Game of Thrones: Loves Many Trials

Chapter 21 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.

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Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.

Chapter 21

After yet another day, Jamie smiled as he settled down at home.

'Friday at last, the weekend huh...' He thought, smiling. 'Well, I'll be meeting up with Meera, Bran and Jojen soon.'

He pondered for a moment and, before getting ready for that, he decided to make a call. It had been a while since he talked to them, so he phoned his parents. Jamie was an only child, no siblings, both his parents were hard workers and Jamie considered himself truly lucky to have them as family.

It was his mother who answered the phone. "Hello?"

He smiled. "Hi mum."

"Oh Jamie, hello, how are you?" She replied, immediately sounding happier.

"I'm fine, settled in well, things are going great."

He could almost see her smile as she replied. "I'm glad to hear it; so, everything's good?"

Jamie replied at once. "Yeah; never better in fact. Um, before I say anything about that; how are you and dad…?"

"We're doing good; we're so happy for you, I hope you'll come and visit soon."

Grinning Jamie decided now was the time to reveal it. "Maybe I will and, I won't be alone. I have a girlfriend now, mum."

As he anticipated his mother was delighted and he knew his father would be too. They spent some time with him telling his mother about Meera and making arrangements to visit them later. He had to end the call when he noticed the time however, or he'd be late.

Understanding his mother said goodbye and they hung up, Jamie smiled, relieved that things were indeed much the same as ever for his family.

Brian likewise had just returned home and as this Friday was only a half day, fixed himself some lunch, buttered toast, sausages and coffee. He had just finished when his phone rang, he turned and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hi."A woman's voice replied. It was his mother, Sherry.

Brian grinned and replied. "Mom, what's up?"

"Just seeing how things are going." She explained and Brian smiled.

He replied enthusiastically, happy to hear from his family. "Great so far, how about the rest of you?"

He was referring to his younger brother, Michael, and father, Robert.

Sherry replied happily. "We're all fine here."

Brian laughed softly, glad to hear it. "Great. By the way, something I should have mentioned sooner. I've got a girlfriend."

"Wow."

He began to explain about Sansa. Sherry listened, overjoyed to hear the happiness in her son's voice.

"She sounds nice."

Brian couldn't agree more. "She is, maybe you guys can meet her sometime. You'd like her, I'm sure of it."

He could then hear the sound of a cat meowing in the background on his mother's end of the phone.

Laughing softly Sherry said. "Sorry, gotta go."

Brian replied calmly, understanding. "No problem. Check in with me when you can.

She hung up and Brian did the same, smiling widely.

Marina smiled as she saw her mother's name appear on her cellphone. Her mother had social phobia and a fear of phones, especially as she had a stutter that really eased itself with time. She smiled as she picked up.

"Hi Mom!" She said happily

"Hello, Marina. How are you, my darling?" Her mom replied

"I'm fine, how's everyone?"

Marina had the chance of having young and open-minded parents with whom she could talk about almost anything, especially her mother, who could share some of her fantasies.

She smiled again when she learnt the good news all around. That her family dog was being even cuter than she already was. That her relatives were in good health. Basically, that they were all safe and sound. Her family, both on the paternal and maternal side, had its share of drama.

But then, there was her father, her mother, her brother, her dog and herself. The little island of peace where nothing huge happened or if it did, they quickly and quietly solved it. Maybe it was just in their characters, still, they were that little and sometimes misunderstood bubble.

"What about you? How's school?" Her mother asked.

"It's nice. Love the place. Made friends already." Was Marina's ready and honest reply.

"It doesn't surprise me, you love people." Her mother said. "Unlike me. Thank God for that."

They kept talking, about anything, with no real link between the subjects, from the French president to how Marina was eating and doing with the domestic chores.

Of course, as always, it came down to Lancel again. Marina loved talking about him, always praising his good qualities, sides of him she kept discovering day after day.

To her mother's ears, the simply nice neighbour who happened to be a classmate changed into someone her daughter loved fiercely and when her daughter loved, she didn't love with half her heart. Her entire person was dedicated to the object of that affection.

"You like him?" She asked simply.

