I was very silent at my meal with the prince that evening. I barely touched my food. After I informed my father of the news the hawk was bearing, we had decided to leave the next morning. I was worried about my family. My mother, my sister, Jaime Lannister, his son Alaric, my other friends… They were all fighting to defend the capital and I was organising weddings and having fancy meals with a prince who believes women are mere tools. Unfortunately for me, Deryk noticed my bad mood. He covered his plate with its lid and offered me his hand.
"Walk with me, princess?" he suggested. I followed him, knowing that from now on, I had to keep him satisfied if I wanted to get anywhere. He led me through the hallways of his home to a secret balcony, one you could find only if you knew the castle as well as he did. The view was astonishing. One could see far, farther than the river running next to the castle, up to the forest that was ahead. The light was almost gone, and I could see the first stars lightning up the sky. I would have said something, if I wasn't so deeply buried in my thoughts. Prince Deryk put a finger under my chin and lightly pushed it up, so that I could see him.
"I wanted to apologize" he said. Curiosity and surprise took over. He was apologizing? The proud prince was asking for my forgiveness?
"What for?" I asked, forgetting my good manners.
"For the way I spoke to you yesterday. You fought the assassin like a man, you got injured and survived, better than a man. Your mother is a strong woman. I now see you have taken her iron will and your father's grace and familiarity with weapons. You are different than what they teach us women are like. You are… independent. You were born to rule. And it would be my honor to rule beside you, help you keep this kingdom united" he spoke and, suddenly, he closed the gap between us. I shared my first kiss with prince Deryk Tyrell on that balcony. And it lasted for so long, yet it was so brief. When we parted, he took a ring out of his finger, one of the many he was wearing. It was a drop made of sapphire, united with silver in a way that resembled the branches of a rosebush. He wore it to my left ring finger. I took out my favourite golden ring. It had no stones on it, but it was marvelously worked with northern meanders and patterns. I wore it to his left ring finger.
"With this ring, I bind our future together. I promise to never let as much as a feather touch you. I promise to always love you. I promise that no tears will come to your eyes as long as I draw breath" he whispered upon our engagement rings. That was it. I was going to get married.
While preparing my horse for departure the next morning, I allowed a selfish thought to pass from my mind. I didn't want to leave. I wanted to know more of that side the prince had shown to me the night before. I was starting to fall in love with my fiancé, although I had promised myself I wouldn't. The Highgarden was far behind us when my father spoke.
"I like your new ring" he said in Rhoynar. I let my gaze wander on my finger before turning it to the horizon again.
"I got engaged last night. I will get married at the end of summer in King's Landing" I answered. My father whistled in approval.
"Still, you're not happy. What's troubling you?" he noticed. I sighed.
"It seems like I'm developing feelings for my fiancé, father. I wasn't supposed to" I confessed.
"Is it a bad thing that your wedding might as well be happy?" he asked
"It's just that… I had promised to myself I wouldn't let my feelings shade my judgement. I just need this wedding to obtain my castle, nothing more" I answered
"Yes, but a wedding is supposed to bring real happiness, not fake one. Your mother married me to ally with the South, not because she loved me. But we grew to adore each other and we have made two beautiful daughters. And, believe me, I prefer this life than a thousand brothels full of wine and girls" he said. I remained silent for a bit and I would have answered, if I hadn't seen it. The sea. I looked at the sky. I hadn't noticed it in my thoughts, but the sun was behind us, when it should be ahead of us. That was not the King's Road. It was the Ocean Road. We were heading west instead of east.
I stopped my horse.
"Where are we going?" I asked loudly. Uncle Jon came next to me.
"Evelyne…" he tried to calm me down, but I was getting angrier and angrier by the second.
"Uncle, where are we heading?" I asked again. He sighed.
"To Casterly Rock" he said.
"What?" I yelled. I turned my Dornish stallion around and started galloping to the opposite direction. I heard barking behind me. I thought as much. Ghost jumped in front of my horse and growled angrily. I stopped. My uncle and my father followed.
"Why aren't we going to King's Landing?" I asked
"We are. You're staying with Tyrion in Casterly Rock until the invasion is over" answered Jon.
"But why? I want to fight, defend my family and my honor! Is it because I lost to the assassin? Father, you know how good I am with the sword! Give me a chance!" I begged.
"It has nothing to do with the attack. But you're staying with Tyrion. It's the Queen's orders" said my father and, grabbing the leather laces of my horse, he guided me west.
"I hate you! I hate you all!" I cursed in Valyrian. I knew no one would understand it, but I just wanted to get it out of my chest.
"Stop eating your problems, Evelyne. Your husband will not like you if you put on weight" said uncle Tyrion. I was sitting in the kitchen of his castle is Casterly Rock, eating my seventh lemon cake. It was the second day of my stay there. My father and my uncle had left the moment Tyrion's guards arrived to escort me to the castle. I had no news from the battle. I was worried. And when I'm worried, I make my mother's lemon cakes and I eat them.
"And what do you suggest I do?" I asked, clapping my hands together to get rid of the crumbs. He raised the cup he was holding.
"Drink your problems" he answered.
