JEFFERSON

'I'm not overly fond of wine may I…no matter.' Jefferson sighed and cast his eyes down to the table as Olenna's stone cold glare bore into him from across the table. The garden party had developed into an evening feast much to his dismay; he was awful at holding polite conversation. He also preferred ale but it seemed that wouldn't make a good impression.

The dining hall of the Tyrell home was crowded with numerous guests but he was seated rather surprisingly at the head table. Nila was seated one side of him and Alice the other with her own betrothed beside her. Both women were in conversation and Jefferson was stuck in the middle with nothing but his wine goblet for company. He sipped the wine with mild distaste before placing it back down.

'If you're not going to drink that Jeff then pass it down would you?' The gruff voice of Ser Brendan Selmy called to him through a mouthful of bread. It hadn't taken Jefferson long to dislike Alice's fiancé. The man like the famous Barristan Selmy was built to become a knight, his shoulders taking up most of the table and after passing formalities he persisted in calling him Jeff. Even after telling him various times that it wasn't his name the broad man merely ignored him.

'If you wouldn't mind Ser Brendan I think I'll be needing this.' Jefferson mumbled in answer and brought the goblet to his lips once more. How else would he survive the evening if he wasn't at least a little tipsy? The broad man's laugh drew several people's attention and he leaned forward so he could meet Jefferson in the eye.

'I'll look forward to locking lances with you Tyrell.' He stated adopting his last name as if only to embarrass him further. Loras' skill at jousting had been unparalleled in the last tourney at King's Landing but that had certainly had not passed unto him. He could barely hold the lance aloft no wonder knock off an armour laden knight off his horse with one. The statement drew some unwanted attention and Nila turned from her conversation to place a hand on his arm.

'Do you joust Jefferson?' She asked excitedly and his scoff faded as soon as it left his lips. Her expectant face and of those around him making him want to lie.

'Of course he doesn't, pardon me milord but you hardly have the build for it.' Alice interjected with a coarse laugh and frustratingly Selmy's booming laughter joined in. Nila's disappointment was more than evident and Jefferson's ears burned with embarrassment.

'Wait a moment; I actually am rather skilled with a lance. I have unseated Loras in the past and the build of a man has no correlation to skill.' Jefferson lied smoothly, the best lies always had slivers of truth and he had in fact unseated Loras in the past but that was when they were children.

'You've unseated Ser Loras? Oh my, you are truly wonderful!' Nila enthused but Alice cocked an eyebrow as if she saw right through his lie.

'Oh, I don't know about that.' Jefferson said humbly but he really should have thought before lying, it was always his trap that got him into trouble.

'Then how about we put that to the test? I simply must know if it is Nila or I who has the better husband to be.' Alice suggested and that was when Jefferson knew he was in trouble because even Olenna's laugh could be heard from across the table.

'Papa, why did you tell them you joust? You're simply dreadful.' Grace said as she watched him buckle on several pieces of armour that he wasn't familiar with. The armour which he had been given was beautifully gilded and etched with metallic roses, probably a set of Loras' and he surely didn't deserve it; as long as it prevented him from being impaled that was fine by him.

'Don't you ever change you hear? But, I wanted to make a good impression didn't I?' He clanked awkwardly as he shifted and breathed deeply as he picked up the helmet.

'Why won't you tell me about her? Your new wife?' She asked innocently as he hadn't told her anything of the day before. He had gone home after the meal and then it had been decided that the tents and fields would be prepared for a joust the following morning. He wasn't even given time to practice. 'I want to know everything about her, she is going to be my new mother-'

'Grace please, I'd rather not talk about it.' His sigh was finished with a small smile so that she knew that he wasn't upset with her. It was just difficult for him to think about it, even though he knew it had to be done.

'You've put your sigil on upside down Papa!' Grace didn't say or ask anything more and Jefferson kneeled down so that she could clip his cape on the right way around on the back of his armour. He squinted as the tent flap parted and for a moment the sun blinded him.

'I must say I am looking forward to this, although my sister insists on backing you. She's arguing the point with my father now as it happens.' Alice said as she entered with an air of arrogance in her step.

