Keaira went to the feast as she was ordered to with a frown on her face. She was angry that as usual Catelyn had refused to allow Jon to join them, saying it would be an insult to the Royal Family. Keaira had argued that she should not be allowed to go in that case, but Catelyn stated that the King was expecting her at the feast. She looked on at the King who was currently kissing a random woman, while grabbing her backside, barely stopping herself from rolling her eyes. The King quickly noticed her and insisted that she show some of her talents. A quiet came over the busy room, as everyone's eyes were on her. Keaira gulped, feeling nervous as she began her planned performance. It was nothing fancy, she just used her abilities to create a fiery Stag on the ceiling and made it move around the hall, as many gasped. She lowered the Stag so that it seemed to gallop across the table, as every eye watched hers. She ended the performance, by making a flag with a Stag's head on it, before letting the image disintegrate beside her. She was met with thunderous applause, making her smile proudly. The hall then descended into a flurry of dancing, as Keaira went to find Arya, thinking that she would keep the best company. However, before she made it, someone stepped in front of her, blocking the way.
"My Lady, may I have this dance?" Jaime Lannister requested, holding his hand out to her.
She was taken aback for a moment, confused as to why the Kingslayer was giving her so much attention. She nodded, realising that she still hadn't given him an answer. As she passed him her hand, he bent down to press a soft kiss to it, making her blush. With a smug smile, he moved them towards the crowds of dancers, and placed his other hand around her waist, as she placed her hand on his shoulder. She was slightly nervous, as she knew she wasn't a particularly good dancer, and he did seem to be. She looked up at the taller man, finding that he seemed to be gazing into her eyes once again.
"Why are you doing that?" Keaira frowned.
"Doing what?" He replied, innocently.
"Looking at me like that. You were doing it earlier" She explained.
"Can I not gaze at a beautiful woman?" Jaime asked.
"I may be young, but I'm not naïve. Just because you have a pretty face does not mean I can be easily toyed with" Keaira informed him.
"I'm offended you would think of such a thing" Jaime smirked at her, as she looked away, a small smile tugging its way onto her face.
"There are many more eligible ladies for you to dance with…who are most likely better dancers" She exclaimed.
"Yet it is you I wish to dance with" Jaime replied.
"I'm afraid I am too tired to give another performance with my fire, if that is what you are looking for" Keaira suggested, expecting that was why he had taken an interest in her.
"Has no other noble wished to speak with you about anything else?" Jaime inquired.
"No. They have not" Keaira told him, surprising her with her honesty.
"It is there loss then" Jaime smirked at her, once again.
She may have been distrusting of the older man, but that didn't mean she wasn't flattered by his interest. The only other man to engage with her in such a way, was Jon, but she felt as if she was only projecting her own feelings onto him. She had a crush on him for so many years, but was still too embarrassed to make a move. Her thoughts were disrupted, by a face that caught her eye. Cersei Lannister was glaring at them from across the room. Keaira wondered why she looked so angry. Perhaps it was because while her brother was allowed to dance away, she was forced to sit and look presentable, like all the other noble women. But as their eyes connected, Keaira was shocked to find that along with anger, there was a fierce jealousy in her eyes. The same jealously that Keaira had shown when she saw Jon leaving a brothel a few months prior. Realising that even dancing with the golden lion was too dangerous, she began to pull away.
"If you'll excuse me, I must retire to my bedchambers" Keaira apologized.
"So soon?" Jaime queried.
"If you are hoping for an invite, you are sorely mistaken" Keaira retorted, raising an eyebrow.
"One more dance?" Jaime insisted, as Keaira rolled her eyes.
"It is clear there is someone who wishes to dance with you much more than I" Keaira blurted out, seeing Jaime's eyes following her own gaze, to his sister.
Jaime instantly stopped dancing, letting go off her waist. He seemed shocked to hear her say such a thing. She quickly excused herself, rushing away as quickly as she could. She could barely stop herself from face palming as she neared the exit to the hall.
"That was quite a performance you put on" A voice announced, stopping her in her tracks.
She turned around, anxious to see the Queen was calling her over.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it" Keaira replied, hoping that she meant when she had shown her fire, and not when she was dancing with Jaime Lannister.
"How old are you?" Cersei inquired.
