"I'm sending you back to the North" Ned tells us.
I cannot believe that this moment has finally arrived! I dream of leaving the capital since the very moment I set foot there. I can't wait to go home. I'm going to be able to see Theon and Robb again, Arrow could finally walk around freely and we'll be safe.
Beside me, my sisters beg him to let them stay, they do not understand that it is for their good. Here, they feel at their place: Arya begins to progress with Master Syrio and Sansa spends her time hanging on Joffrey's arm.
"When are we leaving?" I ask.
"Tomorrow."
"What?!" cries the redhead. "I can't go! I have to marry Joffrey! One day he will be the greatest king that ever was, a golden lion. And I will give him sons with bright blond hair."
"I will marry Joffrey, Sansa, not you... I would gladly give him to you but I decided, unlike others, not to act selfishly."
"Joffrey said he wanted me to be his queen!"
I can't believe it. The prince has always been very interested in me. He never skimped on compliments, and he even helped me after my confrontation against the Mountain. I do not understand why, since he would lend me love, he would say such things to my sister. Unless maybe...
My father takes them out of the room and sits down at his desk. Leaning over an old book, he mumbles without even noticing that I'm still there.
"You know I'm not leaving, right?"
He looks up at me, slightly surprised.
I want to go home, but if my intuition is right, and after Jaime attacked him in the street, I can't leave my father alone.
"I know that" he says. "I guess nothing will change your mind."
"We need to protect each other. Here more than anywhere else."
I kiss his cheek before I leave the room. I need to see if sweet Prince Joffrey has been mocking me since we met or if he's manipulating my sister to secure an alliance with the North.
Unfortunately, Joffrey isn't smart enough to think about it alone. I say it is a misfortune because the person who pulls the strings is the one I have been trying to avoid since we arrived here: Cersei.
♐︎
I arrive at the door of Joffrey's apartments. I might as well make sure of his inclination before throwing myself into the lion's mouth.
The Hound opens me to his master's report.
"My lady!" he exclaims as he comes to meet me. "I was just thinking of you!"
"Really? So, I come at the right time."
"I was waiting for my maids to undress but they do not seem decided to come."
Oh... I feel it coming several leagues away.
"Maybe you could help me."
What was I thinking coming here so late? I should have known.
"Um... Sure, my prince. It would be an honor for me..."
Joffrey's already in the middle of the room, waiting for me to unbutton his shirt. After that, you cannot make me believe that he is not crazy about me. I will not let him think otherwise. He has to be in love with me so I can control him.
Say it's not like me, I'll agree with you. But great evils, great remedies.
While removing his tunic, I put my plan into action. Ros, one of the prostitutes in Winterfell with whom I have been friends since childhood, once told me that any woman was able to seduce any man. Just because she's a woman.
"My prince" I start.
"I'm listening, sweetheart."
Please. Kill me.
"Before I came to see you, I was with my sister, Sansa. You know her, right?"
"Certainly..."
"She really likes you... I think she fell in love with your blonde hair... Well... who could resist?"
Me. I can't believe I just said that. I must look completely ridiculous.
Joffrey just smiles proudly.
"You see... Sansa is – how should I say? – very young. She is naive and impressionable."
"What are you getting at?" cut off the prince.
"My sister implied that you would have told her that you would marry her."
"Are you jealous, my dear?"
Not at all! And how «my dear»?!
"It's not... quite that..." I answer with red cheeks.
I can explain everything.
As I prepare to remove his tunic, Joffrey suddenly sticks me to him, making it fall. I found myself glued to the bare torso of the future King of the Seven Kingdoms and, against all odds, I did not rejoice.
One night, in Winterfell, Tyrion and I were drunk, and we took the opportunity to plague Joffrey. He told me that his nephew was supple and compensated for this by wearing tunics with broad shoulders.
I can see now that he was telling the truth. But I might as well take advantage of it.
"You wouldn't be wooing another woman, I hope..." I whisper to him by putting my finger on his chest.
"Never, my lady..."
"Promise me..."
Instead, Joffrey takes my chin between his two fingers and, before I have time to react, puts his lips on mine. It only lasts a few seconds, but it's enough to convince me of his love for me. I can now go to sleep in peace. I'll see Cersei tomorrow. Or not.... Any excuse is good to take.
"It's getting late" I say, still against him.
"Good night, my lady."
As soon as he takes his hand off my back, I rush out of the room. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I expected it to be mentally, not physically.
"Everything went the way you wanted?" asks the Hound.
"I'm not sure of what just happened..."
Speechless, I have trouble formulating this sentence correctly and I leave without adding anything. What bothers me the most is not that he kissed me, it's that I liked it. I hate myself for it! I can't do that to Petyr! Or... Maybe it's to Joffrey whom I can't do that.
♐︎
I have not spoken to Sansa again about this story, she must already be tormented enough like this since. Since I made Joffrey promise not to woo her, he does not approach her.
I think she suspects a few things because she hasn't spoken to me since. Even now that we are sitting opposite each other and there is absolutely nothing else to do. I don't blame myself. I know I did the right thing, but I regret that she resents me.
"Sansa..."
On the other side of the room, the door slams, revealing Arya, gasping.
"King Robert is going to die!" she cried.
"What are you saying?"
"He came home wounded from the hunt. I saw him! He's gonna die!"
"Stay with the Septa! Arrow, come on!"
With a sustained step, I go to Robert's apartments where I hope to find my father or, in any case, more explanations.
When I arrive in front of the king's room, Lord Varys turns to me. Although several months have passed since we arrived in the capital, I still find this man enigmatic. I don't know if I can trust him.
"Lady Diana" he bows slightly.
"What happened?" I ask right away.
"The king seems to have drunk too much during the hunt, my lady. He couldn't avoid the boar that attacked him."
"A boar? I would have thought of..."
"A murder?"
My silence is enough for my mysterious companion who adds nothing more than a small shrug of the shoulders.
I believed in the assassination of Jon Arryn long before I met a single member of the court. And I do not see what would prevent me from suspecting the Lannisters this time again.
"Is Prince Joffrey inside?"
"He left a few minutes ago now" answers the eunuch.
"Did he look upset?"
"Her father is dying, my lady."