SIX YEARS LATER...

Darius stood on the balcony of his upscale room in the King's castle. He'd just woken up after another night of little sleep. It'd been happening a lot lately, his loss of sleep. But by now he was used to it. Every year at around the same time, during the anniversary of his capture this would happen. He didn't like it, but now he was used to it, even though he shouldn't be.

The past six years had been hard. Every day he missed his family and his home more and more. He would always think about what they were doing, how they were doing, whether they missed him. He'd get letters from either Valerie or his father, Valerik, but they were few and far in between. They used to send them more frequently, but they started to slim up. Darius had assumed the guard had been instructed not to have them delievered. He didn't know if it was true, but whether it was or not he could do nothing about it. This wasn't Allon, he had no control over anything. He was starting to get used to it even though it still made him uneasy.

Actually, most times when he was told what to do it made him uneasy. For ten years he was used to bossing people around. He wasn't necessarily 'in charge', his father handled that. But being bossed around like he was in King's Landing, having to obey each and every word that came out of Joffery and Robert's mouth was tiring. His attitude by no means was completely under control, he'd gotten punished many times for it, but it was getting better.

Besides, who could honestly keep their full composure around the biggest ass in the realm?

Speaking of the biggest ass. There was his voice. " And so it begins." he mumbled.

Darius' head turned to the side towards the sound. Joffrey sounded a little pissed off. Whoever he was yelling at was getting an earful, and the target of his anger was un-responsive. Darius had no doubt it was his betrothed, Sansa. It always was. He had a problem with everyone it seemed, Sansa was no exception.

Like most times, it was up to him to mediate the problem. With a sigh, he turned from the balcony, back into his room, and out into the hallway. In only a few steps he was at the prince's door. It was ajar. Nosey, Darius stood right outside the threshold to get in on the conversation.

" Your father needs to hold his tongue." Joffery said, his volume louder than necessary seeing as Sansa was standing less than two steps in front of him. "If he keeps this mindset that he can tell me what to do, there will be a problem."

" I assure you he has your best interest in mind, your grace." Sansa said. Immediately after he could hear a gasp, and a sound like a growl coming from Joffery. He took that moment and stepped in. Neither noticed his entrance.

Joffrey had his hands gripped around the collar of her dress. He was in her face, their noses inches from touching. His blonde brows were furrowed, menacing. Sansa on the other hand looked as scared as she could possibly be. Her face reddened, probably from pain and, judging by the watering he could see in her eyes, fear.

" You're hurting me." Sansa let out.

" You will tell him to let up Sansa." Joffrey growled, ignoring her words.

Darius had had enough.

He didn't know Sansa too well. He'd met her when he was a small child and then saw her again when Joffrey and the rest of the royal family had traveled to Winterfell to meet the Starks. He hadn't originally known that Joffrey and Sansa were to be introduced and married, and he'd tried his luck. He was a flirt at heart, he couldn't help himself, she was a beautiful girl. But she had obviously shut him down quickly, and a Prince was more appealing than a guard.

He had been a little irritated, but didn't think much of it. And no matter the slight irritation with her, he didn't think it was just for Joffrey to treat her in such a way. She'd done nothing, and she didn't deserve it. No one deserved Joffrey's cruetly, but especially a girl who'd done nothing to him. A girl who was to be his wife.

He walked quickly forward, and grabbed Joffrey's hand, " Let her go, Joff." he said, " A fault of her father is no fault of hers."

Joffrey glared at Darius, looked at him like he was absolutely nuts. If any other man had done that, the cruel Prince would have his arm chopped off. Darius got a little room to slide. He was Joffrey's only, confidante. Only person he had to relate to, and if he lost Darius' 'friendship' he'd have a problem.

His light blue eyes darted between Sansa and Darius as he made his decision. Darius glared back, letting him know how serious he was. He needed to stop treating the girl he'd one day wed so disrespectfully.

" Joffrey..." Darius said lowly. Finally, Joffrey's lips formed a straight line, and he released his grip. With a whimper, Sansa backed up a few steps, out of Joffrey's reach. She looked at the ground, not making eye contact with either of them.

Realizing what you've gotten into, huh? Darius thought to himself, before letting go of Joffrey's arm. Joffrey brushed himself off and shot a look at Sansa once more before looking back at Darius.

" Fine then." Joffrey said. He turned and walked out of the door, walking casually and trying not to act like he'd gotten bested by his guard.

Darius took a quick moment, and walked up to Sansa. " I'm sorry." he said sincerely, " You know how he is." he added on.

If she didn't know how irrational the boy was by now, she'd never know. She seemed so blind sometimes, he felt sorry for her.

Sansa looked up, her face was still red, but it seemed that she'd mostly had it under control. " It's fine." she said softly" My father upset him, I understand."

