Jojen laughed in my face. "The Princess of the Seven Kingdoms wants to be taught witchcraft?! How cruel of you, tricking an innocent young man," he joked.
I set my eyes on him, fixed on his throat. "Kuristaa," I declared. His eyes began to grow large and he clawed at his neck as his lungs were desperate for oxygen. I laughed as I said the word for stop.
Jojen hit the floor, gasping for air and coughing. "Little one," he croaked. "I will teach you. The first thing you need-" he gasped. "-is control."
I smiled triumphantly. "Agreeing was the right thing to do. I'd hate to inform my father that his new prisoner worked witchcraft on me! He is very fond of his princess, you know." I winked at the disheveled young man, chained haphazardly in the same place I heard they kept Ned Stark. I hoped he wouldn't reach the fate.
"Spoken like a true Lannister," he drawled.
"I am a Baratheon. Joffrey's mother is a Lannister. I am not."
Jojen laughed again. A part of me wondered if he was mad. Had I asked a madman to train me in witchcraft? Had I trusted a madman with my biggest secret? "You still believe that Joffrey is of Baratheon blood? You might be the only one in the entire Seven Kingdoms who does."
I stepped forward and grabbed his chin, forcing him to look me in the eye. "You're already in the dungeon of the most dangerous couple in Westeros, you'd do well not to anger their daughter." I released his chin and pushed his small frame to the dirt.
He leaned up and wiped his lip. "I may be a prisoner, but so are you, little one. And besides, I know your greatest secret." He practically sang the word secret. It hit me that I needed to be more careful.
"I am grateful that you agreed to teach me," I backtracked. "I might even be able to speak to my parents on your behalf. In any case, may we start tomorrow afternoon?"
"I have nothing else to do," he quipped with a sly smile. He was oddly positive for a man in his position. I nodded my thanks and exited.
As soon as the door shut behind me, I collided with Jaime's chest. "Lehna! What on earth do you think you're doing?! That man could hurt you!" His fists clenched and he ground his jaw. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
I shook my head. "I- I just went to retrieve the earring I lost yesterday. See?" I forced my hand to shake and held out a golden loop.
Jaime gave me a stern look. "Don't come back here." He ordered. "Or I will tell Joffrey."
I am the Princess, how dare he threaten me like that! I resisted the urge to stomp my foot like a child. I simply curtsied to him and went on my way. Hopefully Jojen could teach me a cloaking spell at our first lesson.
