Emily returned to King's Landing to a celebration held in honor of her engagement to Ser Barristan. King Robert had made all the arrangements, insisting on a big feast and ball for the couple. His brother Renly, Margery Tyrell, and their entourages were just two of many noble groups that arrived for the gala.

Ser Barristan presented his betrothed with a golden ring as a token of their upcoming nuptials and his affection.

Emily was blushing and beautiful as she reunited with her elder sister, noticing Talia looked a little worried. "Something the matter?"

"We will talk later on the beach. For now, bask and be with your betrothed."

Emily knew better than to argue, wondering if it had something to do with her sister's engagement. She let people she was barely acquainted with or had only heard of congratulate her, trying to get over to Ser Barristan, who was equally bogged down. Several of his brothers-in-arms appeared to be teasing him and even Ser Jaime seemed in a good mood.

The only one who looked unhappy was Queen Cercei, who glowered beside King Robert as he got drunk and filled the massive ballroom with his booming laughter. They acknowledged everyone who came up to pay their respects, the picture-perfect couple in every way to the general masses.

Emily knew better and stayed as far away as she could, letting herself get pulled this way and that until at last she was in Barristan's arms. "There are so many people here."

"Indeed. Lord Renly was already headed this way because his brother previously invited him to join the hunt next moon. The Tyrells came out from Highgarden to make Lady Margery's engagement to Ser Jaime official as well. Judging from how she has been parading her handmaiden Rose Hightower in front of Lord Renly, she is confident that he will be interested."

"He certainly seems to be." Emily mused, glancing at them as she and Barristan glided passed. "Although I was under the impression he was more into his squire."

"Considering how Ser Loras has been turning Renly's gaze over there as well, I would assume that the three of them will come to some sort of arrangement." He chuckled at her raised eyebrows. "Even some of my white cloak brothers are that way. Dorne isn't the only place for such relationships, just perhaps the only place outside of Essos they are openly acknowledged."

"I seem to have missed a lot. Even Talia looks different."

"Yes. I doubt anyone else has noticed that besides us. Let's keep it that way, hmmm?"

Emily found herself smiling at the twinkle in his familiar blue eyes. "I love you, Ser Barristan."

He looked completely taken aback for a moment by her confession, though he had been hoping eventually she would say something like that for quite some time. "I love you too, Emily. And please, just call me Barristan."

"Barristan it is then." Her heart fluttered as he bent and kissed her, returning it happily. She felt like she was walking on air for the rest of the party, occasionally glancing across the room to make sure Talia was still there until the two were finally able to sneak off to the beach amidst a big, drunken crowd that didn't notice them at all. "Now will you tell me what in the name of the Seven is going on?"

"You must swear by them that you will tell no one. Not even your betrothed."

"I swear it."

"Ned and I are heading back towards the North with his children tonight. They don't even know this yet."

"Tonight? But what about Sansa and the engagement to Joffrey?"

"I assume that is part of the reason he hasn't told them. Sansa is too infatuated to see the monster Joffrey is and would no doubt go running to Cercei."

"It wouldn't surprise me. Surely the King would understand?"

"He is going to be hungover the next few days along with everyone else. You know how things get around here when that happens."

Emily sighed and nodded. "All too well. Will you come back?"

"Maybe in the distant future when the King has had some time to cool down. You and Barristan are always welcome in Winterfell."

"I wonder how he would feel about a wedding up there."

"I am certain he will give you whatever your heart desires."

"You are not wrong. He noticed that you were on edge too and suggested we should keep attention off you."

"That was very thoughtful of him." Talia smiled and hugged her. "I will miss you, little sister."

Emily teared up. "And I you. I knew one day we would have to be apart, but didn't think it would be so soon."

"Me either. Be safe."

"Same to you."

They walked back to their room together and Emily pretended not to notice Talia slip out after a couple of hours. She tossed and turned in bed until dawn, rising and going out for a walk. Below, she spotted Rose and Loras with their lips locked and turned away. Some kind of arrangement indeed. How had Barristan known? Perhaps because no matter what, he read others as easily as a Maester might a tome.

She found herself at the sept, going in and praying for her sister and the Starks until her stomach protested loudly that it needed food, going to the dining hall. Hardly anyone was there for it being nearly midday now, though perhaps that was a good thing considering the fact that it bought her family more time. She wondered when she had started thinking of the Starks that way. Had it been when Talia said she trusted them or Emily had suspected there was more between her sister and Lord Eddard when he had written their father? Perhaps it was a bit of both.

"You look a million miles away, my dear."

She glanced at Barristan with a blush as he sat beside her. "Lost in thought, I suppose. Is your watch over?"

"Yes. I was hoping to spend some time with you so we could talk more about the wedding."

"I would like that."