Game of Thrones - The Rose of Winterfell

Second Day of the Hand's Tourney

Father rolled his eyes and muttered, "it the King got what he wanted all the time, we'd still be fighting a damned rebellion." Ser Selmy hummed as I felt their attention shift to me. "Would you mind if my ladies and I walk about the tourney field while we wait for Septa Mordane to arrive with my sisters?" Father opened his mouth to reply when Ser Selmy uttered, "if you do not mind the company of an old knight, I can join you." Smiling, I kissed Father's cheek before taking hold of Ser Selmy's armored arm. "You are far from old, Ser, but I would gladly welcome your company." Father laughed, amused, before saying, "I will meet you before the joust begins." Nodding, I watched him walk off as I turned my attention to Ser Selmy. "Where shall we begin, Ser Selmy?" He patted my hand and uttered, "you can call me Barristan, my Lady." I squeezed his arm and muttered, "only if you call me Ilyanna." His smile grew as we walked back toward the joust field.

Barristan happily pointed out the various viewing areas where the other competitors would gather for the melee and the archery contest later in the day. Holding tight to his arm, I nodded hello to the various individuals we passed. "I am sorry you will no longer compete in the joust." He gave a soft murmur before saying, "it seems the joust is for younger men," as we came up a group of squires tending to their knight's horses. Stopping, I gazed at the older man and said, "while that may be true, I have no doubt the younger men can learn many things from a seasoned knight such as yourself." He offered a sad smile. "If I had only met you before receiving my white cloak."

Laughing, I squeezed his arm. "I am sure my Father would be pleased not to hear you say that." He lifted his eyebrows. "Why do you say that?" Breathing out, I uttered, "I fear he may have agreed to your request in hopes it would save him from responding to the numerous suites he has received and from the wandering eye of the cloaked Golden Lion from Casterly Rock." He sighed. "I am sorry. I was certain he would leave you with his additional duties." I squeezed his arm and uttered, "he has not sought me out since our arrival. I have found it difficult to avoid him amongst the court members without slighting his sister, the Queen." We moved away as Barristan cautiously said, "from what I saw last night, you fared well." I squeezed his arm. "Leaving him on the dance floor is more accessible than avoiding a royal guard. I hope it will encourage his attention to waiver as my only protection is what my Father can provide until I am married." I spied some knights sluggishly approaching their tents as he uttered, "you are not without my protection." Relieved, I squeezed his arm before speaking, "you are not without my friendship."

We circled the field until he returned me to the jousting area where Sansa and Septa Mordane spoke with Father. "Thank you for indulging me with a walk, Ser Barristan." He offered a smile before courtly kissing my hand. "It was a pleasure to enjoy your presence this morning, Lady Ilyanna." Smiling, he released my hand and, with a nod to my amused Father and a perturbed Sansa, left. "Shall we take our seats?"

Father blinked at Sansa's unwarranted attitude. "Of course. Would you lead us, Sansa?" She huffed and walked away with Septa trailing behind, trying to calm her. "Should I be concerned?" Reaching out, I slipped my arm into the bend of Father's arm. "She seems to be doing better since we arrived, but she still is frustratingly single-minded in trying to get the prince's attention." He huffed. "Perhaps it was wrong for me to agree to this match for her." I squeezed his arm reassuringly before saying, "right or wrong, she needs to understand that she cannot always get her way. Perhaps prolonging the engagement until her sixteenth name day will allow her to grow and understand her role as Queen." He offered a slow nod. "Perhaps you are right." Squeezing his arm, I asked, "did you happen to convince the King to restrain himself from competing," as we approached the jousting stands. "I believe so. The damn fool thought that just because he happens to be King, he assumed that his competitors would not strike him."

Sighing, I squeezed his arm. "I hope he listens to your advice Papa." He nodded as we moved to step onto the stairs leading to the stands when we heard, "well, at least it will allow the rest of us a fair chance to win." We stopped and turned our gaze to a smirking Jaime Lannister dressed in black, gold, and red armor decorated with roaring lions. "You look well, Lady Ilyanna." Nodding, I moved to urge my Father upwards to sit beside Sansa when he took hold of my hand. Stopping, I returned my attention to his gaze. "Thank you for your kind words, but I should continue to my seat so the King may begin the tourney. I wish you the best of luck and pray you win so you may grant your niece the crown of Love and Beauty." Pulling free, I moved to sit as he uttered, "you do not believe you will win that title?" Breathing, I spoke, "I believe that I will have an equal chance to win the title as any lady here, depending on whether or not the winner wishes to present it to me." Before he could reply, I pivoted and sat on Father's left side while Sansa sat on his right. Seated, I calmly placed my hands in my lap, waiting as a horn sounded to signify the beginning of the joust. Lannister huffed and walked away while Lehna gently squeezed my shoulder.