"I will be sixteen in a few moons time, your Grace" Keaira told her.
"You certainly have an unusual beauty to you…for such an age" Cersei stated.
Even though it may have seemed like a compliment on the surface, it was clear to Keaira it was seen as more of an insult. Compared to the Queen, she was very plain. Keaira had never been considered particularly pretty, but it did not bothered her.
"Thank you" Keaira said, when she realised she still hadn't answered.
"Have you bled yet?" Cersei questioned her, making her blush lightly.
"Uh, yes" Keaira exclaimed.
"And still you are not married?" Cersei inquired.
"I have yet to receive my title" Keaira explained.
"Well I'm sure that could be brought forward. Is your eldest son spoken for?" Cersei queried, looking to Catelyn.
"No, he is not" Catelyn told her, unsurely.
"Surely they would make a wonderful match. I'm sure you would rather stay here than travel up to King's Landing with us?" Cersei pressured.
"I believe Ned would rather her not marry until after her sixteenth name day. He has certain ideals" Catelyn stated.
"I'm sure your son wouldn't mind waiting. Not for such a…smart young girl" Cersei went on.
Keaira knew why she was saying all this. Sansa was most likely to marry Cersei's eldest son, Joffrey, and if that was to fail, Arya would be next. However, after that it could even be Keaira herself who would be called upon. This would certainly not do in the Queen's eyes. She was looking to Keaira as if to say that the smart thing to do would to go along with it. Luckily for her, Keaira would be much happier to marry Robb, than Cersei's strange child.
"Of course" Catelyn nodded.
"If you would excuse me, your grace. I must retire to my bedchambers now" Keaira told her, as Cersei nodded.
The Queen's eyes then landed on her twin brother, which made Keaira frown. Surely her previous dance with Jaime wasn't what persuaded Cersei to insist that Keaira be married.
Meanwhile, Jaime had watched this interaction, unsurprised by his sister's jealously. If she asked why he had decided to dance with the girl, he would merely say it was to make her feel exactly that. However, truthfully, he seemed drawn to the young girl. It was not that she was especially pretty, not like his sister, but her eyes were truly something to behold. They had caught his eye straight away. Piercing blue orbs that seemed to change colour almost continuously. He had never felt any sort of attraction to anyone apart from Cersei. However, he was not about to betray his sister because of some girl.
She hadn't got very far down the corridor before a hand touch her shoulder. She turned around to see none other than the man she could soon be forced to marry.
"I trust you heard what was said" Keaira suggested.
"It sounds as if we will soon be married" Robb stated.
"Don't worry, you'd still some moons of freedom" Keaira joked.
"If…if you are particularly repulsed by the idea, I could persuade Mother to reconsider" Robb told her.
"I can think of far worse men to marry. The Queen's eldest being one of the top" She explained.
"Well I can't think of a prettier girl to marry" Robb informed her, with a smirk.
"Oh, you flatter me" Keaira giggled, mockingly swooning.
"However, I fear we may have some troubles if that was come to pass. Your feelings for my brother being one" Robb exclaimed.
"Ugh, this again" Keaira sighed, starting to walk again.
"If you would just admit your feelings for him, then-" Robb started.
"No, we've been through this before" Keaira insisted.
"I know he likes you" Robb went on.
"Has he ever directly said to you the words 'I like Keaira'" She inquired.
"Well, no…" Robb trailed off.
"Exactly, because he doesn't. Now you better run off back to the feast. Arya will probably grow bored and start fighting her sister soon enough" Keaira explained.
"You can't run away from this forever" Robb told her, as Keaira rolled her eyes, walking away.
Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Even though it looks like Robb and Keaira may be married in the future, obvious events are going to stop this from occurring. There will be no romance between them. Please leave a review:)
Padfootette: Thank you! I'm really glad you like this story:)
Radio Free Death: While I will take some of these on board, such as making Keaira more flawed, which is definitely a good idea, I feel you're being very picky about things such as the grammar. This is only fanfiction, remember. As we will learn later they're more like repressed memories, as she does not want to remember her past. She has fire powers, so I think that should explain why she didn't die from the cold, haha. Like I said I'll take everything on board, but I'm still continuing with this story.
farrahjohnson21: Thank you for this review! I'm glad you seem to like this story, haha. Here's the new chapter:)