Weiss

Travel in the Seven Kingdoms was tedious, and took much longer than it would back on Remnant. Cars, airships and Dust-powered ships made travel between the Four Kingdoms of Remnant a matter of hours if not a week when wanting to take a scenic route, at least, once one excluded the Grimm as a complicating factor. It was comfortable, easy, and as quick as possible, especially with how filthy rich Weiss had been in her past life. If Weiss Schnee demanded that the four-day flight from Vale City to Atlas be made in three, then it would happen, even if it would put the Bullhead in a hanger for weeks afterward to repair the damage. She still cringed when memories of her 'Spoiled Princess Days', as Yang would put it, floated back into her mind. None of that would be possible here. People traveled by horse and carriage, or boat if they wished to travel from Lannisport to King's Landing. Not helping matters was that once one left the Westerlands, the Goldroad started to fall off in quality, turning from paved stone to a dirt track remarkably fast. Still, it was better than the King's Road.

As boring as that sounded, Weiss was excited to finally leave the Westerlands and see something more than hills and more hills. No, this was a chance to get a first-hand look at the other kingdoms, without her parents keeping watch over her. Unfortunately, she had to thank Lord Tywin for organizing such a lavish tourney in King's Landing for Prince Joffrey's nameday for this trip to happen sooner rather than later. The Lord of the Westerlands marched with a large retinue down the Goldroad, including Weiss and threescore of her household guards and servants to accompany her. Even if she was a Lannister, being such a distant cousin meant she had to bring and ensure her own provisions, so as to not be a burden on her family from Casterly Rock.

Ser Cedric, Pod, and a dozen mounted men-at-arms served as her own personal escort, with the Paynes acting as her banner holders. Cedric would hold the banner of the Lannisters of Lannisport, while Pod would hold one featuring a white lion on silver, quartered with a seven pointed snowflake in gold on Lannister red, something more personal until she became the Lady and inherited Father's position. Both banners were in one of her wagons with her armor, along with a couple maids and assorted servants that joined their journey. Loading the maids and servants in the wagons would save them time, instead of making them walk.

"We shall reach the Blackwater Rush soon, Coz. Do you fancy yourself a swimmer?" A low, sarcastic voice slid into Weiss' ears, which made her form a small smile.

"I prefer the water of the Sunset Sea, but if the waters clear I'll give it a try, Cousin Tyrion." Weiss turned her eyes to the approaching dwarf, seated on top a custom saddle placed on a red mare. Two Red cloaks flanked him on their own horses, while another blond man rode directly beside the future Lord of Casterly Rock. Even if he was a dwarf, and a notorious whoremonger, Cousin Tyrion was Lord Tywin's lawful heir. "Cousin Daven."

"My Lady." Cousin Daven gave her an easy smile. He was the son of Ser Stafford Lannister, and was closer to Tyrion in terms of blood. They were both family to the Lannisters of Lannisport, even if it was a distant relationship. The two didn't give her riding trousers a second look, having gotten used to it during their visits to Lannisport.

"Oh goody." Cousin Tyrion's presence was strange. Weiss was sure Lord Tywin would've stuffed him in one of the wheelhouses or wagons to keep him out of sight. Unless the two were planning on staying the night at the next brothel they came across. "We should count ourselves lucky that my Lady isn't betrothed, an accident in the Rush would result in more than one death."

Weiss' smile turned into a grimace. It wasn't her fault her last betrothed, the Bettley boy, died in an accident shortly after the marriage agreement had been accepted. His body had been found bloodied and broken in the quarry, evidently he slipped during his own inspection and was missing for a few days. They only found him as quickly as they did because of the crows and vultures that circled his body. What a waste, the Bettley mines would've enriched Lannisport once they had been repaired, but now they remained in disrepair. And now it was harder than ever to receive quality marriage offers, three dead betrothed was a hard past to ignore. People were starting to call her the 'Maiden Widow' behind her back, which was annoying.

That would soon change once she competed in Prince Joffrey's nameday tourney. Once she proved she was a strong, capable woman, well, hopefully those rumors would cease. Maybe she'd even get another betrothal?

"I'm not sure about that." Weiss' grimace disappeared as soon as it came, replaced by an easy smirk. "Dwarfs aren't known as the best swimmers, Cousin Tyrion, we wouldn't want to arrive in King Landing with a new heir to Casterly Rock."

Cousin Tyrion laughed while Daven formed an uneasy smile. Gone was the shy dwarf who would hide in the back of a room, that boy was now replaced by a snarky and sarcastic dwarf who was well known for his love of women. Yang would've loved trading barbs with him, or ogled the same whore together. Weiss was too refined for such activities, and certainly had some disdain for the near constant odor of liquor emanating from him, but she was glad such verbal spars always helped to sharpen her tongue. Having someone to match wits with was at least entertaining.

"Will you be competing in the tourney, Cousin Daven?" Weiss asked, changing the conversation from such a morbid topic.

