CHAPTER 7

Far too soon the light hit my eyes and I awakened to pain once again like the time before I was greeted by my mother although a far more exhausting version than the one from before. In the light, she was a mess more so than I thought she would be. Thankfully it looked as if she hadn't moved since before I slept, giving me hope she had not done anything dimwitted.

The Maester came in soon and looked over Bran, first seeing as he is the Lord's heir. I didn't care as I was awake and he wasn't. Makes me feel like he needs the Maester more than myself at the moment. Though the pain is heavy on my body. The old man spoke softly with Lady Stark and from her face, I could tell it was slightly relieving news.

When the man turned to me finally his eyes shot wide as he hustled to my side and met my eyes."Prince Joffrey?! H-how in the seven… you being awake is impossible I… what?!-" He seemed to be lost for what to say or think and I couldn't help the painful chuckle that came from my throat at his antics.

I smiled and raised an eyebrow at him, "What's the damage like Maester?" I seemed to have said something absolutely ridiculous… or was it me saying anything in the first place that was impossible? As the man looked faint.

"P-prince Joffrey you shouldn't even be alive much less conscious and even speaking should be far too painful to do! By the gods!" As he spoke he removed my furs and allowed those around to see my body and… it was a lot better than I expected which wasn't saying much as I looked like a giant purple bruise with many scars littering my body. I swear it was worse than this.

And I seem to be right with my thoughts as the looks from the maester, my mother, and even the now standing and wide-eyed Lady Stark seemed to be shouting that my body should be worse off.

The maester was the first one to speak. "By the gods… where are the sticking out ribs?! Where are the deep gashes and missing fingers!? W-where is the hole that went through your chest!? This… isn't possible! You should have died many times over yet all the serious and deadly injuries are just gone? Only shown by scars that will heal with time?! How is this possible?" The man let his hands glide over my torso and even moved me to my side to show healed flesh that shouldn't be healed for months if at all. The maester was shaking.

I blinked and then I blinked again… what the man was saying was impossible. He said I should have died and that I should not be breathing or seeing or doing anything at all. So how am I alive and how am I almost healed? Was it the gods? Was it my blood? What… what?! I… without realizing it I started to breathe heavily and quickly and almost instantly I had arms holding me. The soft, warm, familiar arms of my mother seemed to be holding me together as I had without thought leaned forward to inspect myself allowing room behind my back to be sat behind and be held from behind by the woman that I should be mad at but at the moment I needed that familiarity to keep me present. Her lips breathing next to my ear as she shushed me and coerced my heart to ease and calm.

Softly she spoke. "My Lion… my dear sweet lion I prayed and begged to the gods, all of them to save you and heal you promising absurd things… your little wolf right next to me did the same without me saying anything… Arya and I promised and begged with everything we had as you were carried off. We stayed back and kneeled where we found you and young Bran, both of your blood coating the ground… and to see this morning your healed body… there's no other way for such a thing to happen my lion… the gods heard our prayers and answered."

As she spoke I calmed. My breathing became more natural but my mind opened to the words and the possibilities that were brought with them. From the stories I had heard the gods were prickly with promises not being complete so that was my immediate worry. Thankfully the maester had rushed out when he saw me begin to calm leaving us with no one to worry about. So looking over and catching her eye I narrowed my eyes. "What did you promise?" She closed her mouth and just stared into my eyes and for maybe the fifth time in my life I saw her become fully vulnerable and open to me.

"My lion…" She reached up and stroked my cheek. "I promised I would fully commit myself to you… that I would do everything to see you become the great king you can be and follow you and listen to only you… That I would never love nor lay or touch another man again as long as you breathe and that I would die before betraying you or hurting you… That is what I promised Joffrey my love, my Lion, my prince, but most importantly my son… I swear by the seven… I swear by my life."

On the outside, I was calm and assessing but inside? I wept at the words she spoke. If the gods truly healed me on the promise my mother gave and she followed through with the promise then… My mother was loyal from here to the end.

But what of Arya maybe her prayers along with my mothers caused a double effect of healing? I will have to ask her.

I couldn't think as Catelyn Stark walked over to us. She looked at me and then my mother with eyes that held much sorrow and recognition. "You prayed to the gods didn't you, my Queen?" My mother barely nodded, making Lady Stark nod shakily back. "Then I would keep to whatever you promised… I didn't and look what happened." She looked over to Bran and allowed a look of self-loathing to blossom across her face before she walked away from my mother and I watched the woman as she sat back down and looked at Bran. A distant voice felt vindicated at being correct about the woman being cursed but the bigger more present voice recognized that my friend was the one hurt so I wasn't jumping for joy as they say.

Mother and I met eyes once again having a silent conversation and considering the Tully woman's luck. She paled considerably. "I will not drift from my promise, Joffrey I promise." It seemed she understood what the repercussions could likely be if she did stray from her promise making the ice I had for her melt a little more. Not even a day after everything and I was already forgiving her? I'm weak, but again she made a deal with the gods so I guess it was slightly okay, but she still would be punished for her actions. Along with me possibly killing my uncle. Although I may have a better idea for him the mother/sister fucker.

My thoughts were pushed away as my mother moved from behind me to sit down again and not too long after a pair of silver eyes rounded the door and stopped on my form only to moisten and tear up at the sight of me. My Arya was there and she was a mess of a girl if I ever saw one. But without any care, I opened my arms and smiled with my tears right back. "You dullard, idiotic, boneheaded,-" With each word she marched forward, "amazing, brave, self-sacrificing…" Here she was right next to me, tears flowing down her face as she grabbed onto my shoulders with a weak grip. "-sob- lovable…" She couldn't finish as she collapsed against my chest allowing her tears and strength to show her emotions as she held me like I was going to disappear.

Reacting I circled my arms around her, and with all my strength I held her against myself giving a kiss to the side of her head as I began whispering positive things to her. As I did that others entered including the King, Ned Stark, his male children excluding Rickon Stark, and my siblings and uncles. I glared at my knighted uncle and met eyes with my mother who quickly stood and whispered to my uncle causing his eyes to widen before quickly leaving. Mother sat back down next to me, everyone else stood around me or Bran. And I felt like a talk was coming but I didn't care about that, I had my betrothed crying and shivering against me and that was far more important than them. So I laid my head on her shoulder and rocked both of us softly from side to side. I was comfortable and content.

"Joffrey…" I hmm'd at her saying my name. "Maester Luwin said your healing and survival were thanks to the gods."

"Yes?" I questioned.

"I made a promise to them with your mother… I don't know what she said but… I promised…

AN: Hey guys just want to ask for some reviews and I hope you understand the whole gods getting involved thing. It makes sense right? I think it does. Anyway love ya and hope you find a reason to smile today.