(Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire nor its characters. Those all belong to George R. R. Martin, aside from my OC.)
(Firmridge, the Riverlands)
Erlend watched the excited crowd as the competitors made their preparations. Sat right next to him were both Catelyn and Edmund. Who had Elia and Rhaenys on their sides, presenting a unified front to the rest of the realm.
His lovers, at least those who cared for the blood and gore were also sat close by. Placed closest to them among the stands were the Durrandon and Stark families, clearly showing his favor to them.
Yesterday's archery contest had gone well enough, with Balon Swann winning the entire thing. Stannis had even cracked a smile at that, much to the shock of some of his vassals.
"Dad, do you have any favorites for the melee?" Edmund asked.
"Oberyn is quite the fighter when he isn't messing about. Uncle Lorimas is no slouch either, especially since I lent him Ardent."
"No one but Dad can beat Uncle Oberyn," Rhaenys affirmed, confident in her Uncle's chances.
"I wouldn't say no one could, sunshine." earning him a pout from his daughter.
"Daaaaaaaad. You promised not to call me that in front of everyone." She stared at him accusingly, as if he had made a grave mistake.
Erlend just shook his head at her dramatics.
Come to think of it, he'd never actually participated in a tourney before, which was a damn shame. He'd loved to have gone up against the likes of Robert and Arthur Dayne. Too bad the former was dead and the latter was under house arrest.
He really should do something about that, the former members of the Kingsguard that stood guard at the tower of joy were all still alive. Lyanna seemed to take no small amount of pleasure in reminding them about how they were taken down by small darts.
Most of the competitors were showing off to the crowd, trying to impress the gathered nobility and citizens. However, the more practical ones chose to warm up a bit and get the blood pumping, either by stretching or sparring with their squires and companions.
No matter how small, every advantage can make the difference between victory and defeat.
Sometimes keeping a dignified and regal presence could be boring.
He felt like cracking some skulls, damn it, why did Robert have to die too early. Jon Arryn had sent him many invitations to attend tourneys while he was still alive, the old man had wanted to get better to know him before he kicked the bucket.
A shame that he was too busy dealing with the Dothraki and scheming Braavosi.
To his surprise, Cersei Lannister of all people got up from where she was seated and sauntered over to where he was sitting. "Your Majesty." she bowed her head.
"Lady Cersei, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I would like to request a private audience with you after the melee is over."
That was quite brazen of her, Catelyn and Elia looked baffled by her words, while everyone else watched on waiting for his reaction.
This wasn't how Cersei worked, something must have happened on her trip from Casterly Rock to make her so blatant.
He paused to think of how to respond, he could practically feel desperation, desire, and uneasiness coming from her. The frowns and anger her kin sent her way, made it clear that this was of her own volition.
"Very well, once the melee is over we shall meet in my solar." He nodded in agreement.
A look of relief spread on her face, "Thank you, your Majesty." She bowed her head once more before heading back to the lion's section.
Tyrion looked like he wanted to strangle his sister, whilst Genna began chastising her niece for her bold actions.
Not wanting to pay any more attention to them, he turned to his wife who looked troubled by what the vindictive lioness could want. "She's going to be more trouble than Lyanna." Catelyn sighed.
"Maybe, but I know you like the control, dear." He spoke bemusedly, something she had no good response to.
This wife of his liked to keep his rather sizeable harem in check.
Of all his lovers, she had the most power and regularly exercised it, making sure no one caused any issues for him.
For all her supposed gentleness and kindness, she could be very ruthless when it came to threats to the Crown. It fascinated him, how one change in her childhood, seemingly altered her so vastly from her canon counterpart.
The kids for their part ignored what just happened, more interested in competitors than some grasping noblewoman, with the only exception being Dany, who was sending death glares at the lioness.
…
Her husband was in his cups again and bragging to Paxter again, while she fussed over her little rose.
Nearly all of the Westerosi nobility was present today, even the northerners and those lot never bothered to attend anything. The only ones who didn't show up were Oberyn Martell and the Ironmen.
Not that she cared for that gout-ridden price or those glorified rapists. It was a good thing the King had nearly wiped them out. No matter what those cowards said behind his back.
She frowned at the Stags and Wolves who were sat so close to the Royal Family. Her brothers and the rest of her birth family were at least sat nearby as well, showing the king's favor to them as well.
At least the ones not down fighting.
It irked the old bitch Olenna that the Hightowers were favored by the crown, just as they had been during King Visery's reign.
As if her kin needed the help of an outsider to take the Reach.
Her family had not desired the reach since the rise of the Gardners, it was better to have all the attention on someone else her father always said.
One just needed to look at the Tullies to understand that.
Still, she found it amusing that Olenna thought of her as a demure and meek lady.
You'd think, the number of times she had snapped at her idiot of a husband and broken her facade, that she would realise the mummer's farce she was putting up.
Her son Willas was the perfect example of the obvious, the boy had to have gotten his intelligence from somewhere and it wasn't from his father or late grandfather that was for sure.
Her daughter's face beamed with joy, as she caught up with her brothers. It warmed her heart that her daughter was happy and cared for them, despite the distance between them.
Seven knows her children are the only good thing to come out of her marriage.
Janna and Malory did not disappoint thankfully. They had at least made sure Margaery would not forget or hate her.
"How is the King?" Loras asked his sister.
"He's very kind."
"Surely you have something more."
"Aunt Janna and Malory usually keep him to themselves, so it's hard to spend any time with him." Her daughter pouted.
"But they're so boring," Loras whined.
Willas coughed in embarrassment, knowing exactly what those 'times' meant. Her son was already growing up.
Alerie for her part inwardly seethed at her best friend and sister's actions. Those harlots did nothing to hide details about their encounter with the king. It often drove her mad with jealousy just at the thought of it.
They should at least have the decency to be more discreet about their encounters with the King damn it.
As if sensing her thoughts, Janna sent a smug grin from where she was sat, before returning to conversing with Lady Osgrey.
"You're probably too young for those adult conversations, Marg," Willas said, earning him a huff from his sister and a confused one from Loras.
"Am not."
"We're doing this again." Loras quickly put a stop to one of Margaery's favorite retorts, the poor boy had been browbeaten with those words by his sister since they arrived here.
Her daughter could be very stubborn at the worst of times.
Shifting their attention, "Hey, who's that with the yellow banner and dogs on their shield?" Lores voiced.
"That would be Ser Sandor Clegane," Garlen responded.
"He's ugly."
"Lores!" She admonished her son, who had the decency to look ashamed by his own words.
While she did agree with her boy's words, it didn't mean he could just go around voicing them, especially if one knew how he got them.
"It's not his fault, I heard it was the Mountain who caused his face to turn like that," Willas said somberly, earning a horrified look from his younger siblings.
Sibling rivalries were quite common, but to do something so horrific to your own brother and at such a young age disgusted her.
"It's a good thing he's dead," Garlen said.
Not liking the the turn their conversation was going, "That's enough of that, the Melee is starting." She said, putting an end to their conversation before it could go any deeper.
Her children put their focus on the rest of the competitors, though she had no doubt this conversation had affected them.