A different Joffrey Baratheon

Chapter 5

A great deal of time passed since the incident in the solar happened and I spent a fair bit of it with Arya. Not all of my time of course as I had siblings and parents along with a massive amount of duties that I still needed to conduct. But again Arya was practically there by my side all the time. I loved it and how she was starting to copy my looks and style of speech while at the same time improving upon it and making it hers. My mother had seen it first hand and was amused at her antics and offered to help her master the art of "being a Queen" as mother put it. She didn't use lady because the Queen wasn't a lady but something more and Arya loved the thought of that and so ended up taking classes with the Queen of the realm instead of the Septa who Ned Stark had interrogated and promptly sent away. Apparently, the lady was an outright fanatic in her teachings and had no love for those that didn't follow in her ideals of what a lady should be. I could only wonder what she had wanted to teach the younger lads if she had gotten her hands on them. Talking about young lads, I had gotten close to Bran Stark and gained quite a good camaraderie with him. How was it built you ask? Well of course on the training yard. It seemed I had a knack for teaching and it easily showed with Arya and I guess with Bran not making much progress with Ser Rodrik and others either being too heavy-handed or just not having the ability to teach a young boy that I was the next best thing.
Arya was happy to train with someone else and easily accepted the extra sparring partner. But she was a natural with the sword but not the way many others were. She was fast and swift and didn't rely on strength but agility and dexterity making her very problematic for those that were older than her. Luckily enough I was a mix of strength and swiftness and could easily face her. The Kingsguard taught me well I cannot deny. Anyway, she kept a dagger on her at all times as I had instructed as it was to get her used to having a weapon on her. I didn't want her to go lacking in protection. Although maybe I should be protecting myself as once during training while we were alone she cut me across the chest causing a slight amount of blood. I was never more proud of her at that moment. Sadly she didn't see it that way. She stopped and looked more scared than I've ever seen her. She was almost in tears as she frantically tried to stop the bare trickle of blood. With merely a thought I hugged her close and whispered softly that everything was fine and that I was going to be okay and she didn't have to worry as I was not angry or upset but extremely happy with her for cutting me. I praised her for a moment or so and then brought her to the kitchens to get her favorite treat to cheer her up more. It seemed to do the trick.
Training with her after the incident was slower while in private which was okay with... kinda. It seemed she didn't want to hurt me again and I could understand that but that just wouldn't do. So I kicked her ass. Hehe, after a few beat downs she was trying her best to stab me to death. My blood pumped in excitement at how close she was but again I was holding back. Though I never had to go so hard on her after that. I couldn't wait to have her as my Queen.
And let's just say that Bran didn't have the natural talent with the sword that Arya had. But he did have a talent in something else... climbing. The boy could climb as if he was born to do it. If he got good with a bow to the point he was quick drawing it then he would be a menace to deal with. It was incredible and I had my interest peaked. Could I do the same thing? I had to find out.
So I asked him after training one morning and the boy's face lit up like the sun and he eagerly pulled me away from the yard. He wanted to rush things but I asked for him to slow down and teach me as if I was teaching him. And to say I learned a lot about climbing would be an understatement. Within a few days, I was playing a game by the name of Guard and Theif where one of us would chase the other. There was a lot of running, jumping, climbing, and dodging. I could feel the change in my body as I worked out different parts of my body I never had before and my skill improved to a point that I could sometimes catch the boy. He was very happy about that for some reason.
But climbing was also something I never realized I never had, freedom. Jumping from tower to tower, roof to roof, scaling walls as if I had for years was amazing. Although what was better was when my mother caught sight of me climbing. The chase that I had with the Royal guards was one to remember I tell you. Bran was still more knowledgeable and skilled than me on climbing so got away easily. I sadly was not at his level and was eventually caught and yelled at for an hour straight. My father was no help and kept laughing and applauding my new skill.
"Climbing is good for the body woman, calm your tits." That's all he said. Thankfully enough I got to leave my mother's wrath and found a very smiley Arya.
"I want to climb with you and Bran." She said.
I stepped back and gave her a once over before reaching out and squeezing her upper arm. I didn't want to say yes but she was stubborn and I knew that more than anything. But alas I nodded. "I'll ask Bran, but if he agrees we will start slow, you understand? Your sword training is already tiring as is and I don't want to have you get hurt. You are important to me after all."
She nodded and gave ma a quick hug, "Thank you I'll tell Bran right away!" I reached out to stop her but she was already out of reach.
