Tommen walked out of his quarters, he heard music already being played in the Great Hall. He followed Bran's directions and saw all those who were waiting for him. Sansa and Joffrey were missing though and they were expected to walk after Robb and Cella. He walked up to his place by Arya "My lady." he said mockingly
Arya rolled her eyes and then said, "I'm not a lady."
"Then I'm not a prince."
Arya was about to rebuke when Joffrey and Sansa appeared behind them. "It's about time!" Robert said in a jovial manner.
Joffrey and Sansa took their place ahead of Arya and Tommen, and then the herald announced the entrances.
"King Robert Baratheon and Queen Cersei Baratheon!" One by one the herald announced the entrances and one by one they found their seats at the high table.
Tommen noticed the sneer on Arya's face and chuckled a little. Once they sat down they began eating the first course. Tommen ate in smaller portions than Arya but drank more wine. Bran soon joined them and they began talking amongst themselves, "So why do they call you the golden prince?" Bran asked
Tommen answered after swallowing his wine, "It's a compilation of things really, I hunted down an elk when I was nine. I have managed to outwit guards and nobles alike on many occasions. The reason they called me the Golden Prince though is because I outdid my brother in a verbal exchange. And when he challenged me to a duel to defend his already shattered dignity, I made quick work of him. Robert after witnessing the duel drunkenly called me 'the golden prince.'"
"Is he good? Your brother I mean?" Bran asked
"He's alright, he's been training with Boros Blount and Meryn Trant since then so I don't feel too threatened."
After a short silence, Arya spoke, "Do you even like your brother?"
Tommen took a moment to consider his words "He is belligerent but I still love him." He lied.
"How do you mean?" Bran asked
Tommen tried to recount the many things his brother had done and chose a few that stuck out "He tried to kill my pet fawn, and he has killed several animals that are around the Red Keep. And he oftentimes used his age and height to beat me. But those times have long since passed, and he hasn't laid a hand on me since that duel."
Before one of the three of them could speak again the King rose and started to speak while swaying a little "My lords, my ladies… your hospitality has been most welcome. The North is just as beautiful and… agreeable as I remember it. I would like to take this time to announce a betrothal between my son Prince Joffrey Baratheon and Lady Sansa Stark!" Applause and cheers erupted in the hall.
Arya and Bran exchanged worried glances; Tommen however kept a face of faint amusement and clapped along.
"If Joffrey is cruel… can you tell the King to call off the betrothal?" Bran asked
Tommen gave a sad look before responding "I'm afraid my father would not have it any other way… he really wants an alliance with the Starks."
"Couldn't you marry her?" Arya asked
Tommen felt himself blush and chuckled a little "No, Joffrey, Sansa, and I would not be happy with that arrangement. It's better for things to stay the way they are. But I promise you, I would not let Joffrey hurt your sister. My brother fears me and I can use that fear to my advantage at times."
Arya looked down at her food a moment before speaking "How can he fear you if he has the Hound by his side? Are you just that good with the sword? I don't see your sworn sword anywhere."
"I'm afraid I could not beat the Hound in a duel. And my sworn sword is in Lannisport."
Arya looked amused at the answer and Bran looked confused he asked "Why is he in Lannisport? I thought the point of a sworn sword was to be with the person they're protecting at all times."
Tommen nodded in agreement "It is, but I have the Kingsguard to protect me, and he has a four-year-old daughter in Lannisport so I commanded him to go see his family."
"That's nice," Arya said under her breath.
"Have your parents agreed with me sparring with you both?"
Bran shook his head, then said "I'm allowed but Arya isn't-"
"They say it isn't befitting a 'lady'," Arya said then sighed in annoyance
"Well…it looks like we'll have to find time for it then." Tommen winked and Arya blushed deeply.
"If you will excuse me, I'd like to escape before my father gets too drunk and embarrasses himself."
Tommen left and went to his quarters where he dressed down into his nightwear. He dreamed of the Battle of the Blackwater.
When he woke he dressed in a fine orange overcoat with prancing stags sewn into the design. He wore a black tunic underneath. He sat down on a wooden chair watching Cella sleep peacefully for a moment before writing letters.
