"No! You are not sending me to the South. Not while my little brother is still 'asleep' and may never wake again. Not while he's a cripple." Maya exclaimed at the table while breaking her fast with her father, sisters, and brothers…and Theon.
Her father closed his eyes and rubbed them like he was tired. "Maya-"
"No, I'm tired of you and mother deciding how I live my life," Maya said as she stood up abruptly. "No one decides my fate, but me."
She turned and left the room, ignoring her father's yells of her name. She stormed through the halls of the castle, her chocolate brown curls flying in the air as her heels clicked on the stone. She passed through the archway of the Great Hall when the queen called, "Lady Maya!"
She stopped and closed her eyes in frustration. She turned back around and put a polite smile on her face as she went inside the Great Hall. She mentally groaned and counted the blonde heads. Ser Jaime, the Queen, her youngest children, and Tyrion. At least Tyrion was there because if he wasn't she would feel like a lamb being thrown to the lions.
Maya gracefully curtsied in front of them and greeted, "My queen. Prince Tommen and Princess Myrcella. Tyrion…Ser Jaime."
"Have you eaten yet, little wolf," the queen questioned politely though if you would've heard closely you would hear the lies and fakeness in her voice.
Maya came closer as all eyes were pinned on her. "I was, but I kept thinking about my little brother."
"And what about your brother?"
She sighed. "That I could not protect him."
The queen gestured to the seat on the bench that Jaime was sitting on. "Come and break your fast with us."
Maya's mind protested greatly, but she knew she couldn't refuse the queen. Maya smiled politely and sat down on the right side of Jaime. A servant put a plate of fried eggs, blackened bacon, bread, and green grapes in front of her along with a goblet of mead. Maya picked up a grape and put it into her mouth, feeling very awkward right now because she had never broken her fast with anyone, but her family. It was weird.
"So, I hear from my husband that you are refusing to go to the South," Shit. "Why is that, little wolf?"
"I don't desire beautiful things like others," she answered. "I prefer to freeze to death than burn."
The queen smiled amusingly at her. "What an interesting way of putting it."
"I'm a very interesting person," she replied. "So Tyrion, I heard you're going to The Wall?"
Tyrion smirked. "Just to piss off the edge of the world."
Maya laughed softly while the queen glared at him and snapped, "Children don't need to hear your filth. Come."
The prince and princess followed their mother behind as they giggled. Maya noticed the children more closely. I guess the Lannister genes are stronger than anyone would've thought…that must explain why they're so cocky. Maya quickly ate all of her food, feeling awkward with Ser Jaime and wanting to get the hell out of there. The Lannister boys smiled at her; clearly amused and bewildered by her.
"You don't need to inhale your food, my lady, we won't take it," Tyrion mused.
Dear Gods, Robb is definitely my twin…well there goes that theory of me being adopted. She sighed and gulped it down. "I have somewhere I need to be."
"And where is that, my lady," Jaime questioned.
"Anywhere that isn't near you," she quipped. Tyrion laughed while Jaime smirked at her. Someday, I am going to wipe that smirk off your face with my fist, those words were on the tip of her tongue.
"You wound me," Ser Jaime said with fake sadness as he put his hand over his heart.
"Aww, what a wounded lion." She smirked. "Careful, Lannister, you're humanity is showing."
"You're now my favorite Stark," Tyrion praised.
"I'm everyone's favorite just ask my brother," Maya teased.
"Now you must come to the South with us," Tyrion said. "You have no choice, I need someone to laugh and understand my jokes."
"You'd have to pay me."
"Are we negotiating now?"
Maya thought about it for a moment then smiled sweetly and leaned in. "I guess we are. So what are you offering me to go?"
"All the gold you could ever dream of-"
"I dream of a lot of things," she shrugged. "But gold isn't one of them."
"I am the man of your dreams, aren't I," Jaime taunted.
She shook her head. "You Lannisters amuse me. I'm almost tempted to go just to see what will happen next."
They smiled charmingly at her and she held a finger up saying, "Almost. I said 'almost'."
"We'll win you over," Jaime said. "We always do."
"That's my cue to leave," Tyrion muttered, but they didn't hear or see him leave…they didn't see the satisfied face of Tyrion Lannister because his big brother was showing interest in someone other than their sister.
