A/N: A second chapter in two days! I know, I'm on a role. Also, to my co-author (I know you are reading this, PJ): Sorry for not giving your character more screen time, I just have to introduce everything before getting the plot going! Anyway, everyone, enjoy the chapter.
Sansa listened to her best friend Jeyne chatter about the Prince Joffrey as she finished her needlework. Septa Mordane soon came over and started praising her needlework again. The King had been in Winterfell since the morning and there was to be a massive feast that night. As the Septa continued to espouse her approval Sansa's needlework, she saw Arya sitting there frowning, still unable to guide the needle in a manner exquisite enough to make beautiful embroidery. Looking next to Arya, Sansa saw the Princess Myrcella struggling much the same, but her's at least had the right idea, Arya's were just all off, her right hand was jittering everywhere as she tried to move the needle, it was almost painful to watch her try.
However, that soon ended as the Princess stood up. "Septa, I would humbly like to request that lessons end early on this day so we may prepare ourselves for the feast tonight." she said with a hint of authority.
"Of course, my princess," the septa said carefully, before looking around at all the girls, "you are all dismissed for-"
"-it's just Robert's excuse to gorge himself on food, get drunk, and lay with any willing girl he can find." a young man said walking into the room with his head facing the other way.
"Um... Addam..." a voice said from out the door.
"What is..." he turned around and looked around at the room filled with girls and their embroidery.
"Well, see ya." the voice outside said as footsteps quickly hit the ground and got fainter quickly. The young man looked around at them. Sansa remembered him, Addam, he'd introduced himself to Arya when the King had arrived, and run off looking for Prince Edric. He had pitch black hair, was clean shaven and his hair was cut to his neck, his bangs were tucked behind his left ear, giving a great view of his emerald green eyes.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, was I interrupting something?" Addam asked. The Princess rolled her eyes at that comment.
"No, we're finished here, Addam. We were just preparing to leave." The Princess said.
"Oh, that's unfortunate, I was looking forward to see what Northern women did as compared to the addfwyn Southron flowers." Addam replied.
"What does that-" Jeyne began.
"It means gentle." Addam interrupted. He smiled at all the girls, and looked around the room.
"Why are you speaking another tongue in the presence of others? We are supposed to use the Vale's tongue, or barring that High Valyrian, to communicate with each other." Sansa asked.
The young man put his arms behind his head. "Do you even speak your own tongue, or do you just speak the Vale's?"
"Of course I speak a tongue other than the Valeman tongue, but-"
"Then speak it, I studied the Northern tongue with Edric before he came here, it's not dissimilar from my own tongue." Addam said. "Of course, the mark of a true lady is speaking both the language of her home and of her husband."
"'S urrainn dhomh bruidhinn cànan eile!"[I can speak another language] Sansa all but shouted.
Addam clapped. "And there we have it. Honestly, I'm disappointed. That was the dialect that is spoken in the Southwestern Riverlands and the Northern Westerlands. That and I thought you'd be out in the training yard."
"It is highly improper for highborn ladies to be out in the training yard." the Septa said.
Addam got a wicked smile on his face as he turned to face the Septa. "It is also highly improper for the Septa to interrupt the highborn when he is speaking. But you broke that, so it's great!" he then turned to face Arya. "Little Stark!"
"I asked you stop calling me that!" Arya said with a look of Indignation.
"Question: how did the Martell's conquer Dorne?" Addam asked, completely ignoring her.
"The Princess Nymeria led the 45,000 Rhoynar who had survived the voyage from Sothoryos. She landed at the mouth of the greenwater and married the King of Sunspear, Mors Martell, and the two of them conquered all the land in Westeros south of the Red Mountains. Mors died in the campaign against the Daynes, but as their children were all underage, she took direct rulership of Dorne, and finished conquering the Starry Kingdom." Arya answered enthusiastically.
"You need to work on your brevity." he said to Arya, before turning back to Sansa. Looking around, she saw that all the ladies barring the Starks, the Septa, and the Princess had left. "You see anything there? Women can lead armies and fight in wars just as well as men. Hells, my cousin Asha is the captain of her own ship."
"She's Ironborn, they have so few people on those desolate islands that they have no choice but to have their women fight." the Septa replied. Asha Greyjoy is his cousin? His clothing is coloured gold and black... gold on black. That must be House Greyjoy's colours!
