Chapter Five
TLR
"Good Morning, Clegane." Kailyah greeted, coming to a stop outside of her little brother's chambers, smiling sweetly up at his sworn shield. Clegane grunted, not buying her sweet Princess mask any more now than he had the day he gave Joffrey his vows, and Kailyah pouted for a moment. "Is he ready?"
"No."
"Still in bed?"
"Probably."
"And the servant who was to wake him and get him ready?"
"Fled his room an hour ago, crying."
"Of course." She sighed, going to run her fingers through her hair before remembering the sharp gold antler shaped hairpins woven into her braided half updo and lowering her hand back to her side with an annoyed frown. Sandor smirked slightly and she scowled up at him.
"Should probably handle that."
"Him or her?"
"If you don't handle him, you'll have a lot more crying little girls to deal with."
"Then who would you rescue?" Clegane just scowled at her, and Kailyah shrugged, stepping past him. "I'll handle it." She threw open the doors, walking over to open the curtains while calling out a cheerful "Good Morning!"
"Go away, Kailee." Joff groaned into his pillow, dragging his blankets over his head to block out the light.
"Sorry, love, you're late." Kailyah shook her head, dragging his blankets off of him before turning to his closet and sorting through his outfits.
"I don't want to go." Joffrey huffed as Kailyah selected an all black outfit with small gold details around the collar and wrists and a gold belt and sash.
"I know, but he was the Hand of the King. It is expected of you." Kailyah handed her brother his ensemble as he dragged himself out of bed and made her way to the mirror as he whined.
"You should see how he looked at me." Joffrey whined, walking behind a screen divider to change. Kailyah hummed, fixing her curls and smoothing out her long black skirt. Her dress was all black, with long, loose sleeves inlaid with shiny gold fabric similar to her Mothers signature style. She left her exposed shoulders and throat bare, the only jewelry she wore being a gold belt with a stag head centerpiece.
"How does he look at you? Sorry- did?" Joffrey snorted lightly at her misstep, and stepped out from behind the screen, dressed and ready.
"Like I was wrong."
"Wrong?"
"It's been- he's been cold to me, especially recently. He was always lecturing me, bothering me, trying to make me like Stark-"
"Mm, his greatest triumph."
"Father was his greatest triumph. He's the King." Joffrey insisted, sitting at his vanity and letting his sister walk over and start fussing with his hair.
"And Ned Stark is everything he wants Father to be. Just, strong, sober. Fathers only ever accomplished one of those things."
"But he's the King!"
"The only reason Father is the King is because Ned didn't take the Throne after Uncle Jaime killed King Aerys."
"But Father won the war-"
"Father and Stark won the war." Joffrey turned to look at her with his eyebrows furrowed, and Kailyah smiled, kissing the crown of his head. "They fought together, they commanded their troops together, they led war councils together, they brought in ally's together. Father started a war for Lyanna Stark. Lord Stark started a war for his sister. And when they took Kings Landing, Lord Stark named Father his King, and he left to find his sister."
"Why would he do that? Why would he give up Seven Kingdoms?"
"Ned Stark was the second born son of the Starks, their heir was his brother, Brandon. He lost his brother and his father in one fell swoop, and he had the largest Kingdom in Westeros dropped in his lap. For a boy with no aspirations beyond knighthood and a holdfast, that's a lot. He decided he'd rather rule one Kingdom than Seven, and by all reports, he's content with that. But Father hates the crown, he would have happily handed it off to Stark to be the Lord of the Stormlands. Or he might've sailed off to Essos, like he's always whining about."
"I don't understand."
"Don't understand what, darling?"
"I don't understand why he's not happy. He's the most powerful man in Westeros."
"Power doesn't mean happiness, Joff. To him, the crown wasn't worth all they lost to get it. Would you be happy to be King if it meant That Father and Jasper had died?"
"I suppose not." Joffrey said after a moment, and Kailyah hid a small smile. Her little brother lacked something that made him care about other people, but he cared about his parents, his brother, and her. That was more than he had before. "I think I would like to be King though."
"The crown is heavier than it looks, love. Seven Kingdoms is a lot to carry."
"Do you think I could do it? Be a good King?" Joffrey asked, turning to meet her eyes.
"I think you have every ability to be a good King." Kailyah said carefully, but Joffrey didn't notice her wording, smiling happily before deflating slightly.
"Jon Arryn didn't."
"Jon Arryn sees a lot of our Father in you."
