Winter's Fire → Game of Thrones

xli. Intimidating

3rd Person

Everyone in the Red Keep had a slightly different opinion on Alessia Stark. Some believed she was honestly going to remain loyal to the crown. Others believed she was playing at loyalty so that she could wipe out the Lannister family members all in one go. And others believed she could go either way depending on how she was pushed.

There was one thing everyone agreed on though:

The girl was intimidating.

From the fire in her eyes and her defiance the day she was dragged into the throne room to her skills with weapons to the way she quietened up and focused on everything around her. Though not everyone noticed all of these things, they noticed at least one of them. And it made them feel a fear few others could cause.

Cersei Lannister had been intimidated by Alessia Stark after seeing the way her twin looked at her in awe and interest. The feeling had just increased when Tommen commented on how strong the Stark girl had arrived as a queen, yet easily fit in with everyone. She was fearful that Alessia was the younger, more beautiful queen who would take everything from her.

Jamie Lannister had felt intimidated after seeing the way Alessia Stark trained. He could tell she never went all-out and that she was hiding her true potential. There was a danger in the way the girl fought. She was using weapons most Westerosi had never faced before, but that was not what made her dangerous. It was her unpredictability and raw talent. Talent Jamie was sure he possessed before his sword hand was removed.

Tyrion Lannister saw the cold intelligence in the girl. That was what intimidated him the most. To him, Alessia Stark had a mind fit for politics and deception. But he also recognised that she was currently using it to blend in with everyone else in the Red Keep. That put him on edge because he knew that no one truly knew her or her intentions.

Then there was Tywin Lannister. He had been sure the girl would be broken and defeated when brought to Kings Landing. He expected her to lock herself away in her chambers and refuse visits from anyone. He had even hoped she would not work towards a relationship with Sansa Stark. But Alessia Stark seemed to be the opposite. And the fact that she was still so strong nearly intimidated Lord Lannister.

Those were only the Lannister opinions. Most lords and ladies currently at court - including those who had only come for the wedding - agreed her sword skills were frightening. They did not like the way she used foreign weapons and styles either. However, despite the fear and worry she caused, they still viewed her as a strange attraction.

Most would assume that those closer to Alessia would not be intimidated by her. But they were wrong. Sansa feared her sister at times. As did Lucien Tyrell and Prince Daemon Baratheon, who were already quite close with her.

When Sansa reunited with Alessia she saw the broken side to her. She saw all the hurt and pain that her sister's heart truly held. But then she never saw it again. After that all Sansa saw was a calm, composed lady who was trying to blend in with everyone else. But that is what scared Sansa. She was intimidated by how well her sister hid her true self from everyone and worried about how Alessia learned to do such things.

Daemon and Lucien were the last people whose opinions needed to be considered. They were both intimidated by the girl. They agreed she was beautiful, a warrior, intelligent, strong-willed, cunning and incredibly charismatic. 

To Lucien she was the Father, Warrior, Maiden, Crone and Stranger all in one. His infatuation did not blind him, however. He knew Lady Alessia Stark was dangerous and could not be trusted. He wanted to trust her. He really did. He just knew that a woman like that could not be trusted until she made a grand gesture to prove that she could be.

Daemon saw Alessia Stark in an equally high standing, just from a different perspective. To him, Lady Stark was the perfect ruler. She could rule with head and heart. With fear and love. Hear unwanted counsel without reaction, but also be deserving of praise. He did not trust her. He knew better than to trust anyone in Kings Landing - Lucien being the only exception - but he was willing to fight and betray the crown for her.

Only Alessia did not realise the power she held. She did not see her own intelligence or cunning or strength. She failed to see her own beauty, charisma or any of her other qualities. She only saw a failure. Someone who failed to protect those she loved again and again and again. But she did recognise the own fire within her soul. The fire burning to ensure that she never lost a loved one again.

It was this fire that bore her all her other gifts and talents. It was this fire that pushed her to go on and be resilient - if not for herself then for Sansa and the North and perhaps even the Tyrell heir and Baratheon prince. It was this fire that drove her to want to bring Houses Lannister, Bolton and Frey to their knees by any means possible.

It was this fire that intimidated all that she came across.

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Hey guys :)

I'm so so sorry about this update taking so long and then being so short. Honestly uni got really hectic for ages because it was the end of the semester and then exams and I had all of that going on. Then when I went on holidays I kept getting writers block and just couldn't write anything I actually liked and I wasn't gonna post a shitty chapter I'm not proud of.

As of right now I'm back at uni and it's a lot more packed this semester and I have new things going on in my life but I know I'm gonna have time to write. I'll probably write at night because that's when I have the most time so the updates are gonna be slow but they're coming I promise.

How are you guys going though? I hope you're all having a good week,
- Izzy