"You sound sure of yourself," she commented. "Cocky much?"
"Very much. Did you speak to your father yet?"
"Why?"
He shrugged. "Just wanted to know, that's all. I do hope that your brother gets better."
She looked in his eyes and saw that he didn't mean a word of it. She held back the anger, knowing that it wouldn't do her any good if she were to yell at him. She chuckled weakly. "Don't you know it's a sin to lie, ser?"
His smile fell and he had on a mask of impassiveness reach his face. "I'm not lying. I have no reason."
"Oh, you have plenty of reason to lie to me."
"What reasons are those, May?"
"One, DO NOT ever call me that again. Two, I'll find out what they are."
"Curiosity killed the cat," he teased.
"I know, but I'm a wolf…not a cat."
A moment of silence passed between them before Jaime replied, "Right…a She-Wolf."
She smiled and stood up. "Right then, I need to get back to my family before they've think that I've run away." She turned to leave, but suddenly, Jaime's hand shot out and gripped her wrist just like yesterday. She felt this unfamiliar spark go through her and she wondered if he felt it too. If he did then he hid it well because his face showed no reaction to it.
"The king has decided that you and I are to be married after all," Ser Jaime said softly, not looking at her.
She scoffed. "You already did that trick to me. Honestly, Lannister, you need to get some new tricks."
"This isn't a trick," he told her and he looked up into her eyes.
She glared down at him. "If that were true than my father would've told me."
"He probably would've told you if you didn't storm out of breakfast with him."
"I didn't storm." she protested.
Jaime gave her a look. "When I saw you walking past the door, I could've sworn I heard stomping."
"Stomping?!" She snapped angrily. "You want to see me stomp then open your legs and I'll give you some stomping."
"Calm down," he shot back, amusement gone. "You need to control that temper of yours which you are also known for besides of your beauty."
Maya pushed down the way her heartbeat quickened at his compliment. "You're lying to me."
"Am I?" He asked boldly. He pulled her down onto his lap, their faces just inches away from each other as he continued, "Use that power of yours and see if I'm lying."
No… She realized that he was indeed right after all. She finally noticed how green his eyes were. They resembled emeralds-pools of emeralds that you could look in them forever. Gods, they are so green and beautiful. That would explain why everyone kept on pushing her to go to the South…because they all knew that she was marrying Ser Jaime Lannister. "How," she whispered, "You're in the Kingsguard."
"The king released me from my vows, little wolf. Besides, I'm pretty sure that the king does not trust my family so why not marry The Kingslayer to his best friend's daughter as to ensure that nothing would happen. The Lannisters and Starks have never liked each other, let alone married one another."
She shook her head. "No, I'm pretty sure that there has been at least one marriage in over 300 years."
Jaime gave her a look and said, "I've been around longer. No love. No marriage."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, yippee." she said sarcastically.
"Yes, we'll be the first Lannister-Stark marriage. Maybe you'll fall for me."
She gave a rich laugh then it died out. Her face turned serious and grim reminding Jaime of her father. She looked deep into his eyes as she said, "Don't fall in love with me."
Jaime scoffed and gave her a nervous smile because he saw how sure she was of herself and the fact that she gave him a sad smile as she cupped his cheek. Jaime felt how soft her hands were and they were dainty too. Jaime looked more closely at the girl and realized just how fair she truly was. She had a smile that lit up a room, she had brown doe eyes, pearly white teeth, curvaceous body that drew every man in, and he was now starting to wonder what her body looked like underneath all those clothes.
Jaime felt guilt rise within him when he thought back to the tower with his sister and the boy. Jaime remembered when he was slamming into his sweet sister from behind when Maya's face came into his head. Her head was thrown back against the ground, brown curls sprawled out as she arched her back and pushed her breasts into his chest. She was in the throws of pleasure because she had trapped her bottom lip between her teeth. It was…well there were no words to describe it. Jaime hadn't had time to enjoy it because his sister had stopped him and was shouting about the boy.
"Ask your father if you don't believe me," Jaime said, shrugging.