"I don't look like him." Joffrey said, turning back to his reflection as he stood and smoothed out his tunic and adjusted his sash. "Arryn kept saying that, how much I look like Mother. Jasper does too, but at least he has Fathers eyes. You have his coloring."
"You act like him sometimes." Joffrey frowned, taking her arm as they left his room, ignoring Sandor as he fell into place behind them. "You love to hunt, like him. You're very sure of yourself, you're getting tall, and strong. Unfortunately you may have inherited his temper too." Sandor made an unfortunate sound behind them, and Kailyah continued before her brother could take offense. "Arryn loved Father, but he's spent almost twenty years cleaning up his messes and running his Kingdom for him. He's seen the best parts of Father, and the worst. And he sees Father in you."
"I suppose." Joffrey sighed. "I still don't see why we have to go to his funeral."
"It is expected of us We will attend, pray to the Seven for his soul, and prepare for the journey North."
"What will praying to the Seven do?" Joffrey scoffed, shaking his head. He had little faith in the Gods, he'd never cared for them, but his conviction that the Seven were merciless, Kailyah blamed on their Mother. Kailyah had seen the Raven, had seen the future, so she did believe that anything could be possible. But she did believe that if Gods existed, they must not care about them at all. King's Landing burned, her family died, the Starks died, Westeros starved and froze and burned. If there were Gods, they had no care for their souls, or their suffering.
"Nothing. But it's important to be seen, caring, praying, and paying attention. You don't spend a lot of time at court, not yet, so the people of King's Landing, and our Lords and Ladies, don't know much about you. Public appearances are important because you get to portray how you are seen, and people talk. You are your brother's heir until he has a son, and you will likely inherit the Stormlands or the Westerlands, or even Dragonstone if our Uncles have no sons. Or you can stay in King's Landing, as a knight or a politician, perhaps get a place on the Small Council. Either way, public opinion matters-"
"Because people talk, and they outnumber us fifty to one." Joffrey quoted.
"Do you think of nothing but politics, sister?" Jasper asked as they reached him where he knelt, adjusting Tommen's tunic to fix the wrinkles he'd managed to accumulate since escaping his Septa.
"Well, now I'm thinking of how much I'm dreading our trip North."
"You said it will be fun to see new places." Tommen accused, pouting up at her.
"It will, but spending a month riding in a carriage with a dozen Ladies I can't stand will not be." Kailyah leaned down, kissing his cheek and fixing his hair. "Good morning, love."
"Morning, Kailee." Tommen greeted, before turning to his brothers. "Can I ride with you? I don't like the carriage, Mothers ladies in waiting keep trying to pinch my cheeks."
"When you're a little older, Tommy." Jasper promised, trying not to laugh while Joffrey snickered. "I'll make sure we bring your pony North with us, it'll give you a break from the wheelhouse, and you'll have more space to practice riding."
"Okay!" Tommen agreed easily, and Kailyah smiled, taking his hand.
"Come on, love, we don't want to be late." Before they left, Kailyah turned to her twin, lowering her voice to make sure their Mother wouldn't hear. "Make sure they bring mine too." Jasper just winked at her, and Kailyah turned with Tommen, helping him into the wheelhouse and sitting down next to Marcella. "Good morning Mother, 'Cella."
"Good morning, my loves." Cersei greeted, kissing her youngests cheek while Kailyah wrapped an arm around her sister.
"Are you ready for our trip, Kailee?"
"Almost, I've had to order some warmer clothes. It's summer still, but it's much colder in Winterfell."
"I didn't think about that." Marcella realized, frowning slightly.
"I've already ordered you some warmer clothes, sweetling. And a few other things." Mother promised, and Marcella lit up.
"New dresses?!"
"New dresses."
TLR
"If you keep glaring, you'll set him on fire." Kailyah whispered, and Jasper huffed slightly, not turning his glare away from Baelish. She'd told him who was Jon Arryn's death, and he'd been seething since, desperate for the weasel like man to be punished but unable to do a thing without proof.
"Good, let him burn."
"We're in public, Jas."
"It's never been a secret that I'm not fond of him."
"Yes, but you don't usually look at him like you want him to be beheaded." Jasper finally sighed, turning away from Baelish, and Kailyah's hand tightened slightly on his bicep in support as they reached the dias where Jon Arryn laid dead, skin yellowed slightly, dressed in his finest with two stones laid over his eyes, brown eyes painted on top.
