Tommen gets his POV here.

Everything in A song of Ice and Fire belongs to George R. R. Martin.

Myrcella Baratheon: Bride of a Northern Savage

The ages of the characters:

Robb Stark: 20

Jon Snow, Alys Karstark: 19

Joffrey Baratheon: 18

Sansa Stark: 17

Arya Stark: 15

Bran Stark, Myrcella Baratheon: 14

Tommen Baratheon, Ned Umber: 13

Rickon Stark: 10


Chapter 03

Tommen Baratheon

Despite what the Southerners thought of the Northerners, Tommen actually liked it here in Winterfell. Yes, it was cold, and the Northmen believed in Gods of the First Men, while Tommen, who was an Andal, was baptised by the worshippers of the Seven, but it was clean, compared to the dirty and crowded King's Landing. Tommen found himself smelling fresh air for the first time in his life. Real, clean fresh air. Although the personnel working at the Red Keep tried their best to uphold the sanitation for the royal family, the stink of urine and alcohol from the city streets still reached the halls and corridors of the Red Keep, including the throne room.

The royal party has arrived only yesterday, and Tommen already began making friends in Winterfell. He immediately befriended Bran Stark. He was a year older than him, just like his sweet sister Myrcella, but that wasn't a large age gap for the two boys. While Bran had an interest in knighthood and direwolves, and Tommen was more of a cat-person, the two boys shared a common interest in legends and the history of Westeros. Tommen immediately saw Bran as a kind and friendly lad. Tommen never had friends before, but for the first time, Tommen had an actual friend, a real one.

As they were sparring, Tommen was barely blocking Bran's attacks while unsuccessfully trying to counterattack. Tommen had to admit that despite not being trained by Kingsguard knights, who are considered to be the best, Bran was a talented fighter. He also proved himself to be a honourable one during the spar, and when he offered a hand to pull him up from the ground once Tommen yielded to Bran.

As he gave the wooden sword to Rodrick Cassel, Tommen looked at Bran and Myrcella leaving with Jory, curious at what did father, if you could call him that, wanted from them. Tommen began to recently realise that the king didn't really care about his three children. Mother, on the other hand, did care about Joffrey, and only him. Yes, Tommen agreed that his older brother, whom he wished was not, was the crown prince and heir to the Iron Throne, and thus, needed to be prepared to take the crown, but that did not mean that Joffrey had to be spoilt and pampered. Since the age of five, Tommen knew that Joffrey was a horrible person. He remembered that day very well when Joffrey, right in front of him, skinned his pet cat. Tommen was horrified, wailing hysterically from the scene. Robert of course, back then, hit Joffrey hard, but that was all. Cersei, on the other hand, did not do anything in Tommen's defense. Now, she just constantly defended Joffrey's actions, no matter how horrible they were, even if he abused his siblings. Tommen looked disgusted as Cersei pampered her firstborn, blind to Joffrey's flaws.

With his sparring lessons over for now, and having nothing else to do, Tommen decided to walk around and explore Winterfell. It was a massive keep, not as huge the Red Keep itself, but Tommen gave credit for its size and defenses. Strolling around, the young prince decided to visit the local Godswood. He did not have the chance to see it yesterday, as he and the rest of the royal family were busy, but he wanted to see it since he heard of it.

Crossing the gateway to it, Tommen at first thought that he was leaving the keep and entering the wilderness, but soon found a glimpse of the wall surrounding the area. Tommen had to admit, the Godswood in Winterfell was far, far different than the Godswood at home. A true Godswood, he could say. While the Godswood in King's Landing was more of a garden, the Godswood here was like a forest filled with mysteries, and maybe, even with the infamous Children of the Forest. As he walked, examining the unique tundra tress of the North, Tommen suddenly heard a cry and came towards it. He was shocked and heartbroken to see that it was dear sister Myrcella crying at the roots of the Weirwood Tree. The last time he saw her was being summoned by their father. Tommen feared that the king has somehow offended Myrcella, as he gently approached her.

"Cella, what's wrong?" Tommen asked gently, causing the weeping princess to startle. She looked at her brother, eyes red and wet from tears. Tommen felt his heart breaking once again at the sight as Myrcella was breaking down again. Tommen immediately pulled her into a hug.

"What happened?" Tommen asked her again.

After some minutes of crying, Myrcella looked up at her brother. Her lips were trembling. "It's father. He called us both, Bran and me. Lord Stark and mother were there too. Father said that since Robb and Sansa cannot marry any of his children, I will marry Bran!" Myrcella collapsed and began sobbing once again.

Tommen wrapped his arms around Myrcella tighter, stroking her blonde hair. "Shhh," he cooed. "Don't cry, Cella. It's okay."

"It is not okay!" the princess almost yelled. "I'm being married to a Stark, a Northerner! Who is not even a lord's first son! I will have to stay here in the cold, away from you, mother, Uncle Jaime, Uncle Tyrion! I want to stay home with you! I'm scared of what will happen to me!"

"I know, Cella, I know." Tommen answered, he himself on the brink of tears, with the mere thought of partying with his sister with the possibility of not seeing her ever again terrified him. At least, she was away from Joffrey's antics, but still, away from her family. Tommen wondered how could father do something like this, only to remember that he was the king, and kings whatever they fucking wanted, at least that's what Robert said.

