Esmae Baratheon was the golden darling of the Seven Kingdoms, or so the measly common folk liked to call the firstborn child of the glorious king Robert Baratheon and Queen Cersei. The princess