Milk Of The Poppy {Tyrion Lannister} [ON HOLD]

Chapter Four

[Authors Note: Sorry I'm a little late with the update! I also updated the previous chapters so maybe go check out the edits? They're minor but they made the chapter longer. I'm also changing the title of this story to Milk of the Poppy so, don't be surprised when you can't find Bottled Pain anymore. I hope you like this (extra long) chapter! Without further ado, Chapter Four!]

Morlyna wasn't surprised when her mother tried to get her not to attend the welcoming of the king. Saying that it would be shameful to have a cripple greet the king. She saw the look her mother gave her when she joined the line of her family after leaving the brothel. She was teaching them to read and do mathematics, and while they were slow learners, they were grateful to the girl. 

She took her place between Robb and Sansa. Morlyna wobbled slightly, realizing a steel pin had come loose, and the burning pain began to crawl up her thigh. Jon gently placed one of his hands on her shoulder to steady her. And when Robb gave him a questioning glance he quickly removed it. Instead he placed it on her hip. Meaning nothing by it except to keep her steady so she did not fall. She turned and gave him a grateful look before her head snapped forward and Jon stepped back at the sound of her mother's voice.

"Where's Arya?

A few moments late, the youngest Stark girl came running towards the family, a helmet on her head. Morlyna smiled gently, though still in pain, at her youngest sister. Arya smiled the smallest bit back, before taking her only place in the line. The youngest Stark had never intentionally been cruel to the older girl. But being raised in a home and town where nearly everyone else was, had bred and sense of disassociation between the two. Still, Morlyna was fond of her youngest sister and enjoyed how the girl tormented their mother by challenging her expected role.

As Prince Joffrey rode through the gates, Morlyna continued to hold a pleasant smile in the face of the guests. Though it wavered when another pin shifted, causing her to have to bite her lip harshly to hold in a whimper at the pain. When the wave of pain passed, she took note of how Sansa seemed to smile and watch the prince and wondered where that would lead. Knowing that her father and the King were close, surely meant a possible union between the two houses. 

Following the Prince and the Hound, came the royal carriage that would certainly be housing the Queen and young prince and princess. Then came the King himself. King Robert Baratheon. At the sight of him, everyone bowed. Morlyna, cried out quietly into her hand as she sank to her knee. The pins shifting more and more. The feeling of blood coating her pallid flesh became well known to her, as she felt it begin to soak into the fabrics of her dress. Her hands were shaking, knowing that when the time to stand came, she would not be able to rise from her kneeling position. 

Morlyna was thankful that everyone's heads were bowed, including herself, as tears rolled down her cheeks in pain. The sound of the King getting off her horse ceased the small sniffle that had managed to escape, and the girl steeled herself as she would be facing the king soon and she could not be seen as weak. 

The king gestured for Ned to rise, and when he did, everyone followed suit. All except Morlyna, who remained stuck. Jon was quick to help though, and placed his hands under her arms and lifted the girl to her feet, holding her steady for a moment before returning to his place beside Theon. The King glanced at her and smiled gently at his best friend's first-born daughter, only for a few moments before looking back at Ned. The smile was a reassurance to her, that he was not upset that she had not risen with everyone else. 

She heard the men laugh at something she had not heard, the pain becoming all too much. Robb took a side glance at his sister and frowned at how much pain she was in. They were not close in the slightest. He would admit that. In fact, he has been downright harsh to her at times. He would admit that too. But despite this, he held her hand tightly in his. She was still his family, and the fact that she was swallowing her utter pain for her family helped show that. He knew that this gesture wouldn't change anything. Not by a long shot, but she gripped his hand all the same. Accepting the little comfort he gave, though having no clue as to why the comfort was extended, to begin with. Jon seemed to notice the small event, though no one else did, and smiled just the tiniest of bits. He was glad that someone was helping her in some way when he could not. 

The Queen and her children stepped out of the carriage, and Morlyna felt the heat of the princes' and princess' eyes on her. Searching her with curious looks, wanting to know why the Stark cripple was there, to begin with. Heat crawled up her neck, turning it red under their gazes. Theirs as well as Jamie Lannisters, though only briefly, and the Hounds and much of the guard. Morlyna was not stupid. She knew what people said and thought about her. The girls at the brothel had made sure to inform her of some men's...desires to fuck the beautiful, one-legged girl. 

She was gratefully distracted by the King addressing her, after shaking her older brother's hand. 

"Ah, Morlyna. The rumors are true. You are quite the beauty."

"Thank you, my King."

He smiled and quickly leaned in and whispered in her ear, "take care of that leg of yours after this." She nodded quickly before he moved onto her two sisters and brother. Greeting them in some manner or another. 

The Queen stepped forward, offering her hand for Morlyna's father to kiss. When he did, the king was quick in demanding to see their crypts. Of course, Morlyna knew why. She knew the stories the stories after all. As the king walked away with Ned, they were free to leave, and Jon was quick to come to Morlyna's aid.

The young man held her tightly, lifting her up, so there was no longer pressure on her the steel leg. Some glanced their way, but most simply ignored them. Robb released his sister's hand, nodding at the two, before leaving. Jon lifted Morlyna into his arms, after noticing a rather large blood stain on the fabrics of her dress. He carried her to the Maester, who had him place the girl on a bed. The older man moved the fabrics away from her skin and frowned at the loose pins, and deep gouges that had marred the stub of her knee. He gave her some Milk of the Poppy, relieving her pain immensely, the moment it entered her system. She watched with hazy eyes as he removed the steel leg and gave it to Jon to clean off. The Maester continued to frown as he cleaned her leg. Eventually, the girl fell asleep much to Jon's relief. She needed rest after the pain she had just endured. He would let her sleep for now. She deserved it.