Chapter Fifty-Two
…
"It's good to see you again, father," the greeting of Myrcella is barely able to cut through Robert's hazy brain trying and failing to process.
Robert doesn't know on what to be surprised first, his obviously now mature looking daughter or the rather giant creatures that they are riding.
For the record, Robert is a man who enjoys surprises. For him, it is the color in life that can at least keep him sane from his otherwise miserable everyday function. That is maybe why he keeps shady characters like Baelish or Varys in the Small Council even though every nerve of his body is screaming at him that they are not to be trusted. The slimy morons perform a good function, and believe it or not, brings rather surprising news that can catch Robert's attention in rare moments of his UN-drunkenness.
With his Small Council filled with the pompous flagellant that is an irresponsible Renly and a dour and stern Stannis, having every little bit of entertainment is a must. He surely doesn't want to end up like the latter who seems to have an overly fondness of gritting his teeth. Robert has always partly wondered how those haven't transformed into stubs yet.
Right now however his cause of surprise is nothing like Robert has ever seen. The most eye catching most of all are the bloody giant walking chickens currently preening their feathers in front of him. Robert is a warrior through and through, as a Baratheon it is in his blood. For him this two creatures looming over their entire party is beautiful. That giant head is enough to support a sharp beak that Robert would bet all the wine in his stomach, future included, can be able to pierce even the toughest plate armor. The strong body, the size of two and a half stallions glued together built like a lion with muscles rippling, plus that red mane is a combination of power and intimidation in Robert's opinion. Giant wings currently unfolded only adds to the awesomeness of it. Despite his giant bulk, Robert has almost been thrown off his footing. He has felt the power of the wingbeats of those appendages, and knows that one accidental hit from that would be enough to cripple a man via broken bones. He would not even want to wonder how lethal those claws are of the giant creature. Each one of them looks like miniature short swords and he has a feeling that they simply aren't there for show either. These creatures are dangerous, wild and obviously very deadly.
Robert is already in love with them.
That brings Robert to the second one that catches his attention today. He has to pinch himself to make sure that he's not hallucinating. Robert is sure that last time that he has seen his daughter is two years ago during the Grand Tourney of Osgiliath. Once more however the memory makes Robert wince. He knows that he has performed his duties as a father badly at that time openly shaming his family by being drunk and groping every single female that he can reach. He should have been connecting with the daughter whom he has not seen for a long time due to her fostering but he fails to even do that.
Right now though Robert feels like he is looking at a stranger smiling at him, It seems that the past two years ever since the Tourney has treated Myrcella well. His daughter has reached a massive growth spurt. Gone are the baby cheeks and cuteness that Robert remembers. Instead they are replaced by a beautiful face sharp and angled like her mother. Cersei might be a bitch in the highest levels, something that Robert would agree a hundred percent with, but no one can deny that the lioness is a great beauty. Now as he stares at his daughter, Robert can properly say that Myrcella is almost a carbon copy of her mother minus all the maliciousness.
Not for the last time, Robert thanks his happy stars on his decision on sending Myrcella to be fostered under Delianah Tully. Robert might not be as brilliant as Stannis in military strategy but he is a great reader of people. He can literally see that the Dame of Rivendell has done her job well with his daughter. There is no indication of doubt or worry from Myrcella. In fact she is oozing confidence and self-assurance despite dressed in Delianite armor instead of a dress, something that no Lady would be caught dead on. She is tall, fit and firm, not willowy like any of the hens at King's Landing. In his daughter is steel, and Robert can never be prouder. He has heard from Varys how she has even participated during the War of the Faith in battle. She is a Baratheon through and through. Beautiful, Tall, Proud and Dangerous, Robert would have to beat off both sleazy old lords and young boys trying to win her hand with his warhammer (assuming he doesn't die off in a drunken stupor just yet).
"Father," this time Robert envelops his daughter with a hug of his own, happily feeling her warmth against him. Robert is not ashamed to admit that he does miss her a lot.
"I missed you,"
"So do I father. Come, familial meetings can wait after this. The Lady Delianah is waiting," replies Myrcella.
"Of course, of course you are right," this sours Robert but at the same time makes him feel pride again. His daughter knows Court etiquette, something that Joffrey is constantly failing without Cersei nagging him, who knew?
While his daughter leads him to the last two riders who bows at his presence. Robert chokes on his own spit the moment he lays eyes on her. Myrcella has to pat his back a bit before Robert manages to pull himself together to stare again and make sure that his eyes aren't deceiving him.
It is now very well-known throughout the entirety of Westeros (and beyond) about the Dame of Rivendell's rebellion against the social norms of how a woman should act. This right now however seems to be crossing a line that Robert himself thinks is a little bit too much.
