell of all people. Truly, I had never thought I would see the day one of yours would go past the Trident."
"Life is full of unexpected happenings."
Eddard could scarcely recall the day he had first seen his own son off to the South. It was cloudy, and the sun was blocked completely after an entire week of warm sun, the longest Winterfell had ever gone without any rain or wind. Cregan looked at him as if he was being sent off to war. Something died inside him that day, seeing his son trying to fight back tears as his brothers and sister embraced him. Sansa wept for days, and refused to eat, Robb was struck with a malaise the likes of which he had never seen from the boy, and to make it all worse, Jon… Jon became stricken with fever. It was as if a curse had been brought upon his family. It made him wonder how his own father, mother and siblings felt when he was sent off to ward for Jon Arryn in the Vale.
"I know that all too well. As do we all, I'm sure." Renly's voice softened for a moment as silence reigned over the two before the young Baratheon's face lit up once more. "I'll not ask why you did what you did my Lord. The Tyrells love their little secrets as much as the Martells and Lannisters, and if I can't get anything out of Loras I doubt I shall be anymore successful with you."
"You know Ser Loras?"
"Indeed, he is a close friend of mine. And more importantly, he has told me much about your boy, all good things of course. Strong and brave that one is, with valor and wits, he has the makings of a fine knight. Give him a few years and he'll be better with a blade than the greatest of Kingsguard."
"I shall be sure to tell him of your praise." Eddard smiled. This was perhaps the only pleasant conversation he had since coming to the Red Keep, were it not for the headache that was the council meeting they just had, he would have even been able to enjoy it. Cregan had always been eager to hear of tales of great knights such as Aemon Targaryen and Ryam Redwine, yet it was always the battles and duels he was interested in, the deeds and honorable actions, their status of knights mattered little to him, as it did most men of the North who held faith in the Old Gods.
"If you wish to tell him anything then tell him this as well, should he ever wish to have a good mentor guide him, I am more than willing to take him as my squire. And should you be interested in such a deal, take note that Robert also has his eyes on the boy for whatever reasons. I don't know why, mind you. Perhaps he needs someone faster to carry his wine sack. Poor Lancel has been on his last legs ever since Tyrek stopped being alongside him."
"Should he be interested, then you will be the first to know Renly, of that you have my word."
"A promise forged in iron then, I'm relieved. King's Landing has been lacking men such as you and Cregan since my brother's departure, my lord. It will be a nice change of pace to have expectations from words again." with a courteous bow, Renly left Eddard in front of the council chambers' entrance, striding confidently across the halls, it made him have to blink for a moment to remember he was not looking at Robert from afar.
Turning his head back into the chambers behind him, Eddard saw Ser Kevan still sitting in his chair, hunched over his records and muttering something to himself. It was a strange site, he was a man of broad shoulders and a thick waist, a body fit for a knight and warrior. Yet there he was, slouched delicately overseeing numbers and writing down something with a quill as if he had spent his life as a Maester of Oldtown.
He had no ill will towards the man, nor towards the Queen and her children. It was with Kevan's brother and nephew where his grudges lied. Kevan may have spent his life in the shadow of Tywin Lannister, doing his best to live quietly and not be noticed, it was when Eddard saw those emerald green eyes and sandy blonde hair that he was reminded of Jaime Lannister and his father, and the deeds they had committed during the war. Rather, the crimes they had done. The Kingslayer, who stabbed his own liege in the back after swearing an oath to forever protect him and his family, and Tywin, who laid siege to King's Landing and when the gates opened he sacked it of all life. He did not know who had more blood on his hands, but it angered him to no end.
"Lord Kevan." he called out to the Master of Coin, who quickly looked up towards him.
"Yes, my lord? Is there something you need of me?"
"No, yet I still see you mulling over that book of yours. Is something the matter?"
Kevan looked at him and then back to his book. His brow noticeably furrowed as a sigh escaped the man's lips before he shook his head and closed the book. "No, my lord. It is simply some minor finance reports. I am getting rather old, and certain things are beginning to lose their meaning to me, I'm afraid."
"Age is a curse that chases us all down I'm afraid, and unfortunately there's not much we can do to run from it."
"But still we try and try." Kevan chuckled. "Be mindful of these early years that you still have left, my lord. I am beginning to grey what hairs I still have left, but you and King Robert still have much life left in you, cherish it while you can."
"Not if his Grace keeps eating and drinking his way into an early grave."
"Please, my niece couldn't hold her smile if she heard you say that." Slowly he began to rise from his seat and approach the Stark who stood by the entrance. "Jon Arryn and I, we had done our best to correct Robert's mistakes, we worked hand in hand as best we could. I hope that you and I can find similar success in that matter. My only regret is that our two families could have had better grounds for friendship before so that this current predicament would be a more joyous cooperation."