Marina grinned and replied. "He's nice. I like him a lot."

"I know what you can offer him to show him that."

Marina was all ears.

"One of your panties." She seriously declared

"Mom!" Marina shouted, mortified

"What? Why not?" Her mother queried, almost laughing lightly. "You like him, he's shy, maybe it's what he needs. Do you need condoms?"

Marina could only laugh, remembering her mother had been the one offering her to buy condoms for a field trip because she was going abroad, in case she had an instant crush.

Still she rolled her eyes. "What would he do with one of my panties, other than knowing my waist size and poor taste in lingerie?"

"You'd be amazed."

She refused to allow herself to think of his intimate and sexual life. She was no saint, she assumed he had needs like everyone and took care of it the way he fancied, but she didn't want to picture it, way too awkward.

As she put her phone down, she realized that she missed them. She wasn't devastated but she felt that little ache of being homesick.

'Is that how Lancel feel sometimes? He too can't see his family as much as he used to. He suffers in silence for his brothers and can't even see, on a daily basis, that it is worth it because he cannot see their happy faces.' She wondered sadly. 'He hates being here, only choosing it over King's Landing due to it not being as far away. I know it. He didn't say it, but I can feel it. He... He has been all alone for so long... I'm his only friend... He literally said so... I'm his only friend...'

Marina felt tears burning her eyes, she swept that away almost angrily. She didn't cry easily and hated crying. She was tough. She didn't need to cry. Yet, looking at the little drawing he had made of them for her, she realized that, at the end of the year, they'd be apart and it scared her. He had grown on her so much it scared her too. For one second, a thought crossed her mind:

She was screwed.

Some of her talk with her mother still played in Marina's mind as she joined Sansa in her room for a sleepover, something they arranged at school earlier.

"I'm so glad you could come...it's a shame Jeyne couldn't make it." Sansa said cheerfully.

Marina nodded. "It's no trouble."

All the while she noticed the differences in Sansa now, compared to their first meeting, being with Brian definitely suited her better, she looked positively radiant these days; compared to her time with Joffrey.

While they enjoyed themselves, watching movies and chatting in general, Sansa seemed to ponder something for a while, before finally smiling.

"Marina?"

Marina turned to her. "Hmm, yes?"

Looking at her seriously, Sansa asked. "Is there something going on with you and Lancel?"

"Wh-what?"

Marina was shocked that Sansa just so blatantly asked her that, her face felt like it was on fire and she was sure she was blushing.

"I've seen the way the two of you look at each other, act around each other." Sansa explained. "You are both, quite happy when you hang out together, and the way you guys act, it's kinda, well...I thought it was, obvious."

"Oh, I um..." Marina stammered, her mind recalling her talk with mother only a few hours ago.

"Relax." Sansa told her with a grin. "You and Lancel would make a cute couple. All geeky and awkward."

Marina bit her lip, thinking for a moment.

She could not deny, she was comfortable and happy around Lancel; and he always seemed happier to. But still, doubt gnawed at her mind.

"He deserves better."

"Do you love him?" Sansa asked.

Marina replied quickly. "As a friend...and he's cute."

"So, you do have a crush on him."

"Alright, alright..." She groaned; shaking her head. "But just look at him, he's drop dead gorgeous. But he seems so unhappy and tortured all the time."

Sansa nodded sadly. "I know...I-I don't know the details but I know he was forced into all that horrible stuff."

"He said it was something to do with his brothers..." Marina replied; but then sighed. "I wish I could help more... I help during the day but when he's alone at night..."

Sansa nodded in agreement, both of them silent for a while.

Wanting to cheer things up, and spotted her sister walk past the room, Sansa turned to Marina.

"Hey, don't know if you saw it but...Arya and Gendry."

Marina nodded; she had seen it. "Yeah, think they'd make a great couple?"

"They'd be very sweet together." Sansa said with a soft laugh. "Well, I'm hoping to get them together somehow."

Marina grinned and listened to Sansa's hopes; and wondered if there was anything she could do to help. Both she and Sansa agreed on one thing, they needed to come together on their own, but that didn't mean they couldn't help giving them a little push.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.