Uncle Tyrion wasn't truly my uncle. But he was technically a member of our family. He was once married to my mother, but he never slept with her, respecting that their marriage was forced upon them both. He, along with his brother, Ser Jaime, were two of my mother's closest counselors. Uncle Tyrion was a dwarf. And a very lucky one. He was closing to turn 60 years old. And that was a miracle, given his birth curse and the amount of alcohol he was consuming on a daily basis. He and my father were really getting along, they could often be found drinking together. Uncle Tyrion was the only person in the entire world who didn't need a sword to make me listen to or obey. I deeply respected him, because I could see part of myself in him. I too was the youngest kid and I too was better in words than weapons.
The day before, a coded letter had arrived from my sister. It urged me to return to Winterfell and try to solve the problem, because everyone else had taken arms instead of books. I was the only one calm enough to think about it. I had tried to sneak out, but the guards found me and arrested me. Now I had two bodyguards constantly following me like they were my shadow.
"My uncle and my father left me behind because they believe I have gone soft. I should have killed that assassin when I had the chance" I murmured. Tyrion sat on the opposite side of the table.
"Come on, Eve, you know it's not that. You're smarter than this" he said. I frowned. He sighed.
"Sweetheart, one princess is better than a dead Queen and both of her successors dead. Your mother and your sister are already involved in the battle. By keeping you away and safe, she's making sure that even if the worst happens, the throne will not fall in the wrong hands" he explained.
I knew. I just didn't like it. Me sitting on my ass doing nothing was the worst way I could imagine myself helping right now. I wanted to fight. And I was stuck in a castle all the way across Westeros. It was just pissing me off.
"Tell me about your future husband" uncle Tyrion changed the subject.
"He's immature, arrogant, sexist, a complete idiot. But we need the alliance" I answered as casually as I could. My uncle smirked.
"Is that the whole truth? Because you're touching your engagement ring way too often" he said. I swore in Valyrian.
"You noticed. How come you always notice?" I asked, irritated. He seemed to be quite satisfied that he managed to piss me off.
"It's my job. Remember, I was a counselor to some of the greatest people in their time. I know a thing of two. Now, how do you like your Tyrell toy?"
"I… I don't know yet. He seemed totally different in the two occasions I met him. The first time he was rude to say the least. The second time… I dare say that he was romantic. He kissed me" I answered.
"Will you be happy?" he asked. I chuckled.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes"
I looked around my feet. I wanted to pet my forest leopard's head. I had left Midnight back in Winterfell. I thought it best I didn't scare off my parents-in-law off, being always followed by a wild animal. But Midnight was as loyal to me as my sister's Direwolf, Oberyn, was to her. Uncle Jon had brought a leopard cub and a Direwolf pup in Winterfell, all those years ago. I had gone for the cat, Dannae headed straight for the dog. They were our loyal companions since that day. I always reached to my feet to pet Midnight when I was troubled.
"What is it?" asked Tyrion.
"You know what bothers me more than the fact that I was defeated in Highgarden? The poison the assassin used" I said. A thought was taking form in my head. My uncle looked at me carefully.
"What of it?" he asked.
"Well, I wasn't immune to it. I am immune to all poisons in Westeros. And they are many. This was either a new poison, or it was…"
"...from across the sea. The poison was from Essos" he finished my thought. I nodded.
"And that means whoever the assassin was he either was from Essos or was paid by someone in Essos to do the job. Someone who would like a civil war in the Seven Kingdoms and maybe a few strong pieces out of the board as a bonus" I continued. Tyrion emptied his cup.
"This can't be good news. But there's nothing we can do right now. Until we get the word from King's Landing, that is" he said
"I don't understand, why can't I return home or go to the Eyrie or even Dorne? Why must I stay here?" I asked
"I will pretend your question doesn't offend me. The answer is simple: there is no army to protect you in those places, while I have my guard here. And, besides, the first place they will look for you is Winterfell. Then they'll go for Dorne and, finally, the Vale of Arryn. Not to mention that, if I were in their shoes, I'd look at all three locations simultaneously, just to be sure. But they'd never look here. It's the safest place for you right now"
After dinner, I decided to play for my uncle on my flute. Uncle Jon had made one for me and one for my sister when we were both young. He had killed a giant stag one day and used its horns to make us our instruments. Whenever I was feeling homesick, I played on my flute.
I had just finished a melody, when a servant entered the room.
"Letter from Highgarden. It's for princess Evelyne" she said. I took the rolled paper and broke the Tyrell seal. I started reading, but it made no sense. It was a report on the situation of the Tyrell guard. I turned the page around. At the bottom right, written with red ink, was a tiny word.
"Fire…" I murmured "Heat"
I stood over the nearest candle, holding the paper above the flame high enough not to burn it. I moved it up and down a bit. The effect was immediate: most of the letters from the original letter faded away, leaving only what was meant for me to read. I read it out loud.
"My dearest.
There hasn't been a day when I'm not thinking of you. I hope that you are safe, from the bottom of my heart. Your absence is so painful, that I wish I could tear my heart out to stop it from aching. It must sound very selfish of me, but I want to see you as soon as it's safe. Please write to me with the same pigeon. I will be waiting for your response in agony.
