Chapter 3

NED

The castle of Harrenhall was a sight to behold. It was without a question the biggest one he had ever been in. He wished he could have seen it in its proper glory before dragon fire rained on it. What he saw in front of him wasn't less glorious either. Every inch of the castle was decorated and there were just so many people. Robert had already found himself a tavern wench and disappeared, leaving him alone. He made his way towards the part of the castle were the northern houses had put up their tents to see if his family had arrived yet. There was a feast organized to welcome everyone to the tourney and he hoped his family wouldn't miss that.

His family made it just in time. Brandon joked that he rode his horse so fast that the poor thing almost died just so that he could dance with the fair maidens. Ned entered the main hall for the feast with his family dressed in Stark clothes and took their place. The feast itself was spectacular. Wine flowed like it was water, people danced like there was no tomorrow and the food was incredible. He watched people dancing and realized how easily he could identify the kingdom to which they belonged. It was fairly easy, those who wore the most revealing clothes were from Dorne, those who wore more gold and acted all high and mighty were from the Westerlands and those who dressed plainly and were mostly sitting in their seats and eating like they hadn't seen food before were the Northerners.

He was enjoying his food and continuing to play his silent guessing game while also making little conversations with his family when his dark grey eyes found the most beautiful ones he had ever seen. Seated on the Royal family table he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She had a natural beauty to herself unlike any other he had ever seen. There was something in her eyes, perhaps it was the unusual purple color, that he couldn't stop staring at them.

"So, you have found the Dornish beauty, I see," said Robert who came out of nowhere and sat next to him.

"Who is she?"

"Ashara Dayne, the beauty of Starfall, of course," said Brandon turning towards them, "Ned I live in the north away from all the gossip of the south yet I still know about her. How have you not heard of her?"

"She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he replied.

"Wow, this is the first woman I have ever seen that made honorable Ned Stark's cock hard. Go ask her for a dance," said Robert.

"No, I can't do that. Women like her never end up with men like me."

"Where would she find a man as brave and honorable as you? Go ask her. What have you got to lose?" said Brandon.

"No, stop it. Let's talk about something else."

"If you're not going to ask her then I will," said Brandon and started walking towards Lady Ashara. Ned tried to stop him but he kept on walking. He could only watch as Brandon bow before her and started talking to her. He couldn't help but be jealous of Brandon's confidence to just start talking to any lady. Brandon suddenly pointed towards him and Ashara looked directly at him. She then nodded her head and started coming straight towards him. He froze in his place and couldn't move and soon she was standing in front of him.

"My lord, I was wondering if I could have this dance?" she asked in the most beautiful voice. He looked at her like he had seen a white walker. Robert kicked him underneath the table and he broke out of his trance. "Yes, my lady."

He doesn't know from where he got the courage because he was as scared as he had ever been but somehow he offered her his hand and took her to the dance floor where other couples were dancing. Some southern song he didn't recognize was playing. He was awkward and didn't exactly dance to the rhythm but she helped him and led the dance in a way that made it easier for him. She told him about her home, her brother and the Red Keep. She also asked him a bunch of stuff. He told her about the North, Winterfell, Lord Arryn and the Vale.

As the song was about to end, he didn't want to let go of her. He tried to think of what to ask her. Another dance? But they just danced. A walk? But they had to eat dinner. He must have taken too long because the song ended and another one was about to begin. A romantic one. Time was running out and he finally settled on asking to show her around the grounds tomorrow. Just as he was about to speak, somebody tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to see it was a blonde boy. He was taller than Ned but he could tell from his face that he was younger.

"Can I cut in, my lord?" he asked already moving in between them like he already knew that he was going to say yes. "Aye," he replied against his instincts.

"My lady" he bowed and extended his hand for her to take it."

"Ser Jaime" she replied with a curtsey and they began slowly dancing. He slowly made his way back to his chair. He kept waiting for an opportunity to find Ashara alone and ask her to go with him to the tourney tomorrow but 'Ser Jaime' never left her side. After their dance was over, he sat next to her on her table.

"The lion stole your meat Ned?" asked Robert and laughed.

"Lion?"

"Gods! Do you know anybody? That man you have been staring at all night is Jaime Lannister. Son of Tywin Lannister the golden cunt" answered Robert.