I dropped my arm and sighed. "Didn't I say I would speak to him? Sigh, She's truly a wolfling."
The very next day Bran brought Arya and me to the wall I had started on and he quickly gave Arya the basics and then left to climb leaving me to teach her. He said that I was a better teacher than himself and Arya was more attentive when I was teaching her. I smiled smugly at the pink-faced girl.
I taught her as usual and she picked it up pretty well I must say. It seemed Arya was a 'diamond in the rough' as many would say. And she from what I have seen so far with her progress with mother and with sword and now with climbing, she is the biggest diamond of them all. For a while, she joined us but not every time as she was doing a lot of physical training and needed breaks. I did as well but not as often and Bran was a damn monster with how much he could do and still keep going. But for Arya, I noticed easily as I had seen her progress and I was... distracted at how amazing she looked wielding a blade. Her arms have formed lean muscle and her face has slimmed down to the point that her features were sharper like a noble than before. She still looked much like her father and little of her mother. She was beautiful.
Speaking of Lord and Lady Stark, they have been notably tense around my family and I must say my uncle was getting the brunt of it. The man had been working out his anger in the yard more and more the longer we stayed here and I couldn't blame him. The past seems to linger with the North and my uncles past hasn't been the best. I just want to know why they are so wary. Though I don't give to shits about Lady Stark the bitch.
Actually Sansa Stark has been outright mute to others. She only publicly appologzied to Arya about her treatment to the younger girl and then locked herself away. I knew she was probably forced to do so but I appreciated the gesture all the same. I even gave the girl a nod which she blushed heavily at before quickly walking away. Arya stayed extra close that day and I didn't care at all. I liked when she needed me.
It was a little later when Arya decided to not attend climbing that I and Bran decided to have a race. It was to be the last before I head back South the next day. There was a hunt today but I declined to go. Hunting was much less exciting than climbing. "To the tallest tower." That was all he said and then quickly ran off. That bastard!
"Bran you cheat!" Yet the younger boy kept going. "Oh, I'm so kicking your ass later!" And my speed picked up and I felt like I was flying. The bricks and stone were blurring by me and almost in an instant, I caught up to the Stark.
The young Stark went wide-eyed at my sudden appearance making me smile savagely. "We all have our talents, Bran. Now it's fair." With that said I was on even ground with the boy. Bras talent and knowledge kept me always behind him yet I was always just behind. My body pumping my blood in my ears and my breathing being ragged as I chased after my opponent.
We were about to the top of the tower jumping from gargoyle to gargoyle enjoying the freedom as I went along. Maybe I should have made Arya come. This was amazing.
I would take back that thought soon enough.
Bran slung across another gargoyle that was above a window to the tower. The boy stopped though and stayed still listening it seemed to be something that I couldn't see from where I was. I pulled myself onto my own gargoyle and sat on it. "What is it?" I asked him.
He made a shushing motion and pointed down. I followed his gesture ad decided to strain my ears to listen...there was talking? Someone was having what it appeared to be a very private conversation that from how they spoke and the words they were using was if I could believe to be my mother and uncle. They spoke words of things that gave me great shock... but also it made things a lot clearer. Although I don't believe they killed Jon... it didn't sound like it at least but they clearly were talking bad about father and I couldn't blame them for that he was as dumb as a bag of rocks. But after a few moments and certain sounds and words being spoken I knew they were doing something a lot worse... my mother and uncle were fucking. So shocked I didn't have enough time to stop Bran as he flipped upside down on the gargoyle and stared... then a scream. My mother must have seen him but I didn't care about that. Bran slipped and fell and for a moment I thought he was to die and just like that his skill and talent of climbing must of took hand as he reached out and barely grabbed the ledge of the window looking as if he was winded. From my point of view I was well hidde from the window especially with how close I put my body to the wall.
Two heads appeared looking down at Bran and my chest hurt at seeing them rather then just hearing them. My mother was a mess and uncle was as calm as grandfather was at times.
"He saw us," mother said shrily.
"So he did/" uncle said.
I could see my friends fingers slipping before he quickly grabbed the ledge with his other hand. Uncle reached down. "Take my hand," He said. "Before you fall."
With barely a thought uncle pulled Bran up letting him gain his footing as mother asked uncle a question but I couldn't hear her. Bran was all I could look at. He was safe he was okay my uncle wouldn't kill a seven name day old boy.