Very rarely is the Lady of Rivendell found wearing a dress. However the form fitting bodysuit she is wearing right now seems to put to shame even the revealing silk dresses of Dorne. It simply covers everything and nothing at the same time. Colored in deepest dark violet, it hugs every curve and contour of her form, hiding nothing from sight or imagination. Beneath the bodysuit, the forms of black chest coverings and underwear can be seen adding even more allure to her. Criss-crossing black belts go down from her upper thighs to her calf. Two set of bronze Delianite pauldrons rest on her shoulders, each ornate to hell and costing a castle each. Her long hair is unbraided free falling from her black, the blood red streak standing out from the black. (Scatach from Fate Anime Outfit Inspired)
All in all her outfit represents her nature and that of the kingdom she rules, Tall, Powerful, Beautiful, Vain, Different, Rich and Proud. If Myrcella has grown up to the cusp of a young woman, the Lady Delianah Robert notices looks even more mature than his daughter. She looks more lordly with her outfit and poise compared to every noble in his retinue today.
"Your Majesty, welcome to Rivendell, though I'm afraid that I haven't prepared accommodations for you and your retinue. I have assumed from the letter that your courier delivered that you are hurrying up North and do not wish to tarry in pleasantries," her rich accented voice declares.
It takes a moment for Robert to gather his wits and pull himself together (too busy ogling that body), after a pinch from Myrcella followed a by a glare that could melt polar icecaps.
"Of course, of course Lady Delianah, we would not be imposing on your lands long. Though I thank you for granting us this field for us to stay in relative safety tonight at least,"
"My pleasure your majesty, of course food and drink will be served for you, courtesy of my people and mine. A servant will come in a while to bring bread and salt. Me and Myrcella have flown here cause she is missing you, her father," she replies with another bow.
"Really? You miss me, eh?" Robert chuckles looking at his beautiful daughter who gives him a beaming smile. Butterflies are flying inside his stomach currently and for the first time, Robert is looking forward for later where he can connect with his child instead of the jug of wine or bottle of Vodka at his desk.
"I do father, now let us get in near the campfires. A drafty wind is blowing today and tonight would be cold," replies Myrcella.
"Indeed, come, oi! You lazy dogs! Where's the music and the food and wine?! The Lady Delianah is here, don't stand there like gawping fishes, get your asses moving. I don't pay you to stand around!" shouts Robert realizing finally that the entire camp is both either staring in wonder at the giant creatures or ogling the Dame.
"Speaking of which, Lady Delianah, your….rides. Do they need pasture or…?" Robert drifts off in a silent question.
The Lady of Rivendell only laughs at that. "There is no need to worry about them your majesty, they will hunt on their own. They are called Gryphons, and if there is one truth about them, is the simple fact that they are not tame animals," as if to emphasize her point, the giant cross lion, cross avian animals open their wide wings and takes to the skies with squawks of majesty and power.
"Look at them go, if I am any younger, I would have given all the gold in my palace for the chance to ride any one of them and feel the thrill of adventure with the wind at my face. But alas, I am too old and too fat," Robert laughs at his own words before gesturing at Delianah to follow him and Myrcella.
"Come Lady Delianah, you will sup with me and my daughter and tell me everything about those things that you call Gryphons,"
…
Lannister Pavilion
Cersei Lannister can feel her own teeth grinding to dust as she glares at the skank that is the reason for the estrangement between her and her daughter. She stubbornly refuses the reasoning of her fat boar of a husband that it is his idea that Myrcella be fostered in Rivendell. No, it has to be the bastard who manipulated things behind the scenes to get the prestige, power and patronage that can only come in being able to foster royalty like her daughter.
Now look at the result of the bastard manipulating things behind the scenes. Two major conflicts related to the Faith and a massive crisis on Westeros that nearly tore Joffrey's future kingdom in half. She has managed to get her claws on her poor helpless sweetling of a daughter turning her into a carbon copy of her scandalous self. Gone is her sweetling of a daughter who dresses in scarlet and gold like the dolls she used to play, and whom Joffrey can dote on. Now stands there walking beside her pig of a husband is a total stranger that looks like her daughter simply. The beautiful lady Lioness that she has raised and cultivated who dreams of flowers and knights have all disappeared into the wind and it's all because of this skank.
She is rich, powerful, having lands of her own (Cersei is sure it's because of her sleeping around) and now stands offendingly defiant on what cultured ladies should be. She grimaces as she stares at the back of the bastard sitting so casually at the fire with her husband and her daughter. Only a whore belonging to one of Baelish's brothels would dare dress like that. She would bet that by the end of the night, she would be at Robert's bed. What better way for a bastard than sleeping with a king after all?