Ned Stark had never had a conversation with Jaime Lannister but at that moment he hated him more than he had hated anybody in his life. His honor told him to not be angry at somebody he didn't completely know but at that moment he couldn't control his rage. He may not know a lot about the ladies but he surely knew men like Jaime Lannister who were born with a golden spoon in their mouth. He believed that Jaime Lannister didn't care about Lady Ashara, he just wanted to bed her and then move onto another lady. He, on the other hand, would care just about her, he would treat her with the respect she deserved and would only love her. But it was all in vain because he knew that he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. He went to bed drunk and sad and dreamed of the fair maiden with haunting purple eyes.

JOANNA

She could see her husband through the small holes in her wheelhouse. He was standing tall and proud like always, surrounded by Lannister guards and it brought a smile to her face. He could always bring a smile to her face even in the most difficult of times. And now the time ahead was going to be as difficult as they had ever seen.

She did feel a pang of sadness as she realized that the Queen wasn't there to receive her. There was a time when they used to be the closest of friends. Now, she won't even come out to receive her even if she was the wife of the Hand of the King. She forgot all about it when she got out to meet her husband.

"It's been a long time, my love," she said when she came face to face with him.

"Indeed it has," he replied in a typical Tywin manner. To a stranger watching from afar, it would seem that Lord Tywin's face didn't show any sign of happiness to see his wife but she could tell. She could see the shine in his eyes, the way his lips curled into the slightest of smile if you ever saw one. He was happy to see her off that she was sure but he wouldn't show it in front of other people.

Tywin told her that the king demanded her presence in the throne room. She felt nervous about meeting the King which her husband must've noticed because he squeezed her hand ever so lightly to let her know that it was going to be all right.

The throne room hadn't changed a bit, the people there hadn't changed a bit. The only visible change was in the King. He looked appalling. His hair was long and dirty, so were his nails. Despite these horrible changes to the King, the most visible change in him were his eyes. It was hard to explain as they were of the same color but there was something in them that now made her want to hide behind her husband and never let him see her again.

Her introduction to the court was better than expected although anything that would have let her leave the throne room without physical damage to her husband and her would have been considered a triumph. Aerys made a couple of crude remarks on her looks and few of his bootlickers laughed. He inquired why her children weren't with her and didn't care much about her excuse of them leaving for the tourney before the raven arrived. He then dismissed her without giving her a second glance which felt suspicious as he had been so eager to summon her to the court.

Later, that night she discussed their situation with her husband. He told her how Aerys had descended into complete madness and was destroying the legacy his family took generations to build. He expressed his worry for her and made sure that she always had guards near her. He also ]p sure that she only had handmaidens which she had brought from Casterly Rock and instructed them to come to him at once if they found anything suspicious. They also discussed the tourney at Harrenhall. He told her that the spider had hundreds of spies in Harrenhall and he received multiple ravens a day. The King was keeping close attention to the tourney. He also expressed his doubts about Jaime's capability to handle the discussions and behave as the leader of Westerlands.

"He is capable enough. We have taught our son all he needs to know. You worry because he hasn't been serious enough, yet. That's only because he never needed to be as you were always there watching over him. Once he gets a chance to step out of your shadow I'm sure he'll make us proud. We have to trust him," she answered. He smiled just a little and said, "You always know what to say."

JAIME

Jaime Lannister was truly the stupidest Lannister like his sister reminded him every time they argued. He had never believed it until now. He had in his seventeen years of life had slept with a fair share of women. He had enjoyed his time with every one of them but never cared about anyone. He gave more thought on how to get rid of them as compared to getting them in their bed. He had enjoyed this a great deal and had no plans to stop. Therefore, there was no logical reason for him to stand there in the cold outside the tent of a lady he didn't know anything about just a couple days before with a blue rose in his hand.

Ashara Dayne, however, was no ordinary lady. She wasn't the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes on. Although that was the reason that attracted him towards her the night of the feast, the reason he was standing here shivering was completely different. If he was being honest, he first only wanted to get her to his bed but after spending time with her he couldn't stop thinking about her. She was different than the other ladies he had met before, she didn't swoon over his good looks and his pretty words that he had practiced and used on many ladies before her. She was feisty and smart and was sure to make him understand that his sweet tricks won't work on her. The more she talked, the more he wanted to listen to her.