She eyed him suspiciously. Then she opened her mouth to reply, but she felt his hand grip her hip and she fought against the urge to widen her eyes as she realized that she had been in his lap, practically straddling him the whole time that they had been arguing. Damn him, he's good…he has really nice eyes and that chest hair- wait, what?
She moved to get off of him, but he couldn't let her. She gave him a nervous smile as she lie, "You know I-I think that I heard my mother screeching from the other side of the castle. I should go to her."
"I didn't hear anything."
"Well, that's because you're old and your ears are filled with a bad case of ear wax." she quipped.
Jaime sighed dramatically and then let her go by loosening his grip on her hips. "Go on then-"
He didn't even get a chance to finish his sentence because she had pushed off of him and walked quickly out of the room. If someone had just walked in, they would've assumed that Jaime had told her something inappropriate and dirty which was why she left the hall quickly. Maya made her way out of the castle, trying to push away any thoughts concerning that man. She stopped in her tracks as she saw her father in the courtyard talking to Robb and Jon.
Maya glared at him, never in her life had she felt so much anger especially with her father, whom she loved so much. She remembered as a girl she used to call him, "Papa". Some thought that she was a commoner because of that. Maya strode up to them and glowered, "What is the real reason why I am marrying Jaime Lannister, huh?!"
"What?!" Both Jon and Robb exclaimed.
"You can't be serious to think that she's marrying the Kingslayer," Jon argued to their father, who looked tired and yet irritated, but surprised all at the same time.
"Jon's right. Father, you can't agree to this. There is a reason he's called, 'The Kingslayer'."
"And he's a Lannister," Maya jumped in.
"Enough!" her father said sternly. "I need to speak with your sister alone. Leave."
Her brothers obeyed their father and left, but not without giving her a look of…sympathy? Her father's face softened as he sighed. "I- the king wanted an ally with him against the Lannisters. He doesn't trust them nor the peace between our families. I didn't want this just like you did, but winter is coming."
She straightened up and suddenly almost most of questions about the marriage made sense to her now because of their words. "Winter is coming? Are you sure."
"Aye," he said. "I am. Robert convinced me that being a Lannister will protect you, same with Sansa except while you be Lady Lannister, she'll be the Queen. He's heir to Casterly Rock and he's handsome, you'll be provided for and safe. You'll see your brothers and-"
"You are a fool if you think that Jaime Lannister will let me see them again." She gave him a cruel smile. "No, I'll be kept nice and safe in his castle, breast feeding his children and managing the castle just like you and mother always wanted."
"I know you're angry, but I am still your father." He snapped. "They won't be just his children, but yours as well."
She shook her head. "No, no they'll be only his, not mine."
Her father looked at her like she was crazy. He doesn't understand. How could he? He fell in love with mother…she was a Tully and they didn't hate each other. She continued, "I don't want any of those things. No husband, no children. That's not me."
Maya turned away from her father and walked back into the castle to pack her things. She wasn't surprised that it had already been done for her. She locked her door. Her fingertips grazing the stone walls of her chambers as she let out a sigh. She somehow knew that this would be the last time she would ever be in her bedroom. Today was the day that they would be leaving for King's Landing. She wondered if her soon to be husband would let her keep her direwolf or would he have her killed. Maya smiled at her black direwolf whose name was Winter. She named the wolf, "Winter" because to her when winter came it was like darkness had taken over everything. It should've never been white because white was purity and innocence while black was the color of death. It was safe to say that out of all the direwolves hers was the most rebellious one and the most dangerous one.
Winter perked her head up, her grey eyes watching Maya's movement around the room as she lay on the bed. Maya turned to her and promised, "I won't let Lannister hurt you. Besides I know that even if he tried, you would tear him apart."
Winter howled proudly and then nuzzled herself back into the furs on the bed. She smiled at the wolf and went back to packing her things. A knock was heard at her door and she knitted her eyebrows in confusion as she went to open it. She scowled as she saw that it was Jaime.
"What do you want now?" she groaned.
Jaime smirked at her then pushed his way inside and she rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure why not just come right in," she said sarcastically.
Jaime glanced around the room before his eyes landed on Winter, who was lowly growling at him. She chuckled softly and mused, "Are you scared?"
Jaime gave a scoff then brushed off, "Of course not. I do hope you know that when we are married that thing will be probably locked up."