"He's just standing there, pretending to mourn. He hated Jon, and Jon hated him, and he killed the only reason the Seven Kingdoms are still standing." Jasper whispered, staring down at his mentor.
"He was a good Hand, who served a bad King in a rotten Kingdom."
"He was a good man. He taught me how to be a King, and he'll never get to see it."
"He will. He may not be here, but he will be watching, and he'll be proud. Even more than he already was." Jasper was silent for a few moments, before turning to his sister.
"You never spent much time with him."
"Jon Arryn was a good man, brother, but he saw women the same way as the other Lords, as pretty things and future mothers to be married off for alliances. He was far more concerned with ensuring that the next King would be a good one, and he did well." Jasper nodded slowly, turning back to the dias.
"Can I have a moment alone with him?"
"Of course." Kailyah kissed her twins cheek before making her way towards Lysa Arryn, who clutched her son close while whispering quietly to Petyr Baelish. "Lord Baelish, Lady Lysa."
"Princess." Petyr bowed slightly, and Lysa curtsied, clutching her son closer to herself. "Excuse me. Again, my sincerest apologies for your loss, my Lady."
"Thank you, Petyr." Lysa smiled, her eyes following the man as he walked around the Sept, greeting the other Lords and Ladies, before turning beady blue eyes back to Kailyah.
"I am so sorry for your loss, my Lady. Jon Arryn was a good man, the Realm will miss him dearly."
"Thank you, Princess." Lysa offered her a tight smile, and Kailyah returned it, before kneeling to meet her six year old son's eyes as he played with a small carved bird toy at her feet. He was pale, as usual, with his dark hair mussed and his Tully blue eyes red rimmed, a mullish frown on his face. The boy had had two screaming tantrums at Jon Arryn's funeral service, demanding that his Father wake up immediately, and then demanding to go home. Lysa had done little to stop it beyond pulling down her dress to let him breastfeed and cooing over her distraught 'sweetrobin'. Tommen and Marcella had stared at the spectacle, wide eyed, before Mother had quietly turned them away while Kailyah hushed Joffrey's mutterings of 'whiny brats'.
"Hello, Robin. I'm very sorry about your Father. How are you fairing?"
"Father was always busy before, with your brother. He never had time for me."
"Yes, being Hand of the King is a busy job, as is being the Lord of the Vale. It will keep you busy as well someday."
"We have a moon door in the Eyrie! I can't wait to make people fly."
"Yes, darling, any bad man you like will face the moon door." Lysa assured, and Kailyahs eyebrow arched incredulously.
"After a proper trial, I hope." Jasper drawled, approaching quietly and helping his twin to her feet.
"Of course, my Prince." Lysa assured, pulling her son to his feet despite his whining. "If you'll excuse me, I need to speak to Lord Baelish. He is going to help me go over the Eyrie's finances."
"Of course, my Lady. Please tell me if there is anything I can to help." Lysa curtsied, whispering for Robin to bow, which he'd did after he'd felt he'd pouted enough, before they made their way over to Baelish. Jasper and Kailyah watched them, seeing Lysa not spare her husband a glance as she passed him, instead smiling adoringly at Petyr as Robin rushed forward to embrace him. "I want him to suffer." Jasper decided, watching Baelish take Lysa's arm as they left the Sept.
"He's planning to go North with us." Kailyah said after a moment, and Jasper turned to her, arching an eyebrow.
"Why? Everyone knows he hates the Starks."
"To see the one thing he wants more than the Throne. Catelynn Stark." Jasper paused, turning to her with a cruel little smirk setting across his face, making him look remarkably like Joffrey.
"Unfortunately sister, I think Lord Baelish will be far too busy to make the trip. There's work to be done, after all, we have to prepare for the new hand."
"Yes, I think a full report of the Crown's debt and a payment plan will be a good start."
"As well as any urgent requests from our Lords, of course. We wouldn't want to neglect them."
"Perhaps we should have him make a list of the Crown's expenses as well, we should see if we can cut our costs."
"And buy what we can locally, we must support our smallfolk, after all."
"That should keep him busy for a few months."
"Far too busy to ride North."
TLR
"Kailee?" Kailyah's eyes opened blearily as her door creaked open, and she pushed herself up onto her elbows as Tommen peaked his head around the guard holding the door open for him. A glance outside showed it was still dark, so she shifted over, lifting up her blankets. Tommen rushed over, his crimson blanket dragging behind him as his bare feet padded along the stone floor, and he quickly crawled into bed next to his sister, curling into her. Kailyah wrapped an arm around him, fingers carding through his hair.