"The archery competition." Cousin Daven shrugged. "Lord Tywin wishes for Jaime to be the champion of the lists, and I have no doubt you will try to maim many during the melee. No, I shall try my hand at something I have a chance of winning." Weiss did beat him a few times in the training yard without even breaking a sweat. Still, that was a weight off her shoulders, she didn't want to humiliate her Coz.

"You're a wise man, Coz." Tyrion winked. "I'd hate to have to place a wager against you."

Tyrion never betted against the family, but Jaime was his brother, which made sense. Not just because it'd be in bad taste, but because Jaime was, well, the Kingslayer and one of the finest swordsman in Westeros. Betting against him would've been like betting against Pyrrha. Weiss would've done the same if she had a brother, in this world at least. Sometimes she wished she could go back in time and fix her relationship with Whitley. Maybe things would've been different then.

"Jaime's a fine rider, but I hear that a rose is favored to win." Daven lowered his voice. Now that earned Weiss' interest. A rose? Did they mean a Tyrell? The sigil of their house was a golden rose on green, and while Ruby's was a red one, she could never be sure. After all, Yang did have more Lannister features than Weiss did. "The Knight of Flowers is what they're calling him."

"A lion's claws are sharper than any rose's thorn." Tyrion dismissed such thoughts with the wave of a hand. His mismatched eyes smiled as the family continued their trot, their servants and guards trailing behind them as they followed the rest of the long convoy.

Weiss remained silent, though she did give her dwarf cousin a glance out of the corner of her eyes. There was a reason why a group of lions was called a pride, and if this Knight of Flowers was indeed her past love, then not even someone as skilled as Ser Jaime stood a chance.

She missed Ruby.

The first thing Weiss noticed about King's Landing was not how large it was, nor was it the Blackwater Bay which was filled from tradeships from all around the world, on a much larger scale than Lannisport. No, it was the infamous King's Stench, the one attribute almost everyone talked about the city. Weiss had rapidly placed her perfumed handkerchief over her face, a move rapidly followed by all who could. Those who couldn't, tried to beg spares off those who had them, to some measure of success. Her idea of such handkerchiefs had spread like wildfire amongst the nobility and those who could afford such expensive perfumes and oils. It was a bit disturbing how nobody had thought of trying this before, but she supposed, it was so obvious nobody had considered it.

"Come, Cedric, Pod." Weiss turned her attention to her loyal Paynes, clad in their own handkerchiefs secured over their faces. Several weeks on the road had been a great annoyance, if she was being honest, even if the wind felt good in her hair. With King's Landing in plain view, she had changed into a dress befitting of her station that would still allow her to ride. Lord Tywin had requested her presence near the front of the retinue, along with several of the other lords of the Westerlands, including but not limited to Lord Lefford, Lord Foote, Lord Prestor and Lord Banefort. And she was pretty sure the other Lannisters would join them, such as Ser Stafford, Ser Damion and Cousin Daven. Tyrion was not so fortunate, though given he wasn't about to spend a few hours around nobles, she was uncertain who was more lucky.

"As you command, my Lady." Ser Cedric mumbled, holding the Lannister standard in one hand, and the horse's reins in the other. His slim frame had filled out a bit since Weiss forced him to do a workout routine, and to join her in the training yard. She was pretty sure he resented her for it, but Weiss didn't care. Still, he was loyal, so he at least had that going for him.

"Y-Yes, L-Lady W-Weiss." Podrick stammered slightly. He was serving as Cedric's squire, and needed to see the world outside Lannisport, so Weiss had him join her entourage for this tourney. Besides, it was somewhat nice hanging around the child. He had an innocent sense of charm about him.

Weiss gave the boy a reassuring smile and urged her horse onward, to join with the other lords at the head of the retinue while they moved to join the bannerholders behind them. Only the Seven knew what the future had in store for her.

If they even existed.

The King's Stench grew worse as they drew even closer to the city in a grand procession. The tourney grounds just outside the city proper had already been constructed, and a tent city was already in the making, filled with houses from the Crownlands, the Vale, and a few from the Reach. Many of Lord Tywin's bannermen would join them, however, those with Lannister blood would end up with a room in the Red Keep itself, Weiss and her servants included. She was unsure if that was a blessing or a curse.

At the head of the gathered lords was Lord Tywin, seated on a fine white stallion and dressed in a beautiful red doublet with a cloak wrapped around his broad shoulders. He rode beside Lord Crakehall, Ser Stafford, and Lord Prestor, the three men engaged in conversation as the Lord of the Westerlands ignored them. Weiss, for her part, was beside Lord Lefford just behind the great lords, along with Cousin Daven and an assortment of other lords and knights. Alysanne was in the Lefford wheelhouse, along with her own maids and servants. They had spent more than a few nights together, gossiping and admiring the countryside.

"I'm glad the smell hasn't changed much." Cousin Daven complained, holding his scarlet handkerchief to his nose. "I thank the Seven every night for this idea of yours, my Lady."

"You must give thanks in the Great Sept of Baelor, Cousin Daven." Weiss said, keeping her gaze forward, though she did allow herself to smirk. "Seven prayers for seven days, and a healthy donation to the Faith."

