lover's mercy - jaime lannister

TEN

It had been a week.

            She currently walked through the city with Ser Geremy. She would hand out coins of gold to the people she thought looked the worst off. She had a sad look on her face.

             "Are you not accustomed to seeing the homeless, my lady?" Ser Geremy asked.

              "No," she answered. "I suppose it's too cold in the North."

               She looked at Ser Geremy, "How did you grow up?"

                 "I was lucky enough to have a roof over my head but not as fortunate as you, my lady," he said.

                She frowned, "I suppose it's wrong of me to have so many comforts."

                "You have comforts that you may give to others; that you are giving to others," he said. "Most people in your place wouldn't do the same."

                "That's one way of looking at it," she sighed and turned away from all the desperate looks. "I'd like to go back now."

                 _____

                One day, she was requested by Prince Joffrey. They were taking a walk in the gardens.

                "Has your stay been pleasant?" Joffrey asked as they strolled slowly. The Hound lingered behind them so none of her other guards were with her.

                   "Yes," she smiled politely. "I enjoy the gardens the most; although, everything is quite too warm to me."

               "Because you were locked up in the North your whole life," he stopped and looked at her. He reached out and caressed her cheek. "Someone as beautiful as you are should've never stayed there in that desolate place for as long as you did."

               His thumb went to the corner of her lips and her eyes widened. She quickly moved away and started walking again.

                "You are too kind," she said as he caught up to her. "But I was happy there."

                "What's there to be happy about in the North?" he asked.

                 "My family," she said wryly.

               "Your family is here now. Most of them, at least."

                "Yes, they are."

                "I heard you were going to be betrothed," Joffrey stated.

                "As soon as I go back," she smiled as she thought of Damion.

              "You don't have to marry him if you don't want to. I wouldn't allow it. I understand all too well the pain of arranged marriages..."

                 "Pain? You're arranged to marry my sister," she stopped.

                   "Yes," he caressed her cheek. "But I wish to have you and my mother tells me that a king gets what he wants..."

                 And he kissed her.

                She broke away from him and his sloppy kiss. She could not lash out at the boy; he would take it personally.

                "That's...very sweet," she breathed. "But I need time to consider my feelings."

                 "Take all the time you need," he smiled, thinking she actually liked him.