"Did you have a nightmare, sweetling?" She whispered, kissing the top of his head, and Tommen nodded, hiding his face against her shoulder.
"I dreamed that I'd died, like Lord Arryn." Tommen whispered, not noticing how Kailyah's whole body stiffened. "I was- I was on the dias, just like him, with the stones over my eyes. Why do they do that? Paint the stones?"
"It's symbolic, love, it reminds us that we should not fear death. Our eyes may close in this life, but they open again in the afterlife." Tommen stayed silent, and Kailyah kissed his hair once more. "Did it scare you, the funeral?"
"I don't want to die, Kailee." Tommen whispered.
"You won't. Not for a very, very long time." Kailyah promised, tilting his chin up to meet her eyes. "I would never let anything hurt you, little brother. Not if I can help it."
"I know, Kailee. I'm safe with you."
"Always."
TLR
"Uncle Tyrion!" Marcella and Tommen shouted at the same time, releasing Kailyah's hands to rush at their uncle, who turned away from Jasper to greet them.
"Ah! Look at the two of you! Darling, you grow more beautiful every day." Tyrion kissed Marcella's cheek before turning to his nephew. "And look at you!'re going to be bigger than the hound someday! But much better looking." Tommen giggled quietly, glancing around for the man, but he was out with Joffrey, who'd never care much about his uncles.
"I didn't know you were joining us, Uncle." Kailyah lied as she reached him, kneeling to kiss her uncle's cheek.
"I wasn't going to miss this. As much as I've traveled, I've never seen Winterfell, and I intend to travel even farther North to see the wall."
"I want to go!" Jasper said immediately, and Tyrion chuckled, patting his hand.
"Do you despise me so, nephew? As if I would survive stealing away the Queen's son." Jasper pouted for a moment before turning to scowl petulantly at his twin.
"Why couldn't you have been a boy, Kai?"
"I tried to absorb you in the womb but it didn't work." Kailyah deadpanned, and Marcella giggled while Tommen tugged at Tyrion's hand, asking him what that meant and if that could really happen.
"I'd have made a great second son!"
"You'd disappear into a library and we'd never see you again."
"I'd come visit!" Kailyah just shook her head at him, turning back to her Uncle.
"We're going to eat before we ride out, Uncle. Care to join us?"
"I am a bit tired from my journey, but before I go, I did bring a few souvenirs from the island."
"Presents?" Marcella, Tommen and Jasper perked up immediately, and Tyrion smiled, turning back to his carriage and pulling the curtain back, pulling a few things towards the edge.
"For the crown prince-'' Jasper wrinkled his nose at the title and Tyrion chuckled. "A tome on the building of Dragonstone and their attempts to make it livable. I read it myself and it was quite interesting, it describes them attempting to farm and raise different food and animals, why they believed it failed, and how they built themselves from the ground up and began trade with the other seven kingdoms." Jaspers eyes lit with interest and he eagerly took the tome from his Uncle, thanking him quickly and opening it to the first page immediately.
"For my youngest nephew-" Tyrion pulled out a small wooden crate, setting it down in front of Tommen, who knelt and pulled the lid open, lighting up as he found a small fleet of finely crafted wooden ships.
"Thank you Uncle Tyrion!"
"You're very welcome. They are coated in a lacquer, so if you take them into the water with you, they'll float."
"Like a real ship!"
"Exactly." Tyrion ruffled his nephew's hair before turning back into the carriage, pulling out two small boxes. "And for the two most beautiful girls in the realm- not only is Dragonstone abundant in gemstones-" Kailyah and Marcella opened their wooden boxes, finding a beautiful garnet stone on a golden chain- "but underneath the castle are mines filled with obsidian- or dragon glass, as the Targeryans called it." Kailyah picked up the necklace before opening the folds of red silk, eyebrows arching up as she found two elaborately decorated obsidian daggers, its hilt gold coated and studded with gemstones.
"Pretty!" Marcella gasped immediately, and Tyrion leant over her, pointing out different carvings as Kailyah elbowed her brother once, then twice when he didn't look up from his book.
"Huh- what?" Jasper asked, blinking at her guilessly, and Kailyah nodded down at her gift. Jasper stared down at it for a moment, before meeting her gaze once again, confused. "They're… pretty?" Kailyah desperately tried not to roll her eyes.