Addam's eye twitched at that, but said. "Aegon the Conqueror's two sisters?"
"They were Valyrian Dragonriders, they are judged differently." the Septa replied.
"Fine." Addam spat. "If it were up to you, how would you have these girls brought up? Who is a perfect role model for them?"
"The mother and the maiden, as described in the Mother's Me-" the septa began.
"Oh shut up!" Addam whined. "I don't follow the Seven! I can at least tolerate those Old Gods of you people." he waved his hand at Arya as he said that. "The Seven can go burn in their respective hells." he shakes his head. "I'm getting nowhere with you! I thought I heard something about Joffrey earlier, and came over this way, but my associate left me here."
"How dare you speak of the Seven-Who-Are-One in that-" the septa began. Addam looked like he was about to interrupt but then, the Princess stood up.
"Septa Mordane," she said in as authoritative a voice as she could muster, "I, Princess Myrcella of the House Baratheon, command you to leave at once. Let us discuss matters without your company."
The Septa bristled at that, and looked more angry than Sansa had ever seen her before, but she gave a the Princess a long look. "Very well, my Princess." she spat out that last word before turning and walking out of the room with all the dignity she could muster.
"Well, she took that rather well. Addam, please continue." the Princess said.
"So, I came here because I was looking for Theon, I heard he might be with some girls and I thought this may be where he was, but it seems I chose the wrong room. Anyway, I heard something about Joff." Addam said.
Sansa looked right at him. His personality seemed everywhere, he was nice and then he turned into a worse version of the 2nd Prince when he had spoken with her lady mother after that incident then being nice again. Sansa rubbed her cheek at the memory of what he had done. But she wouldn't let him do to the gorgeous Prince what he did to the Seven.
"Prince Joffrey, yes, Jeyne was telling me that I may be betrothed to him!" Sansa felt her heart almost flutter at the though.
Addam frowned. "I'm... so sorry. But I'm afraid you'll have to live with a husband who has not more than a dagger to sheathe."
"If Prince Joffrey chooses to not carry a dagger why is it my concern." Sansa replied.
"No, I'm saying he has no cock." he said without even changing the look on his face. Sansa felt her cheeks heat up at that as she unconsciously shot backward. Addam had said that so easily, in front of three ladies, without even thinking. Then, without warning the Princess started laughing. Even Arya had a smile on her face. How could they think that is funny?!
"I don't see what's so funny, Myrcella, it's the truth of the matter." Addam said, turning to look at her. "Besides, even your mother has more charisma than Joffrey, and that's not saying much." The Princess continued to laugh uncontrollably, to the point she would have fallen had Arya not grabbed and held her steady.
Addam turned back to Sansa. "You think Joffrey's so great because he's your gallant Prince? Maegor the Cruel was a Prince, Aegon the Unworthy was a Prince, Aerys the Mad was a Prince." he leaned in closer to Sansa, "Baelor the Repressed was a Prince. And you should remember the last Prince who ran away with a Stark maiden." he backed up.
"Life's not the songs, Sansa Stark, it's worse. Much, much worse." he said in a dark tone with a serious look on his face. She looked at him for a second, before he turned around to the others. He walked over to Myrcella and Arya, and picked up the embroidery Arya was working on. "Wow, Little Ned told me you hated embroidery but I didn't know you purposefully messed up on it. You're left handed from what I saw, yet you obviously used your right hand on this."
Arya bristled at that. "I don't do it by choice! Septa Mordane forces me to use my right hand, says that it is 'impious' to use your left hand as your primary hand."
Addam took a step back. "Oh... I didn't realise." he took a deep breath. "It's obvious you sacrifice much to be a lady, that makes you a true one to me." Addam then bowed respectfully to her. Arya just stared at him, dumbfounded. "Come now, Myrcella, I want you to meet my cousin!" he said to the Princess.
The Princess seemed to think on it for a few moments, before making up her mind. "Fine," she sighed, "but if he tries to-"
"Don't worry, I'll make sure he never has children if that's the case." Addam said as he and Myrcella began to leave. "My knee can be very persuasive." he finished with as he walked away with the Princess.
A/N: That thing that Sansa yelled was "I speak another language." Just to avoid the questions.