Chapter 10 – The South
Kings Landing - 5th month 273 – week 2 – 6th day
Karlyn Stark and Jaime Lannister
Two days, had passed since the Kings horrible announcement and in those two days, Karlyn had stayed in her rooms in the Tower of the Hand. Mia, brought her meals and a dressmaker, sent by Lady Joanna. The Dressmaker had taken Karlyn's measurements, and colour preferences (Blues, Greys, and Silvers) and had brought back several dresses all in southern cut and style and fabric. Mia had carefully stored them in Karlyn's trunk while Karlyn watched the people' of Kings Landing.
Cersei had left her alone after the events at Court, except for one cutting comment of "Well, looks who is to blame for all the small folk losing their homes. I hear the king is going to demolish all their houses and plant grass there for a tourney field" Then the blond had lifted her nose into the air and swanned off out the door. Karlyn's dagger had hit the wood a second after the door had closed. Mia had not, for once rebuked her mistress about the Dagger usage.
But now the trunks were all stowed on the many carts that lined the small courtyard of the Hand of the King behind the massive wheelhouse painted in Lannister colours. Lord Kevan and Lady Dorna were accompanying Lady Joanna, the three Lannister Children and Karlyn to Casterly Rock.
Karlyn stepped into the courtyard as Mia joined the other maids in the Wheelhouse. Lady Joanna was saying a quiet goodbye to her husband, Tyrion was in her arms and Karlyn caught the moment when Tywin smiled at his youngest son. Despite Tyrions' deformates, the rumours that he was hated by his family were obviously false. Jaime was mounted on his horse, laughing down at his Twin who was dressed in dark red with gold accents smiling up at him. As Karlyn stepped onto the flagstones, Jaime's gaze swung to her, and Cersei's followed. Jaime's was bland yet assessing. Cersei's was filled with hate.
Lady Dorna crossed their field of vision and curtseyed to Tywin before entering the Wheelhouse. "Oh Cersei, do come on" she called back. "I have those fashion plates for us to look at."
Cersei sighed, waved to Jaime and then skipped over and kissed her father good bye before heading into the Wheelhouse.
Joanna sent Tyrion in after his sister and turned back to the Wolf standing alone. "Karlyn. Are you ready?"
"Yes My lady." Karlyn replied. She gave the Wheelhouse a look of loathing though. Kevan laughed from where he stood.
"See told you Joanna, Karlyn would rather ride." He led Karlyn's horse forward. The Wolfs guard were interspersed with the Lannister men.
Joanna sighed. "So you said. Very well, but only for today. For now." She added when she noted Karlyn's face rise with pleasure then fall at the thought.
Karlyn turned to lord Tywin. "My Lord, Thank you for your assistance and your hospitality."
Tywin nodded, pleased at her manners. "Lady Karlyn, you are most welcome. And do not worry about the things here. We will make them work"
Karlyn nodded, curtseyed and moved towards the horse. Then froze. There, just beyond the chaos was a slim white haired youth. She knew him from his description. She curtseyed deeper. His Grace, Prince Rhaegar inclined his head back and then moved to Tywin to speak to the lord privately.
Karlyn and Kevan mounted and joined Jaime at the head of the host. A final wave to her husband and curtsey to the prince, Joanna moved into the Wheelhouse and servants closed the doors behind her. Then, they were off. Karlyn didn't look back or to the side as the Red cloaked Lannister guards escorted them from Kings Landing. And she admitted to breathing a sigh of relief when they exited via Lionsgate and onto the Gold Road for the long trip to Casterly Rock, to be sure, it was shorter than a trip to Winterfell, but still it would take them a while. She glanced at Lord Kevan who rode between Karlyn and Jaime. "How many days will it take us Lord Kevan to reach Casterly Rock?"
"Hmm normally, without the wheelhouse, we would be able to make it in 25 days, but with it, we are looking at just over a months' worth of travel."
Jaime commented. "Took us 36 days when we came here. The Wheelhouse lost a wheel 2 weeks in."
Karlyn winced. "oh…"
Jaime smirked at her "What? Never ridden that far?"
She straightened and looked him directly in the eye. "The North is vast and distances must be covered at times. From Winterfell to Last Hearth it is 560miles and to Karhold from Winterfell, it is 610 miles. I and my siblings ride all the time. Wheelhouses are just not practical. The terrain you understand." She forbore to add that the weather was colder north and snow storms happened regardless of the season.
"I had heard that your people ride mammoths up there. If those beasts even exist." Jaime replied
"They exist north of the Wall, the Rangers tell us."
Jaime smirked "Along with goblins and ghosts?" he asked.
The girl from the north merely kept her gaze on him. And when he shifted in his saddle uncomfortably, she calmly stated. "The Wall was built to protect us from dangers beyond our ken. The Wall is one hundred leagues long and reaches over seven hundred feet at his highest point, although some foundation blocks in hilly regions, such as near Greyguard, send it nine hundred feet in the air" She stated. "It has stood for thousands of years guarding this kingdom's northern most border from beings mortal and immortal. It guards against the Long Night to come."
Jaime stared at her. "You believe that? That there are beasts and goblins and such beyond the wall?"
"Yes. But currently the Wildings are more of a threat. If they break through they will flow south like a river untamed and flood all of the seven kingdoms." Karlyn spurred her horse slightly into a trot. And she pulled ahead of Jaime and Lord Kevan.
Kevan looked at Jaime and shook his head at the young boy and then spurred his own horse to keep pace with Karlyn.
Jaime merely shrugged. –Girls!- he thought disdainfully. But he noticed over the rest of the day, while Cersei whined about being in the Wheelhouse and Jaime not joining her, and then stating she would rather die than ride a smelly horse, Karlyn didn't say a word unless it was to his mother, his uncle and aunt. She did not complain about riding or being asked to stay next to the Wheelhouse while they crossed the Blackwater Rush. And when they arrived at their night time camp, she watered and fed her own horse, and brushed it down without asking a squire or stable lad to help.
He knew she would hate to share a room in the Wheelhouse with Cersei but then he noticed the Northern guards were setting up an extra tent. He looked at his uncle and went over to speak with Kevan.
Kevan explained that Lady Karlyn always slept in a tent. Had done so from Winterfell to White Harbour. The Tent and bedding was her's. She hated being in the Wheelhouse. They both watched as Mia Snow and Karlyn entered the tent and unrolled two bedrolls.
Jaime frowned. "Not Proper."
"Not our way. It is her and her people's way. Do not pick another fight Jaime." Kevan warned him.
"I didn't." Jaime started to protest but ducked his head.
"Cersei is wrong." Kevan stated calmly. "Karlyn is just as innocent in this betrothal situation as you are. But she, accepts her duty and role to play. You need to do the same and stop letting Cersei lead you around by the nose!"
Jaime sighed. His father had said the same thing not the night before while they were in Kings Landing. "okay uncle Kevan, I will try."
Kevan nodded and headed off to check on the men and horses.
Jaime watched the Northern's tents for a moment longer and then headed to the Wheelhouse to find his family.