A different Joffrey Baratheon

Chapter 4

When we entered into the solar I was greeted with glares from a bastard Snow and Robb Stark. The others in the room consisted of father, Lord Eddard, mother, and Lady Stark who all were just observing myself and Arya as we entered. Although the eyes of Lady Stark and my mother were far more judging then the male lords. Probably looking for something. I hope my mother sees potential or at least what I spoke with her about during the feast. And I didn't care much what the Tully woman thought. I'm a prince and she can't say much against the betrothal besides speaking her thoughts, not that it would push my father away from his course.
I lowered my head slightly to the lord and lady and got a good clap on the shoulder from my father. As for my mother I walk over to her and lay a kiss on her cheek while also smiling at her. "Mother, how is your morning?" The thing is if I didn't know how awful my mother was treated I wouldn't like her actions but since I do and she is in fact very loving of me I can't help but cherish her dearly.
"It has been well, my lion. How fares your own?" She asked, gesturing towards my sleep wear with a frown. She liked me to look my best as she did for all her children so I only gave her an apologetic look.
"I was woken up quite suddenly, mother. I forgot to inform anyone of when I wished to awake and you know no one is to bother me unless I wish it." She nodded but didn't seem appeased and with a glance around I could see that the Stark's and father were barely containing questions and words of my and Arya's future. "And Arya was the one to fetch me so my mind drifted away from anything that wasn't her or the words she spoke. But less of that, let's begin shall we."
Father and Lord Stark seem to listen to my words and they speak on matters that no one else has said pertaining to the betrothal. That is until they get to when me and Arya are to wed. The eyes of Arya on my back told me she thought I should speak up. With a glance a little stuck out tongue I stood. "If I may?" The men looked at me. "Myself and Arya already decided on a couple of things including how long we shall wait to be wed."
My father drank from his tankard softly looking for me to speak while Eddard gave no indication of acknowledgement. "Well first off Arya willingly agreed with some promises on my part and I intend to keep them to the best of my ability." I look towards the other boys challenging them to speak out. Luckily they did not. Lady Stark seemed even more upset about my words and mother looked slightly down to the wolf girl only to see Arya starring a hole into me. "First off I promised to do what I can to see her knighted. Of course she must put in the effort and do her best to get said title I am in no way holding her back from becoming one." Positive reactions from the men and mother but again Lady Stark doesn't look pleased. "Next was to tell all of you of the betrothal which I have done or our king has as he shouted into the skies last night." I gave a practiced laugh at the memory, gaining some amused looks around. "And lastly to wait till she is ready or until she reaches seventeen name days old."
Here everyone gave surprised looks but my father spoke up for everyone. "Boy, that is a long time to wait... many things can happen in that time. Are you sure?"
I shrug. "I promised father and I intend to keep it. It's non-negotiable. It may change later based on Arya but for now it stands." My voice was firm in my opinion and I stood with a practiced grace and power that I had been taught for years. I would not budge.
Everyone present stayed silent at me making demands to the king and grew tense at the reddening of Robert's face. Luckily Arya being who she is knows just when to cause a distraction.
"Hey!" Everyone looked at the girl who was glaring at my father, the king. "I made him promise and from what I was told 'a Laninister always repays his debts''." She looked up to my mother's eyes and tilted her head using what I assume to be her childish innocence look that she still holds onto with her young face. "Right? That's what I read about at least." My mother wouldn't buy into the look or the act but she did appreciate smart and resourceful people. And from the act Arya's putting on she was showing my mother just that. Using what you have to gain something. A move used until your very last breath in this world we live in.
My mother smiled sweetly to Arya and decided to play along it seemed. She stroked Arya's cheek softly keeping eye contact which in turn made the she wolf uneasy. "Yes child you are right. But don't forget the Baratheon words-"
"Ours is the Fury... with both combined I'm frightened to think would happen if Prince Joffrey is neglected the right to at least try to keep his word." She looked at me as I smiled and so wanted to hug the girl. She used something my father kept all too close to his heart. Pride. And that was what those words were to him. Well the Baratheon ones at least he gave two shits about the Lannister words but I could tell he knew the meaning behind the young girls words.
It was a threat as visible as any and my father did what I knew he would do. He rolled his head back and laughed loudly. The man was threatened that I would possibly take action against him and he laughed. Only him I swear to the old and new gods the man was an idiot. "You hear that, Ned! Gods your daughter is a funny one I swear." He chuckles a few before he stops and takes a breath looking towards my shewolf. "You have fire, I'll give you that. So be it you'll have what you wish."