"You needn't fear, my Lord. My duty is to the realm first, and to Robert."
"I am glad to hear that. Jon's death left behind many… administrational problems. Many of which were thrown under my shoulders once the King had departed. Renly was right on his little slight against me back there, my lord. Living life under another like I have, eventually it becomes blinding when all eyes turn towards you."
Kevan bowed politely, and began to leave Eddard. "Should you ever have need for me, I will be in my office. I find that is where I spend most of my time these days."
The Red Keep truly was a marvel to behold. When he had first saw it all those many years ago, Ned could scarcely believe that it was once as grand as it is now, yet the sacking of King's Landing had done its damage, and even now he could still see the cracks in the wall, and the stains the could never be washed away. He wondered if they haunted Robert the same way they had haunted him. In his dreams, he would still scarcely recall that young woman looking at him from afar, a child and a babe in her arms, the prince of Westeros beside her.
His steps echoed as Ned's thought turned to more present matters, such as the Crown's economic situation. Jon Arryn was no master tradesman, but during his time in the Vale the treasury was never left for want. Yet now he hears that the Crown is in debt, after the veritable paradise Aerys had left in his treasury. Were it anyone else, that gold could have lasted three generations worth of Kings. Yet Robert was not anyone else, unfortunately.
'A million gold dragons…' Eddard thought. 'Very well, I'll not be dettered at every setback that comes. But what else have you been hiding from me Robert?'
He needed to speak with the King, and urgently. It had been a long time since he walked the halls of the Red Keep however his memory had not been lost on him yet, and from what he could gather there were only a few places Robert would frequent and drink himself to a stupor whenever he wasn't hunting or eating.
Yet just as he was to turn a corner an auburn haired boy appeared from the other side.
"Father?" he looked just as surprised to see him as he was.
"Cregan? Where are you going?" Eddard asked.
"I promised Myrcella that we would go and visit her gardens once we were finally in King's Landing. You always say that we should do our best to keep our word, so here I am." the boy explained and Eddard smiled. He was glad he was doing his best to make what he can of the situation thrust upon him. Sansa needed no help with that, of course, yet it was clear Ned's son did not share his twin's enthusiasm for the whole arrangement. Still, from the fine clothing he was wearing, Eddard looked nearly a pauper in comparison.
"Aye, I suppose I did." Eddard wore a rough spun leather and fur tunic, brown and worn alongside his belt and boots made of similar material, it made him realize how he had not changed his attire ever since he came to King's Landing. While the weathers in the North would have accepted such an outfit, he quickly began feeling the sweat inside him pour, and it was clear he would soon have to change his way of dressing if he wished not to go around a wet mess.
Compared to him, his son was dressed far better for the occasion. A surcoat of fine velvet and linen embroidered with the sigil of the Stark direwolf in a field of white. He looked every bit a lord that would be marrying the princess to the Seven Kingdoms, as much as Sansa did.
"I'm glad you two have had time like this to get to know one another better. Your mother and I did not have such luxuries unfortunately."
"Yet you two managed just fine. And given how I've essentially started with a whole head start on this race, that is what I am hoping for as well."
"If only half the men in Westeros shared your mindset son. How is your arm, has it healed well?"
"It has." he reached out his left hand and ran a finger across where the cut had been. "The pain's gone now, and the wound is healing well enough. Though the scar that it left behind is much larger than I thought."
"If ever you feel any pain again go to the Maester immediately, understand? Wounds are fickle things, and they can ruin you easily if you are not careful."
"I know father. You needn't worry." Cregan's voice was calm, as ever. It worried Eddard to no end how collected the boy seemed to be at all times, Arya would always get noticeably angsty whenever he or Catelyn would lecture her on things, and even Sansa would have her caddy episodes when it was clear she was frustrated. Yet perhaps the thing that irked him more was the fact of how much Cregan had reminded Ned of himself.
"Either way, do try not to overexert yourself when it comes to matters regarding the princess, son. It may have impressed her, but King's Landing is not as forgiving as the Ruby Ford. And she'll have no use of the gifts you give her if it costs you an arm for them."
"I understand father. I'll try to be more careful next time."
"Good." he knew of the real reason behind that cut of his. Robert had told him immediately the day after he found out. Yet every time Eddard tried to direct the conversation to the topic, it was clear Cregan had dug himself in with the lie. Sansa and Arya were not much help either, keeping their mouths shut on the matter, yet whereas Cregan had kept on with his story of the Ford, they simply stood there in silence. Bran was clueless to the whole debacle, and frankly he would rather not involve the child in such matters. He would just have to hope that his words stuck with Cregan, and he would avoid making enemies with the Prince.