She had a facade to keep going, her image of being blessed by the Seven was the only reason Weiss wasn't attacked by the Faith for her supernatural speed and strength, and that wasn't even counting her glyphs. She wasn't sure if Lord Tywin was helping keep the Faith from her, but she wasn't about to rely on just his protection. Thankfully, much practice allowed them to appear as a seven-pointed snowflake.

Cousin Daven looked away with a sharp cough. Life in this world was all about one's appearance, one's honor. Many tried to appear pious in public, yet behind closed doors they couldn't care less about whatever faith they believed in. Every knight couldn't be Ser Bonifer Hasty the Good, who swore his and a hundred other swords to her service after her first time revealing a glyph. After all, if the rumors were to be believed, Weiss was a reincarnation of the Maiden herself. She was, in her mind, entitled to be a bit smug over being viewed as the incarnation of a deity, even if it was part of it.

They continued the rest of the ride into King's Landing in silence, though it was far from quiet, with the neighs of the horses and the conversations of men who had far more influence than Weiss. The stench grew worse, which she didn't think was possible, and as they passed through the Lion Gate, the streets became cramped and confusing. Men dressed in morions, mail shirts and gold cloaks lined the streets, holding the smallfolk back. Weiss could see the fear in their eyes as she allowed her gaze to wander. Some of the older smallfolk stared with hatred at any who wore the lion's symbol, and she inwardly grimaced. The last time Lord Tywin entered King's Landing, he sacked it, ending Robert's Rebellion in one swift move. That wouldn't happen, not with a Lannister for a queen.

"It's good that they know their place." Lord Lefford said out loud to no one in particular. Lord Lydden agreed with him with a lazy smile. Weiss disagreed, all this meant was she was going to be staying in the Red Keep, regardless of her Aura. And she would certainly encourage her entourage to do the same.

"I, for one, can't wait to sleep in an actual bed." Weiss said, turning to Daven. He was a solid ten years older than her, but he was kind and a decent sword. She liked him, which was rare in such a large family. While the Lannisters weren't as bad as say, the Freys, they still could have their petty squabbles and cliques. The Lannisport Lannisters had been keen to move up, but the Casterly Rock ones had always towered over them.

"The Red Keep has plenty." Cousin Daven shrugged. He seemed more interested in eyeing the women in the crowd, which Weiss was fine with. She wished Alysanne or another lady was present, but as the only woman in a group of older men, she was alone, which again was fine. Weiss enjoyed the silence and the chance to mull over her thoughts, which were racing as fast as Bumblebee had.

Losing track of time as she considered her next course of action, they soon reached the Red Keep, which, true to its name, was made out of pale red stones. While the rumors of the stones being soaked in blood were probably untrue, she could certainly believe it. A group of people were already gathered at the open gates, through which, she could see a lowered drawbridge.

Two men dressed in white armor and matching cloaks stood at the front, with three blondes standing in between them, along with an older man with a bushy gray beard, and a curved nose. He wore a necklace that appeared to be made out of small hands, and had the broach of a soaring falcon on his breast. Lord Tywin dismounted before the group, with Weiss and the others following suit not even a second later. The Red Keep's stableboys were already on the move, taking the reins of the dozens of horses and shuffling them off into the stables, reminding her of the valets back in Atlas at the Schnee mansion.

"Lord Tywin, I welcome you to King's Landing for this most joyous occasion." The Lord Hand said, with a serious face. He looked like he was missing half of his teeth, speaking with a slight lisp. Jon Arryn might've been a handsome man in his youth, yet he currently left much to be desired for someone in such a high position. Still, appearances could be deceiving, and he was the third most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms. "I pray the journey was decent?"

Lord Tywin bowed his head slightly as a show of respect, but kept his back straight. Weiss and the others bowed, and in her case, curtsied. "It was."

Queen Cersei, still as beautiful as ever, clad in a snow-white gown trimmed in gold, stood behind the Lord Hand, with her two children, Tommen and Myrcella, in front of her. Thankfully, Prince Joffrey didn't seem to be present, he had been annoying the last time he visited Lannisport. Weiss had observed him from a distance of course at the time, since she was a minor cousin. However, one would hear rumors from the servants, ominous ones, and given he was due to be the King one day, that was a bad sign.

"Father, you look healthy." Queen Cersei's mask was on display, flashing her Father a white smile that sparkled almost as much as the entire store's worth of jewelry she wore. For some reason, it reminded her of Neptune, and she had to resist the urge to snicker. It disappeared for a second when she caught a glimpse of Weiss just behind Lord Tywin, still by Cousin Daven's side. Her smile turned into an ugly scowl for the briefest of seconds, shooting Weiss a sharp glare, those jade green eyes burning with a fire that reminded her of Penny's Maiden powers.

Ah, so Weiss' reputation preceded her, or was it because she was the lone woman amongst the group of powerful lords? Whatever the answer was, she was sure the Queen didn't like her. There was only one single thing Weiss could do.

She gave the Queen a polite smile, which appeared to only serve to piss her off even more as Lord Tywin greeted the prince and princess.

Heh, Weiss loved making rich people mad.

A/N

Woah, another update out so fast? Welcome to 298 AC!