Duty, a Matter of the Heart.

Chapter 1: Mother.

Victoria Baratheon
My eyes slowly opened as a smooth breeze flew through my room awakening me. The sun shined bright through my cream colored room decorated with paintings of Stags and blue roses, my favorite flowers. Even though I never saw them, I loved them. Although, I despised King's Landing it felt good to be back. I spent almost 2 years away traveling Westeros. For my 16th name day I begged my Father to allow me to go and live my life. My father was happy that I wanted to know and see the realm, but only allowed me to go if I took two King's guards and a handmaiden with me, Ser Barristan Selmy escorted me along with another King's Guard. We became very close, as he told me wonderful stories about his time with the Targaryans and my father's rebellion. My Mother was furious with the idea of me, the first born princess going away for so long she didn't even say goodbye to me.
    As I washed my face in a bowl near my bed and dried it with a simple cloth, my hand maidens soon came in, bringing me a dark blue dress with red sleeves. They brushed my dark brown, wavy hair and braided the two front strains of hair towards the back of my head, letting it flow towards my chest and back. It was a simple style, but I loathed the way my mother and the ladies of court did their hair. It look like they had a sausage stuffed on top of their heads, and besides a Stag does not follow. A Stag leads. The hand maidens helped me into my dress as I carefully placed the medallion that my father had given me on my 10th name day. The medallion dated back all the way to the origins of house Baratheon. When Arguilac was defeated by Oris and he took his daughter he gave her this medallion to celebrate their union and his victory. Since then it has been around all the necks of Baratheon women. The medallion show cased a proud stag amongst flowers with beautiful detail. He said that it represented me and all the true Bartheon women, a fierce and kind hearted woman.
    I made my way to the room were our meals are usually served, Myrcella and Tommen usually have breakfast in my mother's chambers but today they were all there. "Good Morning!" I hugged my baby sister and kissed my brother Tommen on the forehead. My mother stared at me coldly. I loved these two so much, they are nothing like my mother and are adorable and gentle children, unlike Joffrey. "Victoria it is so good to have you back! I missed you so much!" Tommen said climbing on to my lap. " I missed you too my sweet baby brother, I trust that you have been putting to good use the present I brought you from Old Town." When I was at Old Town I bought him a book about Aegon's conquest and the unification of the 7 kingdoms. It was a simple and easy book perfect for a child, of now 8. "It's very beautiful but I can't understand those tiny drawings" Tommen said disappointedly. I was not understanding what he meant there were only large drawings on the book as far as I remembered. "What do you mean my sweet?"
"He's talking about the letters! He still can't read..." Myrcella said. "Mother, would you care to enlighten me on why Tommen at the age of 8 can not read?" I said with hostility. "Maester Pycelle has been more than busy with Joffrey." She said sipping from her goblet. " I see you have started to drink wine in the mornings, I can imagine how hard it must be to give all of your attention to just one child!" I stated abruptly standing up. " Since it is so hard for you to devote your love equally..." I paused, my mother stared at me incredulously. "I'll teach Tommen myself." I state gazing intensively at my mother.
"How dare you talk to your mother in such manners!"
"Tommen, Myrcella my lovelies, why don't you run along take some food and I'll meet you in the library?" Tommen and Myrcella soon left as my mother stumbled on the chair. "My mother, the women who taught me to never let any one step on my heels, the women who taught me that you are not less powerful for being a women would never be this drunk at 9 in the morning." I angrily shouted. It is true, there once was a time that me and mother were actually close but then came Joffrey and things began to change. But I still learned a lot from her good and bad. " I love all my children! Specially you my only true born, my first baby..."
"Mother what are you saying, you are talking non sense"
"Why do you think you are so different from your brothers and sister..." She spat laughing. "Mother your drunken words are outrageous let me take you to bed." She smiled at me heartedly. "I love you Victoria no matter what, remember that. But you must also remember that what makes a great queen is not her desire to be loved but to rule, to protect, to be respected and her thirst for power."

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