"They're dragonglass,"
"Oh. Oh." Jasper's eyes lit with realization, and he stepped closer, picking one up and examining it. "I haven't seen an obsidian blade before."
"They're not common, it takes a skilled craftsmen to forge them. The stone itself is fragile, which is why it's not often used." Tyrion turned back to the wheelhouse, pulling out one last small wooden box and handing it to Kailyah. "Track down your brother for me dear. I know he prefers his crossbow, but I hope these obsidian arrowheads will suffice.
"Thank you Uncle, I'm sure Joffrey will love them."
"Perhaps I'll even get a thank you." Tyrion patted her hand before stepping away. "Please excuse me, I think I'll rest before our journey."
"As much as I'm dreading a month-long ride to Winterfell, I imagine doing it after a week at sea is even worse." Jasper hummed, turning back to his book.
"Just another reason not to run away to Essos."
"Still worth it."
TLR
"Do you like it, Kailee?" Kailyah glanced up from the tome Tyrion had gifted Jasper, leaning over to examine her sister's embroidery.
"It's lovely, Cella. Who are you making it for?" Kailyah asked, examining the golden lion embroidered onto a crimson silk handkerchief.
"Grandfather. Do you think he'll like it?" Marcella asked, turning to her Mother, who smiled, running a gentle hand over her youngest daughter's golden locks.
"Of course he will, sweetling." Cersei smiled, before her eyes slowly trailed out the window, going distant once more as he stared out at the Riverlands. There was a shout outside, and the wheelhouse lurched suddenly to a stop. Kailyah quickly wrapped an arm around her sleeping brother, keeping him from toppling off her side onto the wheelhouse floor.
"Are we there yet?" Tommen yawned, sitting up slowly and rubbing his eyes.
"Not yet, Tommy."
"Why'd we stop?" Marcella asked, peeking out the window before lighting up. "Uncle Jaime!"
"Princess." Jaime nodded awkwardly before turning his eyes to Kailyah. "The King requests you ride with him-"
"Lya- Kailyah!" Her Fathers voice shouted from outside. "Come out of there, wild girls don't need to sit in a damned wheelhouse!" Her Mothers eyes focused in an instant, her plump lips pursing in fury before her daughter caught her hand, squeezing slightly and meeting her eyes, wordlessly promising that she was okay.
"Can I go too, Kailee?" Tommen asked, tugging on her sleeve.
"Tomorrow, sweetling, when Fathers more sober." Kailyah ruffled his hair before setting her book down and rising to her feet, brushing down her skirts.
"Do you need a moment to change, Kai?" Jaime asked, and she shook her head, moving her skirts slightly, revealing the several slits in the fabric from the button to her hips, and the warm leather leggings she wore underneath.
"No, I'm ready." Jaime nodded, offering her his hand, and KAilyah took it, letting him pull her up onto the back of his horse before riding towards the front, where her brothers and Father were waiting, and a stable boy held her black haired horse by its reins, saddled and ready.
"Thank you Adam." Kailyah smiled at the stableboy, one of her people, before easily switching from her Uncle's horse to her own as her Father ranted about being 'surrounded by golden haired shits'.
"Look at this, girl, I haven't been here since the Ironborn Rebellion. Squashed those shits, didn't we? Sent them back to their Drowned Gods. When was that, Barristan?"
"Nine years ago, Your Grace."
"Nine Years? Nine years since I've seen hide or hair of a Stark, how about that?" Her Fathers eyes went distant and sad, and Kailyah shared a look with her twin. "I'll see one of my children wed a Stark before I leave this world." He murmured.
"Why, Father?" Joffrey asked, snapping him out of it, and Kailyah jumped in as she noticed her Fathers face turning purple with rage.
"I'm curious too, Father. I know you and the Starrks are friends, but isn't the point of marriage to gain allies? The Starks are already loyal."
"I have five children, the other Kingdoms can assure me of their loyalty when I deem it time. Those shit's dont deserve my children, none of them." Robert scoffed. "The Starks and the Vale are the only Houses that ever supported my reign. Ned fought with me- he was my brother, the only one I ever loved." Jasper's mouth tightened at the disrespect to Renly, his favorite Uncle (on par with Tyrion), but he knew better than to respond. "And Jon Arryn refused to sell us back to the mad King to burn, just as he'd burned Ned's brother and Father. That man raised us, followed us into war. I was planning to give him Marcella for Robin, when they were old enough. These other shits- they deserve nothing. They all waited until they knew who was going to win to risk their hides- the Tyrells laid siege to Storm's End- starved my brothers for months. Dorne refused to risk their sister's life- for all the good it did her-" Ser Barristons and Jaimes hands tightened on their reigns. "-nevermind that Ned was fighting to save his. The Lannisters waited til the end to save their skin. They deserve no little bit of what I fought for." Robert took a swig of ale, before his hazy blue eyes fell on his daughter. "Did I tell you how I won the war?"