She crossed her arms over her chest and smirked. "Do you honestly think that will happen? I don't care if my wolf makes you sick with a fever, she'll still be roaming around, free of chains around her neck."
He rolled his eyes. "You Starks are a stubborn lot. I'm very ecstatic to know that I'll be having the opposite of a dutiful wife. And in exchange she'll have a wolf as large as a horse guarding her day and night."
"You even try to harm her and she'll rip you to shreds," she said proudly.
"Oh, so this is the direwolf I've been warned about. Winter, is it?" Jaime asked mockingly. "Yes, I know all about her. She'll be good to have around, I guess. Especially when the birds are shiting then we could just let her chase them."
Maya moved to Winter and stroked her fur as she said, "You're not touching her. If anything I feel safer with her than I do with you right now."
Jaime's face became impassive as he stepped closer to her, Winter growled at him, but he ignored it. She jutted her chin out defensibly as he said lowly, "Your wolf won't be the one to save you when rapers come knocking at your door just because you're the best looking thing there to fuck."
"She did once. Who's to say she can't do it again?" she replied just as impassively as he did.
Jaime slightly jerked back as he eyed her for truth. When he found that she wasn't lying, he was dumbfounded because you would expect someone as strong as her to become broken down in a second, but here she was still standing. Maya didn't dare to look away from him, knowing it was a sign of weakness. Yes, she had almost been raped, quite close to the point of the man's cock breaking her maidenhead. Winter had sniffed her out and tore the man to pieces. Maya remembered sitting in the raper's pool of blood hugging the wolf tightly as her father and brothers found her there with her dress torn to pieces. Ever since then all her father, brothers, and mother had done was tip toe around her. It really irritated her and now that she was being forced to marry this asshole.
"I'm-" Jaime started, but she put her hand up stopping him as she said, "Don't. Please just stop the whole fake sympathy act. I don't need your pity nor do I even want it."
"Believe me I know you don't need my pity," he said to her.
She eyed him curiously and then smirked. "Good. Because I would hate to have a husband who has his moon blood. That would be a very awkward situation."
She walked around him and to her bathing chambers. He couldn't help the twitch in his lips at her mocking words. "Did you just refer me to a woman? Have I not made you swoon yet?"
He heard her laugh then come back out with folded cloths in her arms. "Of course not, Ser Jaime," she mocked. "I need you, oh how I want you. My knight in shining armor, oh how I've come to love you so!"
He laughed as she raised an elegant eyebrow at him. He crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm here to escort my betrothed to the carriage."
"Uh-uh, I'm riding a horse not sitting on my ass in a stuffy carriage."
"You're very…"
"Passionate? Tempestuous? Wild? Be honest, I promise I won't cry."
"Oh, I'll tell you later when we are married so you don't get my head put on a spike."
She furrowed her eyebrows and stopped packing. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, come on. Are you that blind, May?"
She decided to ignore the nickname as she asked, "Tell me."
He sighed and then shook his head. "You seem to have every man here wrapped around your pretty little finger. My brother seems to think that you might be a sorceress or siren."
She scoffed. "If I did have every man wrapped around my pretty little finger then I would somehow have you not agree to this marriage. As you can see, I do not have you around my finger."
"Thank the Gods," Jaime muttered.
"Yes, thank them indeed because then you wouldn't be as fun as your cynical self."
He chuckled and replied, "Hurry up. We need to get back to King's Landing in time."
She nodded and then went back to packing her things. When Jaime didn't leave, she looked up and scoffed, "Run along now."
He smirked mischievously at her and then turned to leave her chambers. "You better be down in a few minutes or I'll put you over my shoulder and carry you out myself."
She glared at him and threw a pillow at him which he side stepped it laughing as he mocked, "You could've done better than that, little wolf."
What an ass…
TBC...
SO SORRY FOR THE OVERDO UPDATE…I REALLY HAD WRITER'S BLOCK FOR THIS STORY FOR SOME REASON! But I'm back so I really hoped you guys liked this chapter. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS, FOLLOWS, AND FAVORITES! I really enjoyed reading and seeing them. It made me smile and made my day to know that you guys are liking this story.
REVIEW. FOLLOW. FAVORITE. Until next time…