The next day he devised several ways to spend time with her alone but fate wouldn't allow them to be alone. Now, he was outside her tent early in the morning hoping he would catch her when she came out. He must have waited outside for an hour, the guards nearby giving him dirty looks, before she came out.

"How long have you been standing there?" she asked as soon as she came out. She looked beautiful as always. "Just got here," he replied and offered her the rose while doing a bow. She took it but didn't smile as he had hoped she would.

"These are very rare to find," she said.

"I know, I was out all night looking for them," he replied.

"Liar. I am sure it was one of your thousand servants who found it."

"No, my lady. It was me who found it, plucked it and ran straight here just so I could give it to you the first thing in the morning."

"If you knew me then you would know that I hate flowers being plucked. This one would soon rot."

"See, I didn't know that. You should spend more time with me so that I don't make stupid mistakes like that again."

"I believe that I would have to spend a lot of time with you to stop you from making stupid mistakes," she said and he finally saw her smile.

"Would that be so bad?" he asked her sincerely. They had started walking towards the castle. He assumed she was going towards the room of the Princess.

"I am not going to sleep with you, Ser Jaime. I am not one of those girls."

"I hope so. Look, I like you, really like you. I have never felt this way about anyone. You might think that I may be lying or just saying this to sleep with you but it is the truth. If something happens between us in the future then great but even if it doesn't then I would still be happy only to spend time with you. So, do you want to come with me to the fields where I found those blue roses?"

"I don't know, Jaime. I want to trust you but I have seen many rich boys like you who only want one thing from me."

"I bet you haven't seen anyone as rich as me," he said jokingly, "Look I will not apologize for being born into a rich family. How about we make a wager? If I win my joust today, then you will come to see those fields with me?"

"Okay but what if you lose?" she asked and he could see that she was getting excited about the idea.

"Then you can have all the gold in Casterly Rock."

"Wow. A Lannister betting his entire gold. You must be very confident in yourself. I wouldn't be that sure, Ser, your opponent is Ser Emmon. He is much more experienced in jousting. Anyways, I am not interested in your gold, Jaime."

"Huh. I don't know if I have anything else to offer you. Our entire family's answer to everything is spending gold. You are the first one I have met who doesn't want it. What else can I give you?"

"How about if you lose then you stop chasing after me this entire tourney?"

"Deal," he said extending his hand. She shook it and replied, "Deal. Now go, I have to wake up the Princess and help her get dressed for the day," she said and started walking deeper in the castle.

"Wait!" he almost shouted and she turned around, "How did you know that I was facing Ser Emmon today? Did you search the joust table yesterday to see the time I was jousting so that you can come and see me?"

"No..uh... I was... I just.." she flustered and he knew he had caught her. "I went to see the time my brother was jousting and just happened to see yours too by accident."

"Who is Ser Arthur facing then?" he asked.

"Umm... I don't want to tell you," she replied but it looked even she didn't like her answer.

"You like me too," he said and turned away.

"No, I do not," she said from behind.

"Tell that to yourself when you go to sleep my lady," he replied while walking away thinking she must have smiled at his answer.

He won the joust that day. He came to his tent and started getting ready to take Ashara to the fields. He told Cersei and Tyrion about it and they started teasing him. Cersei reminded him just as he was leaving that he mustn't forget their purpose for coming to the tourney. He took Ashara to the fields and they spent the entire evening talking. They met up again the next morning and spent the entire day together. They again made a wager on his next joust. This time, she would kiss him if he won. He did and that night, beneath the stars, she gave him the best kiss he ever had or would ever have in his life.

After that night, they spent the next few days in each other's company as much as possible and only leaving to sleep in their tents. This ended the night Jaime won his fourth round and was now into the quarter-finals. That night she invited him to his tent and they slept together. That morning he told her that he loved her and she replied that she loved him too. They were inseparable after that. They spent their entire day together, she would cheer for him when he jousted and they made love at night. Jaime had never been happier. He was in love and he planned on spending his life with Ashara. He planned on asking her to marry her after he crowned her the 'Queen of love and beauty'.

