~*~ "I'm No Ser" ~*~

~*~ Three ~*~

{Athena's Pov}

It had come time for the feast when I woke up, I yawned a bit and stretched. The music and laughter could be heard probably in all halls in the castle. I checked to see if my siblings had already made it downstairs and they had. My eldest brother Robb entered the hall. "Athena, mother wondered where you went" he said and still gave me a kind smile. "Oh I just dosed off a bit before hand. Ayra was a bit of a hassle to get into another dress. She can't stand them" I said and he chuckled before escorting me downstairs "Tons of food has already been out, they did save your plate in the kitchen so it wouldn't have been consumed." Robb said to me and I smiled "That's kind of them. I wasn't expecting for anything to be held, I'll go take a look in the kitchens though. Mother shouldn't have to worry now. It's not like I escaped or anything" I teased and Robb kissed my temple before sending me on my way. I went into the kitchens and the maids looked so pleased to see me. "Successful night so far?" I asked and they nodded "yes my lady" one spoke up. "We made sure there was a plate saved for you, we know your brothers can eat" another giggled and I cracked a smile. "You know it's really Ayra you have to watch out for, she's a little beast" I kept the humor going and they smiled. "You can eat some" I said before they raised a brow "oh no my lady we won't eat until everyone else is fed". My eyes rolled a bit "Girls if you don't eat any now there won't be any to eat at all, think about it. Your not only feeding the Royal family and us but you are feeding their guards and knights and handmaidens." I explained and they all looked at one another as I grabbed my plate to start eating in the semi-quiet kitchen. "Eat, I'll stay in here with you. But please do eat, we don't starve anyone you should remember this" I said before eating at a bench and the one lady I had spoken to earlier came up to me and whispered "It's been taken care of" I nodded softly and smiled "Thank you". The Hound was a man I had to be most intrigued by, he wasn't like the others. He didn't call me out or try and flirt with me drunkenly and most of all he didn't throw himself at me like other guards and men did. It was nice to finally be acquainted with a man who was of few words but had looks I desired so much. Tall, Rugged, Muscular, semi longer hair, Dark eyes oh I was such a sucker for his eyes when we made eye contact in the hall!, and finally one thing that I found so udderly unique about him was his scarring. I assumed it was from something terrible but I never asked anyone. I assumed a burn would look something like that over time. I felt bad for him, but it sure did make him seem more intimidating, but I wasn't scared or threatened by him. I wanted to know what he was really like, how he talked and treated others. I glanced out and found him at an end table, clearly my gestured baffled him a bit before he went in an ate. Seeing him eat made me smile, the other Knights around him unsure why he was treated different other then the fact he was Joffery's Gaurd. It started to be an issue so I set down the plate and walked out to the table, I was going to play host for a moment. I gently put my arm around a knight and leaned more in toward the hound, it grabbed their attention, the whole table to be exact.
"I hope everyone is having a good time the evening?" I smiled and a bunch of them nodded "Yes my lady" some even went so far as to kiss up and compliment. "Is there anything else that we can do for you? I know half of you are sleeping outside, I'm sure I can arrange extra blankets so the cold doesn't bite ya" I smile and the knight I had my arm around out his arm around my waist clearly drunken himself into a stupor. "Maybe instead of those blankets tonight my lady you can some and see each and every one of us" he hiccuped and I rolled my eyes. "Most of you aren't the preferred taste I have, I'm sorry. Besides I don't think it would be proper of me to bed every knight from the Lannister/Baratheon house anyway. I also don't think my father would appreciate me whoring myself out since I am a highborn lady" I said and the guy who held my waist gripped tighter for a second before letting me "You know you are a beautiful woman, I'm surprised you don't have anyone yet" another hiccuped. "Thank you but I am very picky about the men I like, I don't intend to bore you all to death with that, but I'm sure if you need more ale that can be gotten straight away for you. I'm pretty sure now would also be a time to escape for a while, I think they have rooms available still down at the house you guys fancy so much" I smirked before walking off many of them getting up to leave, I glanced behind me, the Hound was still there quiet and enjoying his meal. I walked away since he wasn't one to be disturbed at this time, I talked to a few other tables and caught glimpse of Ayra's mischief. Mother glanced to Robb but I went in and took care of her. "Time for bed little one" I said and Ayra sighed heavily, Robb got up and walked with me just to keep an eye on me and to make sure no guards tried to peruse me in our own home. I grabbed the railing and my hand began to feel pain and I let go but it was still there, I turned to my hands seeing they were bleeding and the skin had been ripped away by sandpaper. I began to panic and Ayra as well as Robb stopped, Robb sat me down on the steps and held my hands "Athena it's nothing. It's just the railing." He said softly trying to bring me back. Ayra always worried for my well being she rubbed my back and I looked at Robb "it's nothing" he said softly and took off my gloves letting cold air go over them "See. They are still there Athena, I promise everything is okay. Your hand aren't in any sort of damage" he reassured me and I nodded softly before getting up, Ayra following. I heard Joffrey from the bottom of the steps with The Hound "Oh I do hope all is okay" Joffrey started trying to be polite but I knew he was secretly a demented child. "Yes all is fine my prince." I assured him and Robb had gotten Ayra to bed, Joffery came up the steps and now stopped me "I noticed you wear gloves on your hands, my mother thinks your hiding an illness." He said and I kept my calm. "I wouldn't call it an illness. An illusion or exaggeration is what I'd call it" I said and he looked at me unamused. "So what scene did you...overdramatize?" He asked as if I was some kind of mental idiot, the Hound was looking at me also. "Well. When I touched the railing it felt like all the skin from my palms had been removed, and that's all I saw. I saw blood and the muscles in my hands." She said and Joffrey didn't say a word at first, the Hound just made a face. This is where I knew I was making a fool of myself. "Now I see why not very men are interested in you" he said before touching my chin. The blonde haired boy disgusted me so much. "Maybe since you are a bit of a freak. If you return to kings landing, maybe I could marry your sister and take you" he teased and I swallowed hard and the hound looked at me once again. It was just us quietly staring at one another, he looked as if he felt bad for me and I looked down at my feet. "Don't beat yourself up too much, your not the only one who's ugly in different ways" he said before walking off. I went to my room and locked the door, I was ready for them to leave now. Clearly I had made a mistake for taking the interest in The Hound,  I knew he was trying to give terms of endearment but clearly it wasn't. I untied my corset and dress before taking the braids out and putting on my slip. I brushed my hair and laid in bed, maybe this was all just a dream and it could go away. I sighed once more before blowing out the candles and laying in the dark until I had fallen asleep. This was not how I intended on things going.