She couldn't sound more blind. At least she was loyal, Darius thought. He didn't know if it was the wisest choice, but it would get her in a lot less trouble than he'd been in in his time here .Joffrey already didn't like Ned, she didn't need more flak.

Darius sighed, " You should probably go. I'll keep Joffrey occupied for the day." he suggested. She nodded slowly. " My lady." he bowed slightly, before exiting the room. He saw Joffrey right away, a little farther down the hallway.

He caught up quickly and stood beside him. He was fuming. " She's so annoying and...and impudent."

Darius laughed. There was him, overreacting like usual. Joffrey glared at his humor. " She's really not bad at all. She's a beautiful girl..."

" I don't care if she's beautiful." Joffrey said bitterly. He looked straight ahead for a moment before looking back at him. " But apparently she loves me, and mother says I must marry her. So I'll have to go along."

" I still don't understand why you're not okay with that." Darius chimed. He wouldn't have a problem with it, had he been in the boy's shoes.

" I'd rather marry someone more...experienced." Joffrey said, his blonde brows raising to the top of his head.

Darius let out a chuckle and nudged the Prince's side.. A good joke. Though if Joff got the chance, he would have no clue what to do. Even if he did, it would most likely be a scary sight. No matter.

" So, my father is due to return tomorrow. We have one more day of freedom." Joffrey said, turning to him. King Robert had been out on a hunting trip the last few days, it'd been an annual thing. Darius had wanted to attend, but alas, he had other, blonde matters to attend to. Hopefully he'd get to go the next time if he asked permission. " How shall we spend it?"

" Well, wisely of course." Darius said, " But it is your decision, your grace." It was always.

A squire ran walked briskly down the hallway, catching up to the two. " My Prince, the Queen wishes to speak to you..."

" About what?" Joffrey sighed, he had no interest in speaking with his mother. He never did.

" She did not tell me that much information. Only that she wishes to speak with you. She says it's important." He bowed and then trotted off.

Joffery's lips scrunched up as he thought. " I might have something in mind." He looked at Darius and slowly a smirk spread across his face. " That is, if you're willing to get into a little trouble."

A matching smirk found it's way to Darius' face. " When have I ever been afraid of trouble?"

...

Joffrey and Darius ran through the hallways, dodging squires who repeatedly kept looking for them, wanting the Prince's presence in the Queen's bedroom. But now, the stakes had raised slightly. In Darius' rearview he'd noticed a man. He definitely wasn't a squire, and he didn't look like he'd give up searching for them.

It had been Sandor, and he was determined enough to keep up after them.

" He'll catch us!" Said Joffrey as they both traveled through the exit of the castle, they were now on the road leading to the city. Joffrey's clothes flapping in the wind, Darius' armor clanking at every step.

" Not if we keep running!" Darius laughed, and Joffrey laughed along. One of his rare, non-sadistic smiles appeared on his face.

It was times like these when he didn't think being in King's Landing was so bad. Joffrey was an ass, but not always, not when he was like this. And then it made Darius think they could actually be serious friends. But then he'd turn around and act like he was earlier, and it made him unsure of the entire thing.

They flew through the city, dodging everyone in their path. But with everyone they dodged, Sandor dodged too. He was keeping up pretty well seeing as he hadn't upped his speed.

" Maybe we need to go into a building. We can hide." Joffrey suggested after looking back and seeing Sandor's face once again.

" Good idea." Darius glanced around the road, trying to look for a proper place to go into. So far there were nothing but small houses and carts littering the streets. They wouldn't do well hiding behind a cart, and a home owner would quickly rat them out if confronted by Sandor.

Darius almost gave up, and then decided a busier place would be desirable. He located a tavern right at the corner of the road. He looked over at the Prince, " There."

They slipped into the crowd, sliding in the door with ease. They knew they had limited time before Sandor rushed in the door behind him. Tables were full of people, drunk out of their minds. Surprising seeing as it had only been midday.

" We could sit at a table. Merge."

" Right, because he wouldn't spot us then?" Darius rolled his eyes at Joffrey's plan. He really hadn't been doing this for long had he?

Darius's eyes quickly went to the bar. " There, hide behind the counter." he looked behind him and saw no one, but he knew he'd be there soon. " Quickly now."

They took off, unnoticed by the people minding their own. They were behind the counter in less than five seconds. They sat down and pushed their backs against the wood, trying to be as small as possible, even though it was difficult. With Darius being six feet and growing and the Prince only an inch shorter, it wasn't easy to be small. The owner looked down at them, confused out of his mind.

They both chuckled, and Joffrey looked up at the bartender, " You will not say a word." he told him. He nodded quickly.

" And give us a bottle of the strongest you have." Darius added, getting an odd look from Joffrey he shrugged, " What? We might be here for a while.."