BERNADETTE

She hated King's Landing. She couldn't understand the purpose of her lady's visit to the capitol. At first, she was frustrated with the increased workload since she was one of the few ladies brought to the capitol from Lady Joanna who didn't accept any maids sent by the Queen into her service. Then one day Lord Tywin demanded to speak to her. This was as surprising and terrifying as one could imagine. She walked into his study in fear of losing her job but was surprised to hear what he had to say. He explained to her that Lady Joanna was at risk, he wouldn't say from whom and ordered her to be careful and come to him if anything happens.

So now, every day she spent most of the time with Lady Joanna. She had less work to do here and would mostly read books from the library. This was one of those afternoons. The lady was reading aloud the story of Ser Daren to her and she was peeling fruits for the lady. Suddenly, the door opened with a loud bang and the King entered. They both stood up and the lady shouted, "What is the meaning of this?"

"You have made me wait a long time Joanna. I must have you now," he answered barely able to talk.

Bernadette noticed that the King was drunk and wasn't even able to walk straight. She also noticed two Kingsgaurd at the door.

"You think you are so high and mighty. Avoiding me like I'm a plague. Changing your way when you hear me coming. Bringing Tywin along even when I ask you to come to see me alone," he said moving towards Lady Joanna. She instinctively took a few steps backward. "Why are you moving away from me? Have you forgotten about the night we fucked after my coronation? I think about it every day. Tell me you do too," he said slowly moving towards her.

"Go to your room Aerys. You are drunk. You aren't thinking clearly," Joanna replied.

"You think I am an idiot," he shouted and her feet moved on their own to place her in between the lady and the King.

"The lady is tired and wants to rest, your grace," she said unable to think anything better to say.

"Take her away," he shouted and Ser Barriston Selmy came and offered her his hand while keeping others on his sword in case she refused. She agreed and he escorted her outside where she saw four Targaryen soldiers standing over the 2 guards Lord Tywin had placed at her door. She realized what was about to happen. Ser Barriston told one of them to take her to the 'others'. When they were out of sight of the kingsgaurd she started resisting and begging the soldier to let her go and he resisted her. She grabbed the knife she had in her hands tightly. It was small enough that no one noticed it on her. Also, the kingsgaurd and other fighting men would never consider her to be a threat. She made a comfortable and strong grip on the knife and struck the soldier in his neck as hard as she could. He fell instantly and she ran as fast as she could towards the office of the hand of the king.

TYWIN

He was working on the tax plans of the Reach when the door to his study slammed open and his wife's maid ran in. Her breathing was heavy and blood trickled down her face.

"My lord... the lady.. the King.." she struggled to speak but he understood enough and rose from his seat and ran with a speed he didn't know he still had.

"Where are they?" he asked when he reached the door.

"Her room."

He got out but then ran back to get his sword, he had a feeling that he would need it. His guards followed him and they ran towards the room. They reached the door and saw the Ser Barriston Selmy, Ser Jonothor Darry and a couple of guards. They saw him from afar and pulled out their swords.

"You are not to enter this room, my lord. By the command of the king," said Ser Barriston and then he heard Joanna's scream. His hand pulled his sword and he moved forward. The first to face him was a soldier who came charging at him. His men also pulled their swords and a battle ensued. He was a little rusty not having used his sword in years but still, he managed to kill this boy. He observed that the Kingsguard were busy slaughtering his men and there was nobody at the door. He ran for it and slammed open the door. He saw Aerys on top of Joanna who had a bloody lip and a bruise on her eye. Tears were flowing down her cheek.

"Leave her," he shouted and violently pulled the King back who let out a loud cry for help. Instantly Ser Barriston was in the room and had his sword at his throat asking him to drop his sword. He did.

"Traitor! You touch your king with your filthy hands. You try and stop me. Arrest him and throw him in the black cells," commanded the Mad King. Tywin resisted and struggled but was knocked out by a blow from Ser Jonothor Darry who must have joined them after killing his men. The last thing he saw was his wife who had most of her clothes torn, her face and body bleeding by the scratches from Aerys' fingernails. She was begging that monster to let him go. Then he lost consciousness and woke up in the black cells.

Author's notes:

That was the third chapter. Tell me your thoughts in the reviews. Follow and favorite this story if you like it.

At this point I have a vague idea of where I want this story to go so if you have any plot suggestion, pairing request then please let me know, The pairing right now might change as the story progresses because I do not have a concrete story plan.

I hope you and your family are safe. Please stay indoors.

Thank you for reading.