But before I could calmm myself I heard my uncle speak. "The things I do for love," He said before shoving Bran out the window. And the world seemed to slow as I saw the boy plummet and with barely a thought I lunged and leaped off of the gargoyle easily being seen my the older Lannisters as I came into full view. I barely glanced at them as I could see there shocked faces. My mother had wide eyes full of shock and surprise while uncle reached out swiftly to try and stop my deadly leap... he missed.
I focused back on Bran and spread my arms wide where I grabbed him close and held his smaller body to my own as I changed the trajectory of our fall with how I jumped. It felt like I could see and feel everything around me. But what I felt most was the grip Bran held onto me with. What I heard most wasn't the wind whistling by my ears but rather Bran screaming, begging for me to save him. And I felt so ANGRY!!! I would not let the boy die. I would not leave Arya! I would not fucking give UP!!! Opening my eyes seeing a tree speeding towards us I turn so I can keep Bran from the impact. I felt massive amounts of pain course through me as something snapped and sharp pain rolled though my being. Our bodies bounced off the tree trunk only to be met by many branches that were in a way breaking our fall. I again turned Bran away from the danger and absorbed every impact as I was hit seemingly everywhere. I felt the most pain I have ever felt in my life. Yet it didn't matter as I held Bran close and knew he was okay. Only he wasn't as I wasn't fast enough for one branch and the boy knocked his head and not long after he hit his legs. And merely a second after my back hit the solid snow-covered ground I could only let out a silent scream and blood pour from my lips. I was in so much pain yet I stayed conscious. Bran was lucky and was asleep to the world not feeling any of his pain. But I was broken to a point where I would surely die without a maester.
I struggle pulling in the air as my lungs barely work seeming to be punctured or something. Not to forget the pain, oh gods the pain is unbearable. It didn't matter though. Bran mattered and was it even possible to drag him to someone while in my state? Looking down at the boy I felt the anger mix with resolve as I gritted my teeth.
Forcing myself up I couldn't help to let out a scream making my lungs protest. "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!! FUUUUCK!" It fucking hurts so much. Standing up took so much effort and the pain only got worse. It made me believe there was more than my ribs to worry about but I wouldn't look, I couldn't look because if I did I might not be able to do what I had to do. Taking a breath I reached down and grabbed the young Stark and pulled. Without my consent, a scream tore from my throat and I fell down.
"Gulp... Bran... I don't know if I can do this..." The boy didn't answer... He's asleep, why would he answer" I sighed and stood again and grabbed him I pulled yet held firm as the pain blossomed again. I gritted my teeth and let the anger take over and my body went numb as I pulled and pulled and after a distance, I could not even think of as it was barely anything to matter I heard it... a howl. A howl belonging to an unnamed wolf belonging to Bran. Gods I loved that wolf. More so as I heard shouting and other things belonging to as I could now see to be a mix of Royal and Stark men. The Hound led the charge as the big man caught sight of me and sprinted and slid next to me looking me up and down. I smiled at the tall man and let my eyes wander as I could see who else was there. Bran's siblings were there that stayed from the hunt as well as my uncles and mother. I couldn't look at them.
"What happened?" Hound asked in what I think to be shock and worry. Aww, the man cared. "Boy, can you hear me?" His face was stricken with pain and I couldn't help but smile the best I could for him.
"I... was climbing with Bran.. and something seemed to gain his... attention." I gulp in the air. "He stopped me and listened before he decided he wanted to get a better look into the tower window he was above... he went upside down and seemed to be shocked as a group of birds flew out and he lost his hold and fell... I... I jumped for him and was able to change where we would fall... I protected him the best I could as we well and I took the brunt of the damage but Bran... he's hurt." The people were looking at me in shock and I couldn't blame them but right now I didn't care. Mother was silent and uncle as well and I liked it that way. Uncle Tyrion didn't have a problem though all though he was near tears at seeing me.
"My nephew why risk your life?" I blinked hazily at him and smiled.
"Isn't it obvious? He's my friend, and will one day be my brother." I look at Bran and then at the people. "But that won't ever occur if you don't help him. I cough and wheeze as blood splatters my shirt. "And me too if you have time."
That seemed to kick them in gear as the trip back was a blur. Probably due to the pain, I felt in y torso and everywhere else. I actually didn't know the full extent of my injuries but from the looks from those around me and those important in my life reactions, I can guess there bad. Will I die? I hope not. I have things I want to do. Tommen can't handle being King... I can't have him deal with the mess father created.
One of the last things I saw before the darkness took me was Arya fighting her brothers to get to me and Bran. I'll live just so I can see her smile again. After all, I made a promise, and I as a Lannister always repays his debts.