"No, Father."
"I met him, here at the trident. We'd been fighting for months, and it all led us here. The Battle of the Trident, the end of our war. Aerys had sent another 10,000 Dornishmen to his son, we finally convinced him we weren't boys playing at a war when we won the Battle of the Bells. Lyn Corbray was able to break the Dornishman's line- they were attacking our left flank. He killed Lewyn Martell, earned himself a knighthood then and there. A hundred men made a name for themselves in that battle, boys became men, men became knights. I saw none of it- I met Rhegar on horseback on the river. I'll say one thing about the bastard, he was good with a sword. One of the best in the land, he was the only one who'd been able to injure me to the point where I couldn't march. It didn't save him when I drove my hammer into his chest, so hard I knocked the damn rubies out of his armor, Gods, I was strong then." Robert cackled, before his face hardened into something severe. "I should've kept him alive, Let him rot in the black cells for the rest of his miserable life. He made sure when he left this world, he took her with him. More wine!" He shouted, and Lancel rode forward clumsily, practically falling off his horse in his haste to pour the King more wine.
"Now he has her in the afterlife." He muttered. Joffrey opened his mouth to speak, and Jasper caught his eye, shaking his head. Joffrey's mouth closed silently, and Jasper reached out, catching his reins to slow their horses and falling back slightly to talk with him privately. "And for all I fought for, for everyone that died, all I got was a bloody crown."
'The most beautiful woman in all of Westeros. Five children. Seven Kingdoms. And none of it measures up to her.'
TLR
"Kailee!" A voice hissed, and Kailyah paused her conversation with her Uncle Jaime, glancing up and arching an eyebrow when she found her twin, the crown Prince of Westeros, lounging on top of a pile of hay on a wagon, dragged along by two tired looking donkeys.
"What in the seven hells are you doing?"
"If I have to hear Father moan over the Starks one last time, I will remove his head from his body."
"He'll be even worse in Winterfell, you know that. And Mother will be furious if you arrive at Moat Cailin with hay in your hair."
"I'm hiding as long as I can. Get my book from the wheelhouse for me?" Kailyah arched an eyebrow incredulously. "Please?"
"Give me a moment." She sighed, pushing her horse forward until she reached the royal wheelhouse, reaching forward and opening the window.
"Hello Mother. Can you hand me Jasper's book please?" Kailyah asked, smiling slightly at the sight of her three younger siblings all fast asleep, sprawled across the benches and leaning against windows.
"If you want to read, you can come inside, sweetling."
"It's not for me, Mother. Jasper asked me to get it."
"Your brother knows how I feel about him reading while he rides. He almost rode off a cliff two days ago."
"He found Uncle Tyrion napping on top of the hay wagon and decided to join him."
"Of course he did." Mother sighed, lips lifting slightly at her son's antics. "Alright."
"Thank you Mother." Kailyah took the tome from her and turned around, riding back towards her brother's wagon and handing it to him.
"Thank you sister. I'll name my firstborn after you, I swear it!" Jasper beamed, flipping to his last page immediately.
"Didn't you tell Jaime the same thing last week when he brought you a flaggin of wine?"
"And Loras a month ago when he knocked the lad asking for Kailyah's hand into the dirt." Jaime chuckled.
"And me on his name day when I sent Jenna to his rooms." Tyrio yawned, sitting up slowly.
"Jenna?" Kailyah asked with an arched eyebrow.
"She has a talent for first timers." Tyrion chuckled, and Jasper smiled dreamily.
"Not bad with second timers either."
"You're disgusting." Kailyah rolled her eyes at the two of them as they chuckled, before handing the reins off to Jaime and turning to sit sideways on her horse, pushing off the stirrup to step up onto the edge of the wagon. Jasper caught her hand, pulling her the rest of the way on. "Move over, there is no room left in the wheelhouse." Jasper moved over easily, and Kailyah laid down, thanking Jaime as he removed his cape and handed it over for her to use as a blanket, wrapping it around herself and pillowing her head on her arms. She closed her eyes as she listened to Jasper and Tyrion debate over something in his book, the gentle swaying of the wagon lulling her to sleep. Everything was okay for the time being. She should rest while she still could.
