THE NIGHT | arthur dayne

Chapter 3

Lannisport was more crowded than usual in preparation of the start of the tournament. The guests had already arrived and made their tent city full of lords, ladies, knights, and more. Jorelle couldn't remember ever seeing so many people at her home at once. She walked down the path, counting the sigils on the flags that blew harshly in the ocean wind.

Septa Saranella had taught Jorelle everything except the sigils. Her mother taught her those. Jorelle remembered days of sitting in the sun with her, watching the flags on the boats and learning the houses and their words. It was Jorelle's favorite thing to do with her mother.

She still enjoyed it, but they didn't get many visitors anymore. The boats that went by didn't have sigils and any visitors were from the king. Jorelle grew tired of seeing the Targaryen dragons.

But today she saw sigils she hadn't seen in years. She saw those of her father's bannermen: the coins of the Paynes, the rooster of the Swyfts, the ox of the Presters.

Her view of the flags was blocked as Cersei ran in front of her and grabbed her arm, her two friends, Jeyne Farman and Melara Hetherspoon, behind her.

Jeyne was quiet so Jorelle didn't know her well, but Melara was completely opposite. She was a bold girl of ten and five, one year older than Cersei, who didn't care about propriety. Jorelle struggled to figure out why Cersei tolerated her.

"Will you come with us? You can bring that friend of yours too." Melara said. "Since she's the only one you have." Jorelle stood up straight, trying to look more confident.

"Where are you going?" Jorelle asked.

"To see the witch, Maggy the Frog. I want to ask her about my future," Cersei replied.

"You should ask her too, Jo. Maybe there's some hope for you," Melara snarked. Jeyne and Cersei laughed.

Only her mother called her Jo.

Melara Hetherspoon was somehow the only person that was able to accomplish the impossible feat of intimidating Jorelle Lannister. Melara was older and prettier and she had Cersei and Jeyne twirled around her finger, as they would do anything to impress her. Jorelle would too.

"So? Are you coming?" Melara asked.

Jorelle nodded. She wasn't going to say no and have Melara use it against her.

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The group of girls warily approached the tent. Jorelle was terrified of what lied within. She really didn't want to be there, and she knew that Cersei didn't either. It was only Melara, who somehow had all the girls under her command.

I am a Lannister of Casterly Rock, Jorelle thought. I will not let some crone in a tent scare me and I will not be a coward like Jeyne.

Poor Jeyne didn't want to be involved at all. She lingered behind the group, pale as snow. Alara was the opposite, she didn't seem afraid, but she was smart enough to still let Melara take the lead.

The girls entered the tent, holding open the flaps of fabric until the last girl entered. The inside smelled of every spice Jorelle knew and others she had never tasted.

Maggy the Frog was asleep in her bed so the girls looked at each other as if to ask, "Do we wake her?" Melara, of course, made the decision. She pulled off the hood of her cloak and kicked the side of the bed.

The witch sat up suddenly, causing the girls to flinch. "Wake up, we want our futures told," Melara said.

Maggy the Frog opened her crusty yellow eyes causing Jeyne to scream and run out of the tent. The other girls stayed. Jorelle was afraid, but she was also intrigued. Besides, if this sorceress truly had the power to curse them, running away wouldn't help.