'She'd be backing the right man then wouldn't she?' Jefferson retorted. He didn't know what he had done for her to do this to him. Apart from cheating her out of a few coins but that little situation had been cleared up. At first he had thought her a mysterious stranger that he wanted to know more about, now she was fast becoming an annoyance.

'Your mother has bet you fall on the first run.' Alice had a great pleasure in saying and Jefferson mumbled a few inaudible curses to which Grace finally made herself known and pushed him playfully.

'Step mother, but that gives me all the more reason to show you what I can do.' Jefferson grinned but Alice wasn't looking to him but behind him to Grace with a smile.

'Aren't you going to introduce us?' Alice asked her arrogance quickly diverting to honesty. Grace stepped out from behind him and curtseyed, she wasn't the type to shy away.

'Milady this is my daughter Grace and Grace this is Lady Alice of Tarth.' He introduced formally as he stood and he was more than proud of Grace as she stood with more confidence then he did beside him. His eyes widened in slight surprise as Alice then curtseyed to Grace.

'Pleased to meet you Grace, you look very much like your father. Will you be watching today?' Alice asked glancing to Jefferson as she said it.

'I'm afraid not milady, I'm to be taken home soon.' Grace said and despite the fact that she was still smiling he knew that she was disappointed at that fact.

'Oh surely not? No, you simply must sit with us. Nila would love it,' Alice insisted not letting Jefferson interrupt her. Grace beamed but she looked back to her father for confirmation. 'Come, we'd best get to our seats. Good luck milord.' She took Grace's hand and smirked to Jefferson before she guided her out of the tent. A few moments later and Grace was back, pulling him down for a kiss to wish him luck before rushing back out of the tent.

It wasn't long later when Jefferson rode out onto the jousting stance on his dappled grey horse. The heavy lance was jostling in the crook of his arm and the seats even having been erected in a night were full of cheering crowds. His mouth was too dry to swallow back the nerves and the helmet pressed into his forehead. A loud whiny sounded opposite the sandy field and he looked to the looming figure of Selmy who seemed so at ease in the distance.

'Why did I ever agree to this?' Jefferson breathed, his breath laboured as he begun to panic at the thought of his body on the other end of Selmy's lance. He spared a glance to the crowd and instantly picked out Grace, Alice and Nila among them. Grace was motioning with her hands and it was then that he realised that he hadn't placed down the front of his helm, he saw Nila giggle as he fumbled with it and Alice force herself to look in Selmy's direction.

A boy ran up to him with a shield and he pushed it up onto his free arm, feeling more restricted than ever. Everything about this moment was awkward and out of place and the only thing he wanted now was to not embarrass himself too much. As soon as the boy had run off a horn was blown and he saw no other way than to spur his horse on, Selmy doing so with an echoing shout. The horses were already hissing through their nostrils as they charged down the run. Jefferson's lance slipped downwards and he struggled to keep it aloft but his eyes were on the knight approaching. One moment he was about to strike and the next he was behind him, the wooden lance had only clipped his shoulder but the pain was horrific, a dull beating ache that didn't stop no matter how much he swore beneath the helmet. He couldn't waste time however and he turned his horse when they reached the end, he was sure that he would have a terrible bruise but he had stayed on though! Olenna would have lost that bet.

The applause and cheer was overcome when the horn was blown once more and the horses were pegged down the run once more. A burst of strength had him lift his lance higher than before. He had been too pre-occupied with it however and he felt the smash of Selmy's lance against his shield. He felt himself leaving the seat but his shield had caught in the reins and it dragged him back down but still the horse careened him onwards down to end.

The sound of applause was louder this time but Jefferson couldn't feel his arm and his vision had gone blurry. His groans echoed in his helmet but he wasn't about to give up now after surviving two runs and as soon as the horn blew he was off. The lance drooped and he had no strength left to lift it and he was just waiting for the inevitable. And by the gods did it come. He was struck in the chest; Selmy's lance had missed his shield and hit him square in the chest instantly launching him out of the saddle. He fell into a heap on the sand, both his shoulder and arm more painful as they were jarred on impact. He heard the cheers for the victor but all he could do was force a groan from his lips and he tasted the rusty tang of blood. He couldn't open his eyes and didn't want to but he heard a voice and he felt his helmet being lifted off before his head fell back onto the sand.

'You are a fool milord but a brave one at that.'