We departed from the ancient castle of Winterfell at midday, and just a few hours later the party was split. Both Jon and my favourite 'Uncle' Tyrion were headed off to the Wall. I felt quite sad to see them go after becoming relatively close friends with Jon and of course always being close with Tyrion. I took some solace in the fact that I knew I will be seeing Tyrion quite soon. Well, maybe.
After thinking it through my I had come to the realisation that perhaps there were other ways to keep Bran silent. I cursed myself for not coming up with a better plan and resolved myself to try and think things through better in the future. I just hoped my folly would not plunge the Realm into war...
Time Skip
After several weeks we made it to the Ruby Ford, I offered to take Sansa on a walk and she agreed. Still smitten with me.
"How are you enjoying the journey so far, my Betrothed?" I asked her.
"They are slow, my Prince."
I knew how she felt... almost a moon in and yet we were only half way. It's official: I hate wheelhouses!
Just as I was about to respond I heard a distant sound that resembled wood clashing. This was when I remembered what happened here in cannon. I decided upon a plan of action and then remarked to Sansa.
"Do you hear that?"
"Yes my Prince, it sounds like wood." She replied.
"Let's have a look." I said as I placed my hand on my sword, a gift from 'father' on my 15th name day. It was a bastard valaryian steel sword with a grip decorated with the black and yellow of House Baratheon, no Lannister to be seen. No surprise there of course, 'father' never has held back his hatred for any 'blonde haired pricks.' The centrepiece was a stag on its hind legs, just like in the sigil of our house, made with a ruby that would make Rheagar Targaryen jealous.
We entered out of the wooded area to see Arya and the butcher's boy going at each other with sticks, Arya seemed to have the upper hand and she was laughing as she beat him with the stick.
She hadn't seen us so I silently crept around them, both too caught up attacking each other to notice me. Then I quickly unsheathed my sword and brought the blade around her neck, the blade glistened in the sunlight as she yelled out in surprise.
"Always be aware, if this was real you would no longer have a head. No matter who your opponent is whether it's Ser Jaime, your Lord Father or a common peasant you must be aware to your surroundings, a surprise attack could cause your life to be forfeit." I lectured, reciting the memo put into my head every lesson of my life by Ser Barristan.
In response she struggled to escape my grasp until I let her go, then she tried to bring the wooden stick she was using to fight Mycah down on my arm, I quickly reversed the attack and with one swing cut the wood in half, careful to not accidentally amputate her wrist.
Mycah was staring at me in shock and when I looked at him he started stuttering out various forms of my title.
"Calm down." I said sternly.
"Don't talk to him like that!" Arya yelled out, enraged. "What's he done to you?"
"Arya!" Sansa admonished. "Stop it. Don't talk like that to Joffrey, he's the Prince!"
Honestly what has the world come to. I tell one guy to stop stuttering and it's as if I just said I was about to kill him!
"Come now, stop." I attempted to get them to stop and yet my words fell on deaf ears. It was obvious that if nothing was done then they would come to blows. And while I found it quite flattering that two women cared enough to argue over me now really wasn't the time...
So with that I once again drew my sword and speared the ground between them.
"That is enough!" I yelled. "You two are bickering like children! You are sisters and we will soon be family! If you cannot get along I will speak to my father and this marriage will be annulled."
They both felt silent at that. Sansa couldn't bare the thought that she wouldn't get to marry her fairy tale prince and Arya, well who would facilitate her lessons if she was under the watchful eye of Catelyn Stark?
"Now, we will get back to the Inn. I am tired."
Time Skip
The first thing you always notice about Kings Landing is the smell. Not the grandeur, not the noises of millions of people working their asses off to earn a living. Not even the merchants trying to make a profit and further themselves in life. But the stench of shit and piss and decomposing bodies. How no one decided building a sewer was a good idea, I do not know. Over 500,000 people live in this city. Half as many live in Lannisport and yet that has a full sewer system that leaves the streets sparkling. But the Capital: what an horrendous idea!
As we pulled into the city there were thousands of small folk lining the streets. Cheering not the King's name, not the Queen's but mine. Just by taking an interest and wondering the streets of Flea Bottom I had become undoubtedly the most popular member of the Royal Family. Of course this popularity was not universal and there were those (mostly the merchants) who disliked me for what they called 'interfering' -really all I am doing is making sure the small folk weren't exploited by completely unfair prices. Such as bread, there hasn't been a shortage since last winter. And yet prices were almost doubled! Completely unfair and so, using my unofficial position on the Small Council, I managed to get a law passed that gave the Crown full control on the price of bread. The Small Folk life me for it, the Merchants hate me. But as they say, you can't make everyone happy.-
A/N
No I'm not dead, unbelievable isn't it.
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Thank you for reading!
