The Stag Queen (on hiatus)

The Coming of an Age

"Go again." Cassana ducks under the blade that is inches from her face. She turns back quickly and faces her opponent again. "You missed." She smiles before sucking her stomach in to avoid the sword swipe that came. She takes her sword and blocks the next strike before parrying with her own. She continues to strike without giving her opponent time to think before she disarms them and holds her sword to their neck. "You did well, little brother." Joffrey rolls his eyes before pushing her away and standing up on his own, leaving Cassana and her outstretched hand behind him before he turns.

"I want to go again."  Cassana sighed as she put her hand down and sheathed her sword; having had this conversation many times before, she was growing tired of his lack of grace in losing. "No, we've been out here for hours already. It's enough for today." Joffrey's face turns red as he hears her words before turning to face her with a look of irritation. "I want to go again, and if you don't fight me, I'll make someone else." He turns and looks at a few of the nearby guards before picking one and smirking to himself.

"You! Come here and fight your prince!" Cassana rolls her eyes at her brother's intimidation of the men meant to protect them. "That is enough, Joff. Please give it a rest. We can go again in the morning." Joffrey turns to her again with a look that could kill a cat. "No, I want to go now." having enough, she walked towards her brother and yanked the sword from him. He tried to pull away and ended up cutting her palm. She threw the sword into the dirt before grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him to the keep. She turns towards the men, watching them and Brienne sitting on the side waiting for Cassana. "Clean up and get back to what you were doing. Brienne, with me, please." She pulls him through the halls, with Brienne following behind them. "Let go of me, Cassana!" Cassana rolls her eyes and keeps walking. "Hmm, let me think, how about no." They take a few turns before entering a room with multiple dividers and oversized tubs. She turns to Brienne. "Can you please get someone to bring us some hot water and soap? My brother and I will wash, then visit our Father." Brienne nods and then leaves the room as Cassana turns to Joffrey and lets go of his shirt. "When the maids come in to prepare the baths, you will get in, wash yourself, then dress." Joffrey stomps over to Cassana and gets in her face. "You are not my Mother. You can't make me do anything." Just before Cassana spoke, the door opened, and four maids entered with water, soap, towels, and fresh clothes. Cassana turns away from her brother, takes her items, and thanks the women who helped them before returning to her brother. "Wash before the urge to drown you wins." She walks to the other side of the room, pulls the divider, and undresses before getting into the tub, washing the sweat off her body, and carefully rinsing her cut hand to stop infection. "Nalia, could you come help me with my hair?" Nalia is Cassana's handmaiden and has been in her service for almost two years. They are the same age and get along well. Cassana has taken her under her wing in a way that gives her an education unlike what her status would typically receive, and because of that, the two have a bond unlike what one would assume. "Of course, Cass."