I stood slightly lost before I realized I was in the clear and happily walked over to the girl I'm to marry and sat down next to her tapping her leg good naturedly. She was young and clearly not girly so I can't put too much affection on her. Being her friend right now is for the best. I have plenty of time to be more touchy feely in the years to come.
"Why Arya, why not Sansa?" Lady Stark finally spoke up and asked. The two boys wanted to know the same it seemed from their attentive looks.
I sighed. "Simple, Sansa albeit beautiful could never survive the world that is politics. Especially the cut throat one of King's Landing. They will chew her up and spit her out faster than any other before her. You know why?" The woman shook her head. She held onto her stoic face. "She has been coddled and sheltered. Whatever you have been teaching her or she has learned has clearly made her into someone who believes life is perfect and beautiful when in fact it's not." I huff before looking at Arya seeing her attention on me. Her attention and lovely eyes were enough to make me relax slightly. "Well there are some beauty but it is rare." Pulling my eyes back to the Tully I shook my head. "But I am sure that everyone including yourself can attest to the facts I speak. You all have lost and seen things that you wish you hadn't. And right now as I see it Sansa hasn't grown up or lived enough to be by my side."
Caitlyn Tully stood up swiftly, "Yet you believe my younger less well-taught daughter who struggles with everything she is taught can do better? Explain that to me." The woman barked. I couldn't help myself and I stood swiftly to my own feet and gritted my teeth at the woman. I could see the shocked eyes of the others in the room staring at the woman and I could feel and see the hurt her words caused Arya... and I was furious.
"You fucking dare!" I growled out to the woman. "You blind idiotic insensitive leech!" I stepped forward only to feel the hand of my mother hold on to the back of my sleep shirt. I saw red and cared little of what my words might cause but my taking that step showed that I was angry to all present. The boys laid hands on their blade hilts yet were eyeing lady Stark in reproach. Eddard Stark didn't care for my outburst but was starring at his wife with something akin to the look my own father held. A mix of surprise and anger at her words I would assume.
I point at the redhead. "You have no right to think or say any of those things. You have your own twisted imagination of what a lady should be as does so many others and if your children do not abide by that image then it's not right or proper. Well, let me tell you that it's wrong!" I turn and place a hand on the nape of the teary-eyed girl whose eyes were watching me. "I'm gods damned happy that I met Arya before your idiotic methods and beliefs were pushed onto her. She is of the North Tully and she has wild blood flowing through her veins. More than Sansa has and more than your other children including Rickon. Unlike your daughter, Arya has a damned chance to do something different in her life and whatever you and your damned Septa have been trying clearly isn't what is needed nor wanted! Have you ever thought of that! You are in the north as are your children yet you dare push and force customs that are not of their own home." I squeeze slightly on Arya's neck and she stands tall with a look in her eyes drilling into her mother's head.
"Joffrey is right... and I can never thank him enough for pointing it out but... you're all stupid!" The north family blink and the Tully sits agape. "I have lived here all my life and am treated less than what I am." She looks at her father. "You have never taken my words as true or meaningful but as a fussy child." She looks towards her brother Robb. "You don't even care and rather be with Theon and those women." She shifts to Jon before she smiles and lets out a hiccup holding back her cries. "How come the brother that is half my blood is more of a brother than any of my others?" She asked rhetorically to the others. "How does a boy who is treated as he is able to kneel to my level and speak to me as if he wishes to hear of my day and my thoughts. Someone who is pushed around and talked down to because my father laid with another woman." She glares at her mother specifically. "How! Jon is almost completely surrounded by darkness and yet he can be my one true light, of hope." She reaches and grabs my hand. "And just recently I've been given another." She smiles and I smile back. "I can't wait to be rid of this place."
I didn't know it was that bad. I believed that Sansa was bad but it seems she wasn't nor were any of the younger Stark's faults. It was the mother and father's fault. They set an example that was followed by their children. Now, they obviously didn't follow everything their parents said or thought but they did to an extent that I was shocked by. The only good one as far as I could tell was the bas-... no the other boy didn't deserve that. Jon Snow was good to Arya probably the only one to treat her right on a constant basis and not dismiss her or think less of her. And for that, he has earned my respect and favor.