" Right." Joffrey grinned, and took the grey flask when it was handed to him. The bartender looked back at the bar, pretending he'd never seen the two, just like Joffrey asked.

He took the first sip, and then handed it to Darius who took more than a sip, gulping a considerable amount down. His face scrunched and he shook his head, dealing with the bitterness in his own odd way. He handed the bottle back.

" How do you stomach it like that?" He asked. He put the bottle to his lips, and tried to mimick his friend, but mid gulp he coughed, the liquid spewing out onto the wall in front of him. Darius laughed, a little too loud, but quickly lowered the volume.

Joffrey pushed the bottle to him, and coughed once more.

" Well, living with you, I've had a lot of practice." Darius said, slightly joking. Well, not really joking at all. He put a smile on his face regardless, trying to make his statement believable. Joffrey took it as a joke, and chuckled in response.

Darius went quiet. He was so odd, Joffrey. A joker, a boy of fun one minute, and the next, it was like he was evil personified. He didn't know anyone could do that, and he didn't understand. " You know, you are not so bad when you're like this, Joffrey." he said, aloud.

Joffrey's face went blank. His head slowly turned towards Darius's and Darius went quiet. Joffrey looked a little angry to him, Darius hadn't meant for that to happen. Maybe he should've kept his mouth shut.

" What is that supposed to mean?" Joffrey asked, eyes narrowing.

Darius didn't say a word. He didn't know how to explain. Surely if he did, the day would quickly go sour. So he didn't say anything, and their eyes were completely locked on each other. Darius was just waiting to see what was going to happen.

Suddenly, Joffrey's face softened and he broke into laughter. Darius let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. Slowly, he chuckled, and then finally let loose also laughing. That had been a close one, he had been probably seconds away from getting into a lot of trouble.

He let his head lull back, and immediately made contact with another set of eyes.

" Damnit." Darius cursed. He jumped up and grabbed Joffrey's arm, bolting for the back door. Once glance back and there Sandor was, his large hands on his waist, watching them go out of the back door.

" Close one!" Joffrey said. They were on the streets once against, passing by shocked civilians but thinking nothing of it.

" Lucky for us I saw him first!" He said, having to shout above the crowd. Once again they looked back behind them, but by doing that, they weren't able to avoid a mobile merchants cart that appeared in their way. Once they snapped their heads forward, they collided with it, both of them falling back onto the ground, the merchants wares falling ontop of them.

Darius knew it was their fault, and didn't get to angry. Joffrey on the other hand...

His face turned a bright red, and he jumped to his feet. His hands fisted, he'd pulled them in so tight they were turning white. " I should have you killed, you bastard!" he fumed. " You've just injured your Prince!"

Here we go again... Darius groaned, getting to his feet.

" Stop being such a wimp, Joffrey." Darius commented. He barely got to finish his sentence before Joffrey's head whipped back, and he shot him a glare so intense, even Darius backed off.

" Shut up! You have no say in this!" Joffrey turned back to the boy who had been pushing the cart. He was shivering, looking between the two like he was about to be attacked. " What is your name!"

" Garrett...Garrett Toneus, your grace." He said, bowing his head, but it didn't stop his shaking.

" Arrest him Darius!" Joffrey looked back at him, fire in his eyes.

Darius didn't want to. After all, it wasn't Garrett's fault. Joffrey and himself hadn't been paying attention, and to Garrett, it probably had seemed as if they'd appeared out of the blue. He couldn't have avoided them.

" Joffrey, let's think about-"

" Arrest him!" Joffrey screamed. Darius sighed, this was the part of him he didn't like. Being told what to do once again.

" Yes, your grace." Darius mumbled bitterly. He walked up to the boy, and just a step away from him, heard armor in the distance.

" Darius!" A low voice growled from behind him. " Joffrey!"

Sandor. He knew before turning around. He looked at Joffrey, " We can either run, or arrest the boy, your grace."

Joffrey sighed, but looked at Garret. " I'm not finished with you Garrett Toneus." he said, and looked back at Darius, " We run."

They both moved quickly, once again avoiding the large guard, but as soon as they moved they were bumped into again. A squire it was, shouting the Prince's name. They ignored him, until he said something particularly grabbing.

" It's the King, your grace!"

Joffrey and Darius stopped in their tracks and turned to face the squire. Confused expressions covered their faces, " What about him?" Joffrey asked.

" He has returned, and he's fatally injured." The squire replied.

" Fatally injured?" Joffrey repeated. Wondering if he heard correctly.

The squire sighed, " He's dying, Prince Joffrey." he said, and Joffrey's mouth dropped.

" Let's go." Darius said quickly, and Joffrey, the squire and himself steered their running towards the castle.