I hate my mother, Tommen realized upon looking at the Royal carriage.

The road to Winterfell would be long, there was no illusion to Tommen of the weather or length of the rode, he had after all tracked down it before. Tyrion seemed to underestimate just how cold it was in the North while Myrcella didn't understand just how long the rode would be. The Kingsroad was the longest and one of the oldest and most famed pieces of infrastructure in Westeros. Crossing from one end of a continent to the other is a time-consuming task no matter which way you cut it. But Tommen couldn't help but think that the road would not be as long if Cersei didn't have to get the largest and luxurious carriage ever. It broke down at least once a day. Tommen didn't even use the damn thing because of how unfeasible it was and how much it broke down. He rode on his white mare Fastmane in the hopes of getting some fresh air while traveling at the rate of a snail. Joffrey rode his mare at first too, but eventually, he opted for the carriage. Tommen didn't blame him, his legs were cramped to hell but he decided carrying on would be better than submitting to a carriage.

"Are you okay nephew?" Jaime asked.

"Aye, he's alright a real Baratheon that one!" Robert responded. Tommen simply nodded, his legs were cramping but he didn't want to be weak again.

Jaime pulled his stallion closer and then said "You don't have to ride, you can sit in the carriage with the Queen and Princess."

Tommen was tempted to accept but ultimately declined. He had made up his mind not to give into Cersei's carriage, and he couldn't stand to listen to a rant from Cersei or Joffrey but he kept that to himself.

They made it past Greywater watch on the fifth week of their journey and made camp there. He slept in a tint beside Myrcella, she usually slept in the carriage but she said something that angered Joffrey, and mother kicked her out. She quietly snored while he read a story about Bran the Builder. He tried to read at least. He thought about the Starks and how naive they were to the game just like he was. But Tommen had adapted and hoped that he could save them. Sansa was always a friend, and Arya while a bit wild for Tommen's taste was originally supposed to be betrothed to him. He had to save them, he had to save them from Joffrey's cruelty. Tommen tried to work out a way that Joffrey could die earlier so that fewer people suffered. At one time, he might have felt something for his brother, but Joffrey had an evil in him. An evil that needed to be put down. He worked out ways to further influence events for several minutes. "What are you doing Tommen?" Myrcella asked in a sleepish voice.

"Oh…nothing Cella. Sorry for waking you."

"It's fine Tom, what are you reading?"

"Stories about Bran the Builder, I haven't read it in a few years." In reality it had been a lifetime ago since Tommen had read it but he kept that to his lonesome.

After a short silence, Myrcella spoke "Do you think the Starks will like us? Father seems to like them but I think mother dislikes them even if she doesn't say it."

"The Starks should like us just fine, I think. You should decide for yourself whether they are good people or not. Remember our cousins, Martyn and Willem when we went to Casterly Rock?"

"Yes." Myrcella said coyly.

"Remember you thinking they didn't like us at first when we visited? In reality they were simply nervous to meet the Royal family, and I believe they were more nervous to meet you."

Myrcella smiled coyly at him while Tommen continued, "Yes they were driving themselves crazy for your affections. They were tripping over one another for you."

"I do not believe father would let me marry either of them. Especially not Lancel, mayhaps I could marry the eldest Stark son. Or perhaps I could marry the Knight of Flowers, I hear he's handsome."

Tommen nearly laughed aloud, but he only responded with a smile. "I doubt either of them are worthy of you sweet sister."

Myrcella smiled largely as she drove her head into Tommen's chest, "I love you Tommen."

"I love you too Cella."

Cella rested her head on Tommen's shoulder as he read to her about Bran the Builder. They fell asleep like that. He dreamed of roses and lions. She dreamed of snow and stags. They were woken up by Tyrion and Jaime, "Oh favorite nephew and niece did you enjoy your sleep?" Tyrion asked.

Tommen of course could read the worry painted over Jaimes face, Tommen nearly rolled his eyes at that. He was tempted to raise a quip of a conversation within a conversation about Jaime fucking his own sister that Cella wouldn't understand, but Jaime and Tyrion would. But he decided against it. Tommen thought of the relationship between Cersei and Jaime as unnatural. He could never love Myrcella that way, it made him cringe just thinking of it.

Tommen simply nodded while Myrcella explained her dream of playing with the Stark children in the snow. She had seen snow for the first time two days prior. For Tommen it was the second time. "And what did you dream about, dear nephew?" Tyrion asked

Tommen considered lying but he told the truth considering it to be harmless "I dreamed of Highgarden."

Tyrion quirked an eyebrow, "Have you ever been to Highgarden?"

"No." In neither of his lives had Tommen been to Highgarden but he had always wanted to go.

"Well…I've heard stories, it's a very beautiful castle." I wasn't dreaming about the castle… Tommen thought.

Tommen simply nodded as he rose, "When do we ride?"

"A couple of hours," Jaime responded

They dressed in their traveling clothes and broke their fast with the king. He rode beside Tyrion, Tyrion hated the North. He had not seen fit to dress properly. Tommen offered him one of his cloaks that he had in his possession to which he graciously accepted. They rode behind the carriage near the end of the convoy. "So dear nephew what are you thinking about?"

Tommen winced at the question, unsure of how to answer "Other than the cold freezing my fingers off…not much."

"See that's where your wrong nephew, your mind is always thinking of something… just like me. Why were you dreaming of Highgarden? You've never met a Tyrell in your life, you've never been to Highgarden either."

Tommen took a moment to answer "A pretty maiden who cleans my chambers once lived in a village near Highgarden. She said it was the most beautiful castle she had seen."

Tyrion raised an eyebrow, "Is this maiden a lucky lady?"