"If there is nothing else you need from me father, I really should be going."
"One last thing before you leave son." he stopped the boy. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Yes?"
"Back in Highgarden, you trained with Loras Tyrell had you not?"
"Garlan as well, yes. They taught me everything I know when it comes to weapons and fighting."
"And they are both knights aren't they?"
"Indeed, I was there for when Loras had finally been knighted by Lord Mace. A fine ceremony."
"That is good to hear, but there is another side of which I was curious about. Did you ever squire for Ser Loras or Ser Garlan?"
Cregan stopped as if to ponder around his mind for memories. "Officially, no. I helped them every now and again with certain things, but I have never actually squired for a knight."
"Well you've got a good head on you, and it is not as if you are too young to start. Lord Renly offered himself to tutor you as his squire. There is no rush of course, but you could consider the offer."
"Lord Renly? The King's brother?" Cregan asked, to which Eddard nodded. "I see…" he could scarce read what the boy was thinking, yet from his voice there was a hint of hesitation.
"You've nothing to fear Cregan, I'll not force you. But I can assure you that Renly is a good man, and a fine knight as any to squire under."
"It is not that father. Rather, I had just gotten an offer right now to become a squire." Eddard raised his brow at the boy's words. "From King Robert."
'That explains it. And here I was thinking you had finally taken a page from your sister.' although Robert thought very little of it, Cregan was raised well enough to know not to approach the King looking like… well, his father. "I see. And what did you say?"
"It is hard to deny the invitations of a King, much less a chance to squire for him." he stopped himself for a moment. "When he had offered me it, I was willing to accept, but wanted to ask you first. So I bowed and thanked him on the offer, saying I would need a few days to think on it."
"Good, that was wise of you. What did Robert have to say?"
Cregan squinted his eyes and looked at Ned with a frowned face. "Think on the offer lad, if anything I'll have you running better than any horse by the end of it all." if one had not known the boy, they would think he was mocking the king with his impersonation, but the scarier thing was how accurate it was. "He then proceeded to laugh and drink from his cup."
"I see. Well, you should heed his words and think on it. Squiring for the king is no simple matter, but should you choose to decline his offer, he won't think any less of you. Neither of them will."
"I shall father, thank you for telling me of Lord Renly as well. Now if there is nothing else…"
"Go, we'll not have the princess be kept waiting."
"And this one?"
"That's a Dragonheart. I've been growing these for about three years now." Myrcella stated rather proudly. There was not much she could say was truly hers in the Red Keep save for her clothes and jewels, but the little spot in the gardens her father had built for her was one of them.
"I've heard of these, aren't they supposed to grow only in humid areas in Essos?"
"They do, but it's not the heat that makes them grow, it's the soil." she pointed to the black dirt surrounding the flower. "My uncle Tyrion gave me the seeds and a sack of ground they had dug up from Dorne, apparently that's the closest thing we have to the areas they usually grow in Essos."
"You're quite knowledgeable on these things aren't you?"
"I told you, didn't I?! There's no gardener in King's Landing better than me." she smiled, remembering the many times she and Ser Arys had spent planting all of them, though it was mainly Ser Arys doing all of the work, and Myrcella simply stayed back and watched.
"I shall take your word for it." The Stark boy himself was informed on flowers as well, though that was of course from his time warding at Mace Tyrell's court.
"It must be very disappointing compared to the ones you saw in Highgarden. I always wanted to go there, but mother and father never wished to travel to the Reach." for a moment she could have sworn she saw the boy smile, if not for a second.
"Not at all." Cregan commented. "The flowers in the Reach are… extravagant. Luxurious to say the least. You'll never find larger and more flamboyant pairs of fauna in all of Westeros. Yet beauty, I find, is often seen in more simple things."
"So you're saying you like my flowers better because they're simpler." she teased the boy.
"No, but you like them." he showed his hand towards the five little Dragonhearts that had all sprouted. They were a crimson flower with a circular shape consisting of five blood red petals with the stem coming from the middle. "You can have as many flowers as you want, in as fancy of a castle as you want, yet what does that mean when they were all done by someone else's hands."
"Have you ever planted for a garden?"
"I have. A pair of blue winter roses. I would take care of them, water them, tend to their roots. When they had finally bloomed, it felt as if I was back home."
"They are popular in the North, I heard. Every time we would have a tourney, they would make a crown of them to crown the Queen of Love and Beauty." She had remembered visiting the Glass Gardens of Winterfell and marveling at the beauty of the many bushes of winter roses that grew there. In the South, they were always so rare in the South, which is why the tourneys had always prized them so much, but in Winterfell, they felt a part of everyday life for the tenders.
