Lancel Lannister Imagines

The Ladies Favour

King Joffrey Baratheon made his way confidently into the throne room, the shadow of the many flame's torches. The castle was busy with the last-moment preparations for the battle to come tonight. Joffrey's armour fit him perfectly without a single scratch yet upon it, his new sword yet to feel the iron of another against it. Golden Lions stood out on his armour proudly and foolishly making him an obvious target.

The Hound Sandor Clegane marched behind his king, accepting his role tonight was to babysit the young king through the battle and his orders from the queen Regent to ensure he would not be harmed. His armour was chipped, broken, and half cobbled together from years of fights.

The King's second cousin, Lancel Lannister. Also walked with them, his new Lannister armour much like the king's had yet to see more than the walls of the training yard, the lions subtle proudly on his sword, belt and little else hoping perhaps he could blend in with the many others Lannister Soldiers and not be picked out for his name and blood as a prisoner or worse.

The three approached a small collection of ladies, who lingered in the hall.

Lady Sansa Stark stood foolishly with her hair down and in her grey house colours. She was fearful picking at her nails, her eyes already glossy with fearful tears.

Beside her, shea her 'handmaiden'. Calm and collected with quiet confidence to her, her dress was hemmed shorter than usual to aid in running if needed.

And finally the Lady Y/n Stone, King Baratheon's bastard daughter and King Joffrey's 'half-sister'. Even though Queen Regent had sent her own daughter away for safety's sake, she did not offer the same to King Robert's bastard girl. And had made her Lady Sansa's lady-in-waiting as a way to keep her torment of both efficient. She stood in an all-black or dark grey dress that had also been hemmed short hiding her leather trousers below, her dark hair pinned up tightly with only a single strand hung by her face, a concealed dagger in her hair.

"My lady Sansa!" Joffrey called out,

"You're grace," she bowed as he approached her,

Y/n also bowed but of course, Joffrey had no care for her,

"You should not be fearful, my uncle would not dare truly break our walls."

"I fear for your safety, my king." she lied,

He chuckled, "You will make a most perfect queen." He smirked, "You should see your king off with a kiss?" He drew his sword, "My new blade, Heart eater I've named it."

"A very powerful name your grace." she nodded,

"Kiss it," he demanded,

Sansa knew she had no choice so bit back her worries and did as he commanded, leaning down to press her lips to the cold blade,

He smirked, "You shall kiss it again when I return." he told her, "And taste my uncle's blood."

"Will you slay him yourself?" she asked,

"If he's foolish enough to come anywhere near me." He snapped,

"So you will be in the vanguard?"

"A king... does not discuss... his battle plans... with stupid girls!" he told her making it up as he went,

"Yes, of course, I am a stupid girl..." Sansa agreed, "Of course, you will be there, my- my brother always would go where fighting is thickest." she explained but was only met by a glare, "...But he is only a pretender,"

"His time will come." Joffrey barked, "And you can lick his blood from heart eater too." he nodded, "Remain in the tower, with my mother. To ensure your... safety." of course he didn't truly care for her safety, merely if she was to feel pain he wanted to know he inflicted it, not some unnamed man from his uncle's army,

"Yes, your grace." she nodded,

Joffrey turned his attention away from her, and briefly caught the sight to the side. He had not paid attention to us thus far.

But Lancel stood with Y/n, his hand softly holding hers as they spoke softly pleas of safety and care for one another. Lancel fixed the one stray strand back into the tight undo of Y/n's hair and forced a tender smile to his lips. She met him with the same and handed briefly over a small item that he immediately hid away.

"Come dog." Joffrey spat at Sandor, before marching off forcing both Sandor and Lancel with him. Once far enough away Joffrey spoke up again. "You seemed concerned for my bastard half-sister?"

"Oh- Well," Lancel stuttered, "I am concerned for all of the ladies of kings landing, if Stannis was to breach the walls... he would spare no lady I have no doubt."

"She is not a lady. She is a bastard. Granted the title only by my drunkard of a father who could not bear his bastard be kicked to the curb as she should be." Joffrey spat,

"Yes, your grace." Lancel nodded,

"What did she give to you?"

"Oh- uhh- Nothing-"

"I saw an item exchange hand, what did she give you Ser Lancel?"

"...It not nothing,"

"Show me." Joffrey held out his hand expectantly,

Lancel sighed knowing he couldn't hide it any longer, and he pulled out a small bundle from his pocket,

Joffrey snatched it away and took a look,

The item Y/n had given Lancel was a small but sharp paper paper-thin dagger, slid between the pages of a small leather-bound pocketbook, all wrapped up in a cloth of red silk embroidered with black lilies blooming from golden stems.

Joffrey looked it over a few times before his eyes met Lancel's "Explain."

"Well, she- she worries for me, said she would rather I take another blade."

"You already have three on your person?"

"...She said it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it, and not have it."

"The book?" He asked flipping the pages,

"Her uhh- her poetry book,"

"Poetry?" he laughed, "Is she foolish enough to believe you will have the time to read in battle? Or does she think you can stop an army's approach with her foolish writing?"

"No, your grace it... it simply brings her luck. And her words do bring me comfort and if I do have a moment perhaps I may reflect on them in the quiet before or after battle."

"And this?" he tugged on the cloth,

"...Her favour. Nothing more." Lancel always was a bad liar,

"Humm," Joffrey scoffed, "Red silk, for House Lannister. A black flower blooming, for a Baratheon maiden now grown, with the gold of the crown and richest house in the kingdom as its stem. sewn as one." Joffrey smirked,

Lancel gulped,

"Hardly just a favour, cousin."

"Well, I uhh I ummm..."

"Are we to expect, a Lannister golden flower blooming with black baratheon petals?"

"...I... I... I-"

Joffrey handed the items back to Lancel and whispered close into his ear, "If you desire her so much, you could have asked. I don't care, You can have her. Make it my gift to you when we see the battle's dawn tomorrow."

"Y-You- Truly your grace?"

"You have my word," he nodded, "I would hurry to wed her. Before the bud of the flower your seed planted begins to take shape below her gown." He smirked as he marched off towards the walls of the keep.