Forever yours,
Deryk Tyrell"
"You have received your first love letter" noticed Tyrion. I'm certain that I had blushed, but I calmly folded the paper and turned to my uncle.
"If you'll excuse me, I need to respond. I'll be seeing you tomorrow. Goodnight, uncle" I excused myself. Tyrion nodded.
"I'll be seeing you tomorrow then. Goodnight, Evelyne" he answered
I wrote my letter with vinegar. We used to play the "Code game" with my sister when we were little. We had found ways of concealing information into drawings, see behind the letters of a script or write with invisible ink. My favourite was the lemon or vinegar or egg white, which appeared on the my letter, marked the bottom right with a flame and closed it. I used the Stark seal, although it was risky. It would be riskier to use the Lannister seal though. They'd find me immediately.
The voice of a servant woke me up. She said that my uncle wanted to see me right away. I dressed up and went to meet him.
I found Tyrion at one of the balconies, eating breakfast and gazing at the sea. I sat next to him, accepting the tea and cakes I was offered.
"You will return to Winterfell today" he announced. I stopped chewing and looked at him.
"Please tell me you're not joking" I begged.
"I am certainly not. You can be on your way as soon as you prepare your horse. A letter arrived early this morning. King's Landing is safe. For now" he said. I couldn't believe my ears. I was going home!
I rushed to send a brief letter to Deryk in Highgarden, explaining that I was returning to Winterfell. His letters were to be sent there from now on.
"Uncle, thank you for everything" I said, hugging him from my horse at the crossroads out of the castle. He was sitting on his horse, surrounded by his personal guard.
"Be careful. If I don't see you earlier, I'll be at your wedding" he answer and bid me farewell. I bowed my head to Lord Tyrion and turned my horse North.
I pushed the double oak gate of my home's throne room open and walked in. What I saw, though, was not what I expected.
The stone throne was empty. My uncle, my father, my sister and mother were nowhere to be seen.
"Where are your lords and ladies?" I asked the servant responsible for the room's fire.
"Lord Jon, lord Cerimon, lady Dannae, lord Jaime and lady Sansa are in the Queen's chambers. They're in the middle of a meeting" she answered. I turned around and headed upstairs.
Jaime was here? And why wasn't the meeting held in the council room? Something was wrong.
I entered my parents' winter bedroom after I was announced by a servant. My mother was laid on the bed. Everyone else was sitting on chairs around her. They looked at me.
"Evelyne, dear" she said.
"Mother! What happened? Are you harmed?" I asked
"Mother was attacked in King's Landing. She was poisoned. They tried to poison me too. I heard you were attacked as well" said Dany. I hadn't seen my sister in a month. I was glad she was alright.
"Who could have done this?" I asked, taking my seat next to my mother's bed.
"We found this on the assassin who attacked your sister" said Jaime. I looked at the Lannister. He was two years older than his brother, yet looked no older than fifty years old. He had married Brienne of Tarth after he was forced to kill his twin sister Cersei, who tried to destroy King's Landing. He had two children with lady Brienne. A son, Alaric, promised to my sister since their birth, and a daughter, named Catelyn, after my grandmother. Jaime was my mother's closest advisor in King's Landing.
Jaime gave me a piece of paper. It had Valyrian written on it. I looked at my sister.
"Kill the She Wolf and her pup" I read.
"Mother and me. Look at the signature" said Dany. I looked at the seal. It was a sparrow seated upon a branch.
"Damn!" I cursed in Valyrian.
"You recognise this?" asked Jon.
"Yes. And you should too. It's the sigil of house Baelish" I said.
Silence followed my words. I returned the paper to my sister and let it move around. My mother looked at me.
"I banned Petyr Baelish all those years ago. He was dangerous for the peace. Besides, Littlefinger was smarter than to put his own seal, one we'd recognise, onto a death sentence" she noticed. I got up and walked around the room. The puzzle was filling its own gaps.
"He's trying to scare us. I have a theory. The poison used on the three of us was from across the sea. The missionaries were from across the sea. I think Lord Baelish is gathering up army in Essos. Not to attack us, just to make sure he tears us apart. He put his seal on that paper to tell us that, as long as he's alive, we can never have peace. Our alliance with the Tyrells would have been destroyed if it wasn't for my wedding. He almost managed to kill the Queen. He needs to be stopped" I spoke my mind. My father and my sister got up at once.
"We will find him and kill him" said Dany. My father nodded.
"No" said Jaime in my place. I looked at my mother's Hand.
"Ser Jaime is right. We can't go on a wild goose chase right now. We need to unite the last regions that still resist us. Evelyne needs to establish her wedding. Dannae needs to marry Alaric and take over here. Jon is needed north. We can't worry about a threat all the way across the sea. We can't afford it" said mother, trying to get up. She was still weak. I ran to help her stand up, just like uncle Jon. She raised a hand to stop us.
"Petyr Baelish should not worry you now. We will double the guards. We will be cautious. But we should focus on what's important" she added and headed to the door. I looked at my uncle, my father, Jaime and my sister. Dannae nodded. We both shared a thought.
