CHAPTER 3

Arya was swiftly taken by servants on orders of her mother to be cleaned up and put to bed while I just gracefully walked over to my father who was showing great amusement in my current state. Eddard was looking at me with worry but I believe my smile was all he needed to see to know the talk went well.

"Joffrey my son what in the hell happened?" He bellowed while laughing. "Did you and young Arya wrestle in a puddle of mud?" I shook my head at the man.

"No father we sparred in the training yard and I showed her some of what I know. She has potential that is of little doubt." The man got up and slapped my back rather hard but I knew it was well-meant.

"I see you already are getting near the Stark you prefer. Did you speak on the betrothal?" I flinched at the eyes on us and the pained gasp from Sansa and nodded. "Hahaha, and what did she have to say?"

My mother must have seen my position and stood. "Now, now my king it is getting late and we've had a long day. How about we leave these talks for a more private setting tomorrow morning?" My mother was many things but caring to her children was the more prominent of them all. My siblings were already gone as well seeming to have followed in young Rickard's steps., As for my uncles, they were amused more then anything.

I nodded, "Mother is right I would wish to retire for the evening and would be able to speak more tomorrow morning." Father looked at me for a moment before nodding.

"Aye good idea Joffrey. Get some rest boy we shall speak on the marrow." Thankful I nodded to him before kissing my mothers cheek and wished the Starks a good night before swiftly leaving passing a group of narrowed eyes on the way out. The Stark children were watching.

-Next Morning-

I awoke to heavy bangs on my door and I couldn't help the groan that escaped my lips. Every morning was like this since the man outside my door was enlisted as my guard and while I liked the man and respected him a great deal he was the cunt of cunts. And when the banging didn't stop I stood and swiftly opened the door wearing only my trousers and plain sleep shirt. The hound looked down at my glaring face only to scoff and step away showing Arya smiling at my disgruntled face. She looked a little too amused.

I decided to forget the Hound for now and I smiled at the young wolf. "Arya, how can I help you?" The girl put her hands on her hips and looked at me with an annoyed expression.

"You are to talk with the king and my father. That is what was decided after I was taken from the hall, yes?" She seemed upset and I suppose she was because she wasn't there when it was decided. But I knew how to make it better.

"Are you not invited?" She frowned. "Then I invite you my betrothed to attend this meeting with me. What say you?" I could see the happiness blossom onto her face as she quickly hugged me and I laughed. "Are we allowed to break our fast before or not?"

She looked up at me. "It will be served in father's solar." I nodded and stepped away from the girl before beginning to walk down the hall with her. The Hound follows along a few paces behind.

"Hound did I miss anything after I retired last night?" I asked looking back towards the man.

"Nothing of importance you little shit… but the trout woman left to comfort the other little wolf and Stark had to talk down the bastard and the other boys from doing or saying anything to you." I scoff and Arya was shocked it seemed. "They thought that you were being forced or he may have harmed you in the training yard." The man cracked a nasty smile. "Stark put them in their place real quick and said they could speak to you at this meeting were heading to." That made me stop and look back at the man and he showed no weakness at my look.

"Thank you for the heads up you dog. Leave us and go train. You'll need it before I come down and knock you on your ass." The scared man didn't hesitate to leave us and we continued on.

Arya looked on as the man rounded the corner before looking back at me. "Can you really beat him?" Looking down at the girl I snorted.

"Not even close. He'll trouse me but I will fight my hardest and learn from it."

"And you allow him to speak to you like that?" I nod. "Is he a lord?"

"He's the second son of a house and he has little to nothing to do with. But he's been my guard for some time and I find I enjoy his humor and wit. You will find many that don't follow the norm. You should get along with some of them but still, remember that you are a lady of house Stark and may at times need to put on an act that you do not wish to."

"You said I could be a knight and be myself."

"Do you remember when I spoke of Brieanne of Tarth?" She nodded. "She is the only heir to House Tarth so she must act like a lady at times. Yet at the same time, she is a knight. She is a good example and you may just meet her one day. Kings Landing has many visitors after all." That got her to be quiet and think on it as we kept our course.

I at one point started to explain what occurred after she left the night before. She asked me about my mother. "You're mother, the queen doesn't seem to be nice." Putting a hand out I stop her.

"Well, I have to say some may believe that at first glance but I have to explain something to you for you to understand her a little more. Is that alright?" She nodded. We wouldn't be late as the door to the solar was just down the hall now. "You've seen my father the king?" She nodded… then she gasped. "You see. My mother is merely a mask to those that see her. She is hiding anger and resentment from a man who has both ruined and made her life miserable. She has been insulted and jaded for years and has had an awful life as queen. Maybe not the worst as the previous queen seemed to have had it worse but I digress. My mother loved a prince that was killed. She was married to a man who killed said prince and was in love with another that she would never replace in his heart. The same man who has slept with hundreds if not thousands of women. I have seen the man drink so much I worried he would become more wine than man. I have seen him gain weight and eat and waste money. But worst of all Arya I've seen him hurt my mother, hit her even and that is to me the worst." reach out and gently cup the girl's face. "You never hurt the one you are with ever. I promised my mother on multiple occasions that I would be better and I would marry a girl that had strength and reminded me of the strength she held. I grew up hearing tales of your aunt as well as my mother and truthfully they were not that different. Only my mother bent to the will of others and became a proper lady. They both wanted to fight and not be made to sew or knit or do boring girlish tasks. You can relate can't you?"

Arya stared into my eyes before she wiped at her own once and smiled at me. "I don't like your father." I shrug.

"Me neither I just play the game. My mother knows that and she loves me evermore for it."

"She loves a boy born from the man's seed she hates?"

"Mother loves me for who I am and doesn't see that man when she sees me. And I have tried to show her I'm not him. Luckily she has accepted that and is now my truest supporter." I take a breath. "I got kind of off topic but I spoke to my mother before about you and I told her I saw her in you, I didn't mention your aunt for obvious reasons." She nodded. "And I feel she will be more thoughtful of you. Just show her what I see and you should go far. Use your head and be yourself. You might upset her or something at some point but try to listen and do what you can and I feel that you will become allies or friends… and I prefer to have my queen and mother be on the same side."

Arya scrunched up her face in thought. "I'll do my best. Would you introduce us?" I raised an eyebrow only to receive a punch in the arm. "As in me to her as your betrothed you dummy."

"Of course I will but before that we have a meeting to attend." And without further ado I linked arms with her leaning down slightly to make it less awkward and walked down the hall and opened it.

AN: So this is kinda not the best but it's building to a long annoying talk and I really am not in the mood this week. I lost a grandfather this week and I'm dealing with it.

Just know that you guys are awesome and I wanted to say that I do read the reviews and I love them and am always open for questions and such. Just know that if you stick around after you review you might see me respond to what you wrote.

Hope you have a lovely weekend and good day. Bye till next time.