No one spoke for a moment till the women decided to put one last jab in. With an air of not caring and no emotion besides vindictiveness, she said. "Well, the bastard will be going to the wall as he deserves. You will never be poisoned by him again and I am your mother and you-"
"ENOUGH!!" The mighty Direwolf yelled. "Cat for the love of everything leave!" The woman blinked seemingly not understanding what her husband said before swiftly departing. The older man laid his head in his hands and peeked out from them. "Boy's leave as well nothing else concerns you here." Robb struggled before nodding to me and his father and bowing out of the room. Jon looked red-eyed at Arya before smiling and going to take a step to leave but I raised my hand stopping him.
I left Arya's side and stepped up to the man and put a handout. He seemed to struggle for a second with whatever thoughts he had before taking my hand. "... You mean more to Arya than I thought." The boy made no reaction. "Sigh... Jon Snow.' He blinked. "Do you really intend to go to the wall?"
"Aye, I do my prince. That is where someone like me belongs." I frowned a tightened my hold on him making him wince. "That is bullshit and you know it."
"Prince Joffrey-" I narrow my eyes shutting him up.
"You don't belong freezing yourself to death because you are a bastard." I let his hand go and grabbed his shoulder tightly. "No, I won't accept that one bit. Tell me Jon how good are you with a sword? You must be decent if what Rodrik Castle's boasting entails. Right?" The pale boy nodded. During the feast, the man was boasting to some of the men that arrived with our banners of his best trainees and had mentioned the Snow fondly. That feast went on far too long I realize. "Then I would ask as the crowned Prince of the Seven Kingdoms that you travel with us to the capital and take on the mantle of the guardian of Arya Stark. And while you travel and live in the Capital you are to train with the best knights of the kingdom to make double sure you can do what I ask." I can feel and hear Arya run up to my side and quickly glance between the two of us looking eagerly at Jon to accept my offer.
"Now Prince Joffrey I-..." I raised a hand.
"Lord Stark, Jon Snow is your Bastard child and he has a right to make his own decisions... I doubt you would have stopped him from going North so why would you stop him going south." The man couldn't say anything to that so slouched in his chair. My father laughed and watched eagerly of the outcome of our talk. As for my mother I knew a talk was to ensue later. But I know I'm making the right decision here.
Finally after a lot of begging from Arya and my unwavering glare the boy slouched much like his father... I won. "I accept Prince Joffrey... please just keep me out of the politics and such." I smiled coyly.
"Ill do my best Jon but if one day you become a knight with your sister you may have to dabble a little at least. After all I'm going to be king and I'll actually have a whole continent almost to run." I spoke in good humor as I patted his arm. "Now that that's done I'm going to change... and steal a couple of these fruits if you don't mind." I said grabbing a assortment of fruit and handing Arya some seeing as we had missed the initial breakfast and I wasn't feeling anything heavier at the moment. "See you later mother, father, Lord Stark, till whenever." And just like that we left, myself, Arya, and Jon. We had to get to the training yard after all... after I had changed that is. I keep forgetting it's freezing outside the walls of the keep. Don't want to become a icicle.
I look down at Arya and smile giving a rub to her cheek making her look up at me. "Do you have anything lesson wise with the maester this morning?" She thought before shaking her head negative. "Good, to the training yard." And she shot off like a bolt and I ducked into my room picking up the breeches that were laid out for me pulling them on. I gave the boy in the doorway a glace before continuing onto my boots and socks. "Yes Snow?"
"... You have changed my whole future you know that right?" I snorted very unlike a prince and looked up at the boy.
"You think? Since I've walked into this castle I have done a lot. I assure you though that I wouldn't have interfered if Arya didn't point out just how good a man and sibling you are." I tied my left boot and bounced up and stood a little taller then Snow feeling happy at the height difference. "You are welcome... and if you say some lame thing about this and that and woe is me I will strike you and you can't do anything." He shut his mouth. "Jon Snow I promise you, you won't regret choosing to accept my offer." I pulled on my red and gold tunic and strapped my sword to my hip. "Now come, for now I shall treat you to my uncles presence and you shall not say anything about his past or the tales of him as it will be very hypocritical of you to judge someone like that." And before he could say anything I shot passed him and made my way to the training yard. Sword hilt in my left hand and half eaten apple in my right. The weeks here should be pleasant at least. Well that was until I saw the annoyed and frustrated Hound glaring a whole into me from across the court yard... I forgot about him. Shit.
AN: So yeah a small time skip after this and yeah Jon is going south but I assure you he will do and experience a lot of what made him the great King of the North. And I will gladly answer any questions you have in the next chapter if you wish to ask one.
I love that you guys enjoy and always hope to read a review or a favorite or a follow. It just makes my day. Also any other kind of story you would like? I'm curious.