𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋 || 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

Chapter 2

My dark eyes snapped to the King's and my heart caught in my throat. I tried desperately to think of an answer when the Queen's voice rang out in the large room.

"My dear, I'm sure Lady Joan was just admiring our young prince." Cersei smiled down at me.

I smiled back at Her Highness, grateful for the excuse even if it was not true. Prince Joffrey smirked at me from where he stood by the Queen and I swallowed a lump that had formed in my throat. Surely, he did not believe what Queen Cersei said to be true? The blond man I had been watching before looked over to me but I avoided his gaze.

"Ned, how is the rest of your family? Is your son any better?" King Robert questioned my father.

With that, the conversation turned away from me and I breathed a sigh of relief. Why did I even look at that man? Nothing like that had ever befallen me before. I should have known better... Close to me, Sansa leaned over to whisper in my ear.

"What are you doing staring at Joffrey? You know I liked him first," Sansa hissed.

"Why do you assume I was staring at him? I promise you that I wasn't, Sansa," I replied back through gritted teeth.

"But you must've been. I saw you..." Sansa trailed off, a confused expression gracing her face.

Soon, the colloquy was over and my family and I were led to the rooms we would be living in while we were here. We followed a squire through the long hallways of the castle. The hallways twisted left and right numerous times until I was quite lost. After several more minutes of walking, we reached four rooms, side-by-side. Father nodded to the squire and he departed.

"My daughters, which rooms would you like?" he asked us, smiling.

"Arya can decide first," I said, looking over at her.

Arya beamed at me and ran over to one of the doors, wrenching it open. Father laughed out loud while she ran around her newfound room in excitement. Sansa and I followed suit and went to find our own rooms. I walked down the hallway to the very last door. It was painted red and had a beautiful design carved into it. Smiling, I traced the pattern with my fingertips before my hand found the handle and I pulled it open.

The room before me was magnificent. It was light and airy with an open balcony partially covered with filmy cream-colored curtains. A bed adorned the center of the room - it's canopy a deep blue and the cover on the bed matching it perfectly. My feet barely made a sound on the stone flooring as I walked deeper into the room. I grinned and spun around, laughing as I did, my arms outstretched. I had never been to such a beautiful place before, so different from Winterfell.

A light knock at the door made me stop abruptly and I snapped my head around to see who had interrupted me. A young squire stood in the doorway and bowed to me before speaking.

"Excuse, m'lady, but the prince requests your presence in the gardens this afternoon." he said, his hand behind his back.

I arched my eyebrows before shaking it off and nodding to the boy.

"Thank you. Tell him I will be there," I said to him.

He dipped his head to me once more before exiting my room. Now what would the prince want with me? I had been under the impression he had affection for Sansa... Could it have been the incident in the throne room earlier today? What if he'd noticed I'd been staring at that man? I swallowed hard and looked out of my window. It was nearing noon, I better dress before it is time.