"I really don't think that Bran Stark is a terrible person, Cella," Tommen told his sister with honesty. "I know you do not know him well, and I have only met him yesterday, but he doesn't seem bad, even if he believes in the Old Gods and is a Northman."

Myrcella glared at her brother. She knew that he was trying to comfort her, but in her opinion, Tommen wasn't helping at all. "I don't care, Tommen. Even if he's like Maegar the Cruel or like Uncle Renly, I don't want to part with my family! I don't want father selling me off as if I'm nothing, even if I'm nothing to him anyway!"

"No one is selling you off like an object, Cella," Tommen tried to reason with her. "You aren't nothing."

"Tell that to father! For years, since we were born, he didn't give a thing about us, and never will! You know that Tommen, and if not, well, then you are stupid, just like him!" Myrcella suddenly yelled. She never yelled at her beloved little brother, and never wanted to, but right now she was just being emotional, filled with so much despair and anger, and she needed to release it somehow. It was obvious from her facial expressions, and right now, she was displaying regret as Tommen, startled by her outburst, let her go. He thought it was better to leave her for now.

"I'll get Uncle Jaime to bring you back to the guest chambers…" he finally managed to say, turning around and leaving his sister for herself. With his back turned on her, he did not see Myrcella wanting to call him and apologise, but it was too late for her as he left the Godswood.

Bran Stark

Bran Stark was not proud of the betrothal either. Shortly after King Robert and Queen Cersei left, he had an argument with his father. Thankfully, only he and Lord Eddard were present as the royal couple were long gone with the Kingsguard guarding them.

"Father, you can't do this!" Bran complained. "I cannot marry, I want to be a knight. I am supposed to join the Kingsguard!"

"Son, marrying someone doesn't mean you will not be a knight," Eddard Stark responded in a mild tone. "Yes, you wouldn't join the Kingsguard, but you can still be a knight nonetheless."

"But I cannot marry particularly her, father! She is a golden Lannister bitch from the South, she's stupid and she worships the stupid gods that make people believe in idiotic ideas about the First Men and their legacy!" It was about two years ago the Starks discovered that their children were wargs, and Bran found himself to be the most potential of mastering his abilities. Catelyn at first panicked, so did Sansa, as the two strongly believed in the Seven, with the oldest Stark daughter even refusing to practice her powers.

"You watch your tongue, boy," his father interrupted, obviously angered. "The Starks may have the blood of the First Men, but you also have Andal blood from your mother. Princess Myrcella is not stupid, she's fourteen name days, just as you are, and from what I've seen, she is kind and sweet. You are lucky Bran to get such a wonderful girl."

Bran grabbed for his hair, despair filling him. He was now feeling what Sansa and Arya felt. The boy now understood what it was like for Sansa when instead of going to the South and marrying a prince, she ended up to soon marrying the heir of a Northern house, with a negative reputation, and what it was like for Arya when father decided to betrothed her to an Umber. He remembered how each of his sisters reacted to their respective betrothals. Sansa was raging, claiming that she was to marry the prince and live in King's Landing, not being trapped in the cold North with an ugly Northman. She said that Arya Horseface should marry the Bolton.

Bran snickered to himself when their parents reprimanded Sansa for her behaviour and her treatment of Arya. His other sister, meanwhile, tried to run away multiple times. She was thinking of either heading north to the Wall, or to Braavos. But she was always caught by father and his bannermen.

"Son," Ned spoke in a soft tone as he stood up from his desk, and approached Bran. "You will marry Myrcella. I know it is hard to accept that. I remember when your Uncle Brandon perished in King's Landing along with your grandfather, your mother, who was your uncle's bride, was immediately betrothed to me. I did not know her back then, nor have never seen her before. Just like your bride, your mother is also from the South, praying to the Seven. I remember our wedding was quite a dull one. We made our vows, I replaced her maiden cloak with the cloak of our house, then the feast, and then the bedding. It was quick, we did our duty, and it was only duty, nothing more, for we did not love each other back then. But then we built our love slowly, and I thank her for giving birth to all of you; Robb, Sansa, Arya, you and Rickon. We have a wonderful marriage."

"What I mean is that while I and your mother did not know each other up until our wedding, you and Myrcella on the other hand have a chance to interact and know each other. I hope that by the time to marry her will come, you two will be close to each other. Do you understand what I mean?" Eddard finished with a question.

"Yes father," Bran muttered. "Though I cannot promise anything."

"Well, at least give it a try." Eddard told his son. Taking a deep breath, Bran nodded before leaving his father within the solar.

Crossing the courtyard, he saw what seemed to be a glimpse of Tyrion Lannister escorting Myrcella to the guest chambers. Bran thought that he saw the princess' eyes red, possibly from crying. Deciding to leave his future wife alone, the boy headed towards the kennels of Winterfell in order to calm down. He was immediately by his direwolf Summer, who instantly leapt at him, licking the boy's faces.

"Hey, hey, easy there, fella. I missed you too, buddy." Bran begged as he petted the canine, which then followed by belly rubbing. He looked up to see Nymeria, Arya's direwolf, approaching her brother. Hearing a child's giggle, Bran saw that Rickon was already here, along with Osha, playing with Shaggydog. Playing with Summer and practicing his warging abilities, Bran Stark forgot about the betrothal, as if it was a bad dream, allowing himself to relax, for now.