Asoiaf: I Have a Wolverine Template

Chapter 24

Chapter 24: The Interesting Squire
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Elia Martell POV

I stood in the courtyard atop Casterly Rock, the sun high above me and the sea winds whipping through the air. My mother's words still hung in my mind—"Make friends with your suitor."

She had meant Jaime Lannister, of course, but it had been three days, and I had made no progress. The reason was simple: Jaime was ten years younger than me, still a child with his golden curls and bright green eyes. Trying to engage with him felt awkward, forced.

But there was one more reason why I couldn't get his attention. Jaime and his sister, Cersei, seemed far more interested in spending time with the squire who had become something of a mystery—Galahad.

Galahad, as I now know, was a son of a whore who became a squire to Kevan Lannister and has since gained favor with the Lannisters.

Looking back, I had first seen Galahad in Lannisport when my family arrived to meet with Kevan Lannister. It was a political visit, an introduction to ensure the Martells' presence was acknowledged in the Westerlands. Galahad had been there, standing quietly in the background.

At first glance, I had thought him a typical Lannister squire—tall, with the same golden hair and green eyes that marked the blood of Casterly Rock.

Oberyn, always quick with his jests, had remarked that Galahad looked more like a Lannister than a lowly squire. I had laughed then, dismissing the comment as one of Oberyn's usual quips. But now, after days of observing the boy, I wasn't so sure my brother's joke had been entirely in jest.

There was something odd about Galahad. He wasn't just another squire, that much was clear. Servants spoke of him with a kind of reverence, knights treated him with respect beyond his station, and even the Lannisters themselves seemed to regard him with a strange fondness.

A squire of low birth, a boy whose mother was rumored to have been a whore—yet he walked among them as if he belonged.

One day ago, my interest deepened when Galahad defeated my brother, Oberyn, in less than 10 seconds. After that, I began watching his spars more closely, observing his actions from time to time.

He was kind to the servants, exuding confidence while speaking and sparring with the knights, and he seemed carefree and playful with the Lannister twins.

Now, as I stood in the courtyard, watching Jaime and Cersei speak excitedly with Galahad, I couldn't help but wonder if there was truth to the rumors. Was Galahad truly the son of a whore, or was there more to his story? Could he be a Lannister bastard, hidden away from the world but protected by the family's powerful name?

He was a mystery that began to gnaw at me. My focus should be on Jaime, yet somehow I found myself drawn to Galahad instead.

"May I speak with you, Galahad?" I approached him, watching as he playfully sparred with Jaime and Cersei.

Galahad noticed me immediately, pausing his mock fight with the twins. His expression shifted from playful to slightly surprised as he stood up straighter. "Hello, Princess Elia," he greeted me, his tone respectful, though there was still a trace of surprise in his eyes. "You wish to speak with me?"

I nodded. "Yes."

Before Galahad could respond, Cersei and Jaime tugged at his arms, eager to continue their game. They paid me no mind, determined to keep him in their fun.

"A moment, young Cersei, young Jaime," Galahad said, smiling down at them. "Why don't you play a quick game of tag, hmm? I won't be long."

The twins stood stubbornly in place, clearly unconvinced by his offer. Galahad chuckled softly, then reached into a small leather pouch at his side, pulling out a neatly wrapped bundle. He carefully unfastened it, revealing two small, homemade cakes. The scent was sweet, tempting, and the twins' eyes lit up immediately.