TLR
"Kailyah." Kailyah finished adjusting Pepper's saddle as the guards hovering nearby bowed to the Queen. Cersei strode towards her twins, decked in red and gold, with a beautiful white pelt strewn over her shoulders to fight the cold.
"Mother." The twins greeted in unison, stepping forward together to kiss her cheek. Cersei allowed a small smile, but it was more genuine than any other Kailyah had seen since they had traveled North from King's Landing, almost a month ago.
"Kailyah, I would prefer you rode in the carriage, darling." Cersei murmured, reaching out to adjust the gold fastening on her daughter's obsidian cloak.
"Mother, I adore you, but if I have to ride one more mile with our 'ladies of court' I will throw myself out the carriage window." Kailyah deadpanned, making Jasper laugh, turning away to try to hide it. Cersei shot him a look and he straightened, giving her a sheepish smile. Cersei shook her head fondly, turning back to her daughter.
"A horse is no place for a princess, Kailyah."
"I've spent half this journey on horseback, Mother. Besides, if father has his way, I won't be much longer."
"Kailyah-"
"We are not leaving you here." Jasper huffed, glaring at the distant walls of Winterfell as if they were sending an army to take her now.
"We all know that Father is pushing for an engagement with the North. He will continue to push when we return home. If he marries me off to Robb, I need to show them that I am not Fathers delicate little doe. I am strong."
"You are a lion, my love." Cersei ran gentle fingers down her daughter's cheek, tracing her features and seeing so much of herself in her. "I will not leave you here."
"I know, Mother." Kailyah smiled, leaning into her Mothers touch for a moment. "Just in case."
"Very well." Cersei stepped forward, kissing her daughter's forehead and pulling her long raven braid over her shoulder, admiring the small gold accents woven through her hair. "Stay with your brother and your Uncle, please."
"Of course Mother, we'll keep the little Princess safe." Jasper grinned tauntingly at his sister, who glared, kicking him in the shin swiftly and stalking past him towards her horse, smiling when her favorite Uncle helped her up into the saddle. Cersei watched her brother for a moment before turning back to her son.
"Stay close to your sister in Winterfell, my son."
"Kailyah can defend herself, Mother."
"The wolves of Winterfell are wild, and unpredictable. They are dangerous. Please." Jasper's stormy blue eyes softened.
"Of course." Cersei's lips quirked up, and she kissed her son's cheek before turning back to her carriage as Robert shouted about leaving them all behind for the thousandth time. Jasper climbed on his horse, quickly catching up to his sister and Uncle, who were riding at the front ahead of the King and the poor creature carrying him. He ignored his Father, still drunk and shouting war stories and moaning over the whores of Wintertown.
"Perhaps his horse will finally give out and we can leave him behind." Jasper muttered, making his Uncle chuckle.
"More likely his guards will have to carry him the whole way."
"It's nice to dream though." Kailyah smiled tiredly, and Jasper reached over, tugging slightly on her braid. Kailyah offered him a small smile, silently promising that she was okay, just tired. Their Father had gotten worse as they got farther North, practically shoving stories of 'his Lyanna' down her throat while spurning their Mother again and again. Jasper had taken to hiding away with Tyrion, but Robert barely let Kailyah out of his sight, so she was forced to endure, much like Jaime. They made their way towards Winterfell, the whole contingent coming to a stop when Robert had a fit about Joffery still riding in the carriage with his Mother. While a guard prepared a horse for Joffrey and their parents screamed at each other, Kailyah sighed, reaching for her braid and undoing it, letting her long raven curls fall around her shoulders.
"Trying to impress someone, sister?"
"Who better to impress, brother? But the wolves Father wants to throw me too."
"Should the wolves try to bite, they will find a pack of lions waiting." Jaime offered her a small smile. "You look lovely, princess."
"Thank you Uncle Jaime." She grinned as he scooped up her hand, kissing her knuckles before riding toward the other Kingsguard. All of them were to enter Winterfell with their King. Allowed a moment of privacy, the princesses smile faded as she turned back to face Winterfell.
"So this is where it starts?" Jasper asked, glancing at her. Kailyah nodded.
"The end of everything."