Tommen didn't think much of the question at first but upon looking at his uncle's mocking face he sputtered "Wha-What no!"

"Oh calm down nephew, I wouldn't be judging you if you were fucking the maiden. Your mother will but I'm your uncle we should talk about these things." Tommen rolled his eyes and then told him that he had asked her to do nothing of the sort and that he never would.

"You know I was in love before once-"

"I'm not in love, uncle."

"I never said you were. Now, as I was saying I was in love once. I was the same age as you, a beautiful girl outside of Casterly Rock was being harassed. Now me and Jaime being Lannisters could not tolerate this so he chased them down while I comforted the girl. I fell in love with her and we wed."

Tommen nodded as his interest was piqued. "I never knew you, married uncle," Tommen was treading on thin ice now. "May I ask what happened to her?"

"She was a whore, hired by Jaime to increase my confidence. Our marriage was annulled soon after my father found out. Whatever happened to her, I do not know."

"I'm sorry about that Uncle, really I am. I hope you find another that can make you happy like she did."

"Thank you nephew but I do hope I do not marry anytime soon. whores make me happy… they can make you happy, you're old enough."

"I'm quite alright. I do not want my virtue to be squandered before I am Wed."

"A man's duty is to satisfy his wife, it's a woman's duty to give the man his children, nothing more. You do want to know how to satisfy your wife, don't you?"

"I'm a quick learner Uncle, and if I cannot satisfy my wife. I'll be sure to take you up on your offer." Tommen lied.

After a moment of silence Tommen spoke, "Why are you coming north with us?"

"I'm going to the wall."

"So you're going to repent for your many sins by taking the black?" Tommen asked in a joking manner

"No, I'm afraid not nephew. I would simply like to stand on top of the wall and piss off the edge of the world."

Admirable goals, Tommen thought. "I'd love to join you uncle, but I'm afraid I don't want to spend any more time than I have to in the North."

They arrived in Winterfell six grueling days later. It was one of the largest castles Tommen had seen, it was smaller than he remembered it though. They rode through the walls of Winterfell where they were greeted by the Starks and some of their bannermen among others. The two princes rode in on their white mares. Tommen made sure to ride in front of Joffrey though. He nodded in the direction of Eddard Stark. He could hear Sansa and Arya whispering loudly amongst themselves.

"Is that the golden prince?" Sansa asked gesturing towards Joffrey

"No stupid! The golden prince is the younger one." Arya rebuked

They were both quickly shut up by glares from Eddard and Catelyn. They all then simultaneously sunk to one knee as Robert rode in. He quickly dismounted and bade the Starks to rise. Tommen and Joffrey dismounted and went to stand by Jaime and watched while Robert and Eddard abruptly went to the crypts. This was one of the few times he felt bad for his mother, Robert loving a dead woman more than his wife of seventeen years. A sad thing. Tommen thought; then he realized his mother did the same thing to him when Joffrey died and found himself not caring. Tommen greeted the Starks with more courtesy than his father. He even shook hands with the Bastard of Winterfell Jon Snow and the ward of Eddard Stark, Theon Greyjoy.

He was led by Robb Stark to his family's quarters, and Tommen's legs were cramped to hell from the constant riding but he dared not show pain. He and Myrcella shared a room though Myrcella had left the room after putting her clothes up half an hour earlier. Tommen simply lay on his bed, daydreaming about Margaery. He realized how close he was getting to being with her, he had spent thirteen years away from her. And in only just two years they would be together again. Hopefully as man and wife. He was disturbed from his daydreams by a knock at the door. He sighed and got up, most of the pain from the cramps had left by this time. He opened the door and was surprised to see Bran and Arya, Bran spoke first "We wanted to see how you were doing?"

Tommen nodded, "Good, I am accommodating quite well. I think I can say the same about my sister, though she is not here."

Arya and Bran gave looks that they wanted to come inside.

"You can come in if you want," Tommen said as he stepped out of the way and gestured inside with his free arm. They all but ran inside. Tommen found a seat on a wooden chair that was uncomfortable unlike the silk chairs in the Red Keep but Tommen found himself not caring. They stood before him with an anticipated look in their eyes.

"Can we see it?" Arya asked

"See…what?" Tommen asked gingerly

"Your sword," Bran said eagerly.

Tommen chuckled a little, rose from his seat and went to the side of his bed where a thin and long wooden table supported his sword. He held it delicately, balancing in his hands for a moment. Then unsheathed the sword from its scabbard and threw the scabbard to the bed. He then turned around to see the sweet smiles of the two, they were absolutely enthralled with it. He approached them slowly, taking in their reactions, "Would one of you like to hold it?"

Bran said nothing but was the first to hold out his hand and so Tommen gave it to him first. Tommen turned to Arya and asked, "Do you have your own swords?"

"No…no, our parents don't allow us to have swords outside the sparring grounds."

Tommen nodded then after a moment said "Well I'd be happy to spar with you both in the sparring grounds if your mother and father permit it."

Bran looked up from the sword and smiled deeply while Arya blushed a little. "Does it have a name?" he asked with excited eyes

Tommen shook his head "No it doesn't"

Bran returned his attention back to the sword and then carefully handed it to Arya. Bran turned his full attention towards Tommen and then said "We asked your brother to see his sword but…"

Tommen chuckled a little. "It'd be best to avoid my brother. He is not the best of people."

Bran simply nodded and looked at his feet, Arya looked up for a moment then turned her full attention back to the sword.

Bran while still looking at his feet said "Oh I almost forgot… There will be a feast tonight and the hall where we will meet is down the corridor and to the left. Mother said you'll escort Arya…"

Tommen nodded and accepted the sword when Arya handed it back to him.

They left minutes later and Tommen bathed and dressed for the feast.