"My aunt Lyanna loved them, father always said. And when they had finally fully grown, I tried to make a crown of them, it did not go well." Myrcella giggled. "But I managed to save one. When blue roses are plucked, they turn cold, yet the petals only wither months later if not watered, so they retain their color and shape for much longer."
"I envy the girl you gave that rose to."
"You assume I gave it away?"
"Don't play coy with me, why else would a boy put so much time into a rose bush?"
Cregan huffed in amusement as they looked at the red flowers in front of them. "You are right in one regard. I did give it away, eventually. But those days I spent tending to them all were ones well spent in my eyes."
"I'll not ask who you gave it to then, lest I find out my bethrothed's true love."
"Ever the hopeless romantic you are. But thank you, for not trying to delve too deep into personal matters." Cregan sighed.
"If you ever wished to tell me you would have told me by now, I trust you in that regard my Lord."
"Then the feeling is mutual my lady."
The auburn haired boy observed the other flowers with his lifeless eyes. She had thought very little of it at first, always thinking that she was boring the boy, but soon she learned it was not the case, simply how he always looked. They sat there in silence, and while Cregan continued to stare at the flowers haphazardly, she could not help but stare at the boy's face.
"You mentioned the roses got colder once you plucked them." Myrcella said to end the silence. "Here, let me show you something." She gently grabbed the boy's hand and guided it just above the flower.
"Warm…" Cregan murmured, his brow raising slightly.
"The flower emits a warmth from its petals. Apparently they dated back all the way to ancient Valyria, and dragons liked their scent."
"Interesting."
"During the night, the warmness attracts Dragonflies and Lantern Bugs. It gives quite the sight when the moon comes out."
"Never would have thought of you as the type of girl to sneak out during nights."
"Please, I see it clearly from the balcony in my room. Besides, I have the Kingsguard should I ever want to go out by myself."
"And the Queen is very supportive of it I'm sure."
Myrcella smiled. It was not as if her mother had an iron grip on her or her siblings, it was simply just that it would not do for the princess to be up and about in the middle of the night. Now that she actually had someone to be with save for Ser Arys or Tommen it was easier to justify going out more. Joffrey had no such reservations, he went whenever and wherever he wished, with the Hound coming closely behind him of course.
After a while their little trip to Myrcella's private gardens was over, and they walked along the more public areas of the keep. Eventually sitting down in a pavilion not too far from the Red Keep's own godswood. It was a small acre of old elm, alder and black cottonwood trees, yet she never really visited it, at least by herself. She wondered if both Cregan and his siblings had any interest in it, he knew that at least he still held to the beliefs of the Old Gods, while his twin Sansa held to both the Seven and the Old Gods.
As they sat beside one another, a small table between them, a servant brought a plate of sweetcakes and two cups of tea. Cregan was very fond of tea it seemed, while Myrcella liked to indulge herself in sweets every now and again.
"Has everything been alright with your father?" she asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"I don't know." she held the warm cup of tea in her hands, sniffing the sweet aroma of honey coming from it. "I don't think he likes me all that much."
"What makes you say that?"
"Whenever I see him, he always has that tired look about him. We've never spoken, but I notice the ways he looks at me and Joffrey." Lord Eddard had a cold and uncaring aura about him, but from what he saw it was not as if he was unable of emotion, just like his son. Her father always spoke highly of the man, and from what she had seen of him the expectations were all met. "Have I done something to offend him perhaps?"
"Most likely not. Father and you have never spoken as far as I know, and he does not offend lightly. He is simply like that."
"I suppose you are right. Though I would hate to earn your family's ire, father has been so happy ever since the announcement of this betrothal, it has been so long since I've seen him like that."
"Hmm…" Cregan murmured.
"You aren't like that with my father. He's always telling Joffrey how he should learn a thing or two from you, talking about how you two should spar more often since you're always down in the courtyard training by yourself."
"Sparring would be a good idea actually, practicing is good every now and again but it can lead to only facilitating one's faults when done alone. And I'm glad to hear his Grace thinks highly of me, just today he offered me a spot as his squire."
"Truly?"
"Yes, as did Lord Renly."
"And? Did you accept? And who did you choose?"
"No, I thanked the King for the offer, and said I would think on the matter." the mere notion of thinking on the King's offer to squire for them is something Myrcella thought rather amusing, she could count on both hands the amount of cousins her mother had tried to force on father, and who jumped at the opportunity thinking they could curry favor with him.
"I will admit, seeing you running around trying to fit my father in a suit of armor would be rather amusing. And once you've squired for him, he could even knight you, then I would be marrying a knight as well."
"Yes…" Cregan answered simply, clearly not taking as much amusement in the matter as she was, but still, she couldn't help but smile at the thoughts.
'Ser Cregan Stark, what a sight you would make.'