A few minutes later there was a knock at the door, Tommen sighed and rose. To his surprise, it was Ser Arys of the Kingsguard. "His grace has requested your presence in his solar," Ser Arys said. Tommen made to follow him. Jaime was guarding the door to the King's solar and gave a little smirk. When Tommen went inside the solar he found Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon at opposing ends of a desk. Robert looked surprisingly sober and bade Tommen to sit in the seat next to Lord Eddard. Tommen sat next to Eddard and prepared himself. "So, we're marrying one Stark to Baratheon why not another!" Tommen's heart sank and he prepared himself a rebuttal while Robert continued "I saw you and Arya at the feast yesterday, you two seemed quite smitten with each other."
"Aye," Eddard said
Robert looked at Tommen with calculating eyes and then asked "What's wrong?"
Tommen took a moment before answering "...I have been preparing a request for a betrothal for many moons now however I have been waiting until I was old enough for one." Robert nodded and bade him to continue "Joffrey will secure the north, while I secure The Reach. Lord Tyrell has an eligible daughter and I believe it would be wise not to put all our eggs into one basket," He turned to Eddard and then said. "I mean no offense, my lord. Lady Arya has become quite a friend."
Robert spoke after a period of silence "Aye, he's a thinker this one!" He then turned his attention towards Eddard "Got any ravens for Highgarden Ned?" Tommen's indifferent face turned to one of excitement and couldn't help to hide his grin.
"Aye, we do." Lord Eddard smiled as well after looking at Tommen's lit-up face.
"You're dismissed, son." Tommen shook hands with both of them and happily walked out of the room.
Soon after Tommen made his way to the sparring yard where he saw Bran waiting for him. He spoke, "Sorry for the holdup Bran, I was speaking with my father." He took one of the sparring swords and inspected it. It fit in his hand nicely. They went to opposite sides of the sparring yard, and he noticed Joffrey was in attendance. Along with Robb, Arya, and Jon.
Rodrick Cassel made the rules clear and bade them to start. Tommen circled his opponent, Jaime had taught him that you can read how good your opponent is by their footwork and how they hold themselves. And by how Bran was holding himself Tommen surmised that he wasn't that competent in dueling. Tommen approached his contender. Bran held himself in a defensive posture. Tommen unleashed a flurry of strikes, careful not to hit him but to put him on edge. Bran was able to parry them but his sword nearly flew out of his hands.
After Tommen relented, Bran launched his attack. Tommen dodged and parried the first three strikes and was able to disarm Bran, his sword clattering to the ground. He pulled his sword back to his side quickly and helped Bran up. If Bran was embarrassed he didn't show it and asked to spar again. Joffrey was snickering off to the side, but one stern look from Tommen and he quickly shut up. They fought three more times, just more slowly and Tommen taught him some tips on footwork and on parrying.
Several hours later, Tommen and Myrcella were in their chambers. Both were in their beds wearing their nightclothes. Tommen was reading a book while Myrcella was playing with her hair while she was deep in thought. "Tommen," Tommen looked to his right to see his sister looking right at him. "Are they really going to allow Sansa to marry Joff?"
"Looks like it, Cella," Tommen answered nimbly. He then turned his attention back to the book. He started grinding his teeth at the thought of it, he remembered watching as Sansa was beaten bloody by Ser Meryn and no one stood up for her including him.
After a moment a wide grin appeared on Myrcella's face and she giggled a little "Stop grinding your teeth Tommen you sound like Uncle Stannis."
Tommen allowed himself to smile. She spoke again, "Father likes you more, I'm sure he'd break the betrothal with Joffrey and Sansa in favor of you and her."
Tommen laughed at that and a frown appeared on Myrcella's face. He spoke "That doesn't solve our problems though. And some poor noblewoman would still marry Joff. No one would like that arrangement especially Sansa since she's so smitten with him…besides I have my own lady to be smitten with now."
A wide grin appeared on Myrcella's face "Really? Who!"
"Lady Margaery Tyrell of The Reach… just try not to tell anyone, Cella. Father only sent the raven today, I don't even know if they'll accept."
"Do you want them to accept?"
"...Of course, the Reach is the most fertile and rich Kingdom there is. It would be a great insult not to marry Lord Tyrell's daughter."
Myrcella only responded with an amused Hmm.