Hear me Roar - English version

CHAPTER 10 - Don't say it

"I am sending you back to the North," Ned announces to us.

               I can hardly believe I've made it this far. I have dreamed of leaving the capital from the very moment I set foot in it. I am so eager to go home. I'll be able to see Theon and Robb again, Arrow will finally be able to roam freely, and we will be safe.

               Beside me, my sisters beg him to let them stay; they don't understand that this is for their own good. Here, they feel they belong: Arya is beginning to make progress with Master Syrio, and Sansa spends her time hanging on Joffrey's every word.

"When do we leave?" I ask.

"Tomorrow."

"What?!" Sansa cries. "I can't leave! I'm supposed to marry Joffrey! One day he will be the greatest king there ever was, a golden lion, and I shall give him sons with sparking golden hair."

"I am the one who is supposed to marry Joffrey," I snap at her. "I would gladly give him to you, but I have decided, unlike others, not to act selfishly."

"Joffrey said he wanted me to be his queen!"

               I can't believe it. The prince has always shown a great interest in me. He has never stinted on compliments and even helped me after my confrontation with the Mountain. I don't understand why, since he claims to love me, he would say such things to my sister. Unless, perhaps...

               My father sends them out of the room and sits back down at his desk. Leaning over an old book, he mumbles without even noticing that I am still there.

"You know I won't be leaving, don't you?"

               He looks up at me, slightly surprised. More than anything, I want to go home, but if my intuition is correct, and after Jaime attacked him in the middle of the street, I cannot leave my father alone.

"I imagine nothing will change your mind," he replies.

"We must protect one another. Here more than anywhere else."

               I kiss his cheek before leaving the room. I must find out if the 'gentle' Prince Joffrey has been mocking me since we met, or if he is manipulating my sister to secure an alliance between the Lannisters and the North.

               Unfortunately, Joffrey is not clever enough to think of that on his own. The person pulling the strings is, without a doubt, the one I have been trying to avoid since our arrival: Cersei.

♐︎

               I arrive at the door of Joffrey's apartments. I might as well ensure his inclinations before throwing myself into the lion's den. To do that, I'll need to put on my best acting performance. Say that it doesn't sound like me, and I would agree with you. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

"My Lady!" he exclaims when the Hound opens the door for me. "I was just thinking of you!"

"Is that true, my prince?"

"I was waiting for my servants to undress me, but they don't seem to have decided to come."

               Oh... I can smell that coming from miles away. What a ridiculous idea to come this late. I should have expected it.

"Perhaps you could help me."

"Of course, my prince. It would be an honour..."

               Joffrey stands in the centre of the room, waiting for me to unbutton his shirt as if he didn't know how to do it himself. After this, you couldn't make me believe he isn't mad about me.