Cersei however is not dumb. The bastard might be a prostitute and an opportunistic bitch, but that is expected lik ae all of her ilk. However that giant beast of a creature she and her daughter commands is a gift from heaven for Joffrey. Cersei can already imagine it, her golden beautiful baby boy commanding mighty beasts like that. The Targaryens Dynasty is feared and their rule endured due to the strength of dragons and dragonfire. With flying lion like beasts like that, Joffrey's (and her) rule at Westeros will be nigh invincible. No one would dare stand against them. The impregnable passageways of the Eyrie will prove useless and not the hot sands of Dorne would be able to save anyone who dares go against them who will be able to command the power of flight.
She needs to know how to command and tame those powerful beasts. Fortunately for her, her daughter is one of them. This gives her also the opportunity to hit two birds with one stone. She can (she hopes at least) to put an end to this destructive ways that the whore is placing inside her daughter's head and turn her demure, soft and beautiful, just the way Cersei envisions it; while at the same time she would be able to needle the answers that she would need from her daughter. As her mother, it is her duty to tell her how, and as her future king, she knows that Myrcella will be more than happy on telling Joffrey the secret on commanding such beasts. There would be no need for her sullying herself with the company of bastards.
Cersei never notices the gleaming emerald eye of a certain Dame staring straight at her, reading every thought that crosses her mind.
…..
Random Log Chair at the Camp
Joffrey never knows that he would feel jealousy as strongly as he is feeling right now. He is sitting alone at the chair, even ignoring his enjoyable pastime of picking on Tommen as he recalls the image of his older sister climbing down that majestic beast. It takes all his self-control not to scream out in frustration. His sister has changed a lot. Gone is the demure small princess that he can bully anytime he wants replaced with that tall woman with a self-confidence that Joffrey knows he lacks. She looks splendid, and marvelous which Joffrey hates with every fiber of his being. She should be cowering and terrified, demure like all ladies are not seemingly like made of steel.
She also is able to ride those strong beasts which looks built for war with ease. Why her? She's not the Crown Prince, he is. So why does she get to get those things and not future king? As no answer presents itself to his questions, Joffrey contents himself to imagining plunging his dagger on her heart.
….
Royal Camp, A Few Hours Later
It does not take long for the Death Dealers to arrive with a contingent of Rivendell maids and workers with wagonloads of food to be served at the king's table. As for Delianah, she takes the opportunity to escape the king's endless questions about Gryphons. She likes King Bobby B a lot but even she would get tired of repeating for the umpteenth time the dangers of trying to be a Gryphon Rider. Thus using the excuse to freshen up with Myrcella with the arrival of her own retinue, the two of them escapes the king who soon trades possible scenarios about fighting a Gryphon with Ser Barristan Selmy.
The excuse is to freshen up, but the reality is something more…..steamier. With a tired sigh, Delianah detracts her naked body off of Myrcella's, panting from weariness as she stares up the roof of her own private pavilion. It does not take long for her partner's arms to hug her form from the side, her warmth enveloping Delianah's. Say what you will of Myrcella, shy and rather unsure at times, but when it comes to bed? Let's just say that the scratches all over her body is testament to the younger woman's fire. The two of them are new to their relationship and thus they tend to fuck each other's brains out like bunnies on heat. This unexpected roadblock via king's choosing of a new hand is just a slight bump on their desire to bring the other to bed.
"Your mother is planning to grill you soon about the Gryphons and your rather adherence to my teachings," says Delianah.
"We have been expecting that love. And you forget again to call me Cella," is the rather pouty response.
"Of course, sorry Cella. So are you sure that you can face her alone?" asks Delianah truly worried about her beautiful protégé.
"Hmmf, have a little faith in me love. Compare facing her with the fear of facing a training bout with Rae-Rae is nothing," snorts Myrcella.
"Cella, you forget. She is your mother and sometimes words of hate and condescension from the closest of us can hurt worse than the sharpest of swords," points out Delianah.
"I know love, but I have known for a long while that although mother loves me, it would always be Joffrey at her eye. I am just an ornament for her, a precious thing which she can keep and display for everyone to see. I barely know who or what I am before I come under your wing. Trust me when I say that she would get very little answers from me,"
"Very well, if you're sure about this Cella then to you I leave this," replies Delianah (with every bit of intention of not following through it. She would have one of the Hidden Ones shadow Myrcella twenty-four seven). "Just be careful Cella okay? If ever you need me, I would always be here. At worst, tell her the trial of Gryphon Riders on testing out whether a Gryphon would choose you for its rider. Somehow I can't imagine our spoiled Crown Prince surviving said trial,"
"Look at the bright side love. It would be a sight to see of him pooping his pants crying out for Mother to help him," replies Myrcella. That rather changes the sour mood and Delianah does not hesitate on maintaining it via a few more rounds with the Princess Royal before they are called to dinner at the king's table.
…..
Author's Note: As always thank you for the Reviews and Support. Tomorrow I might not be able to update due to the fact that I will be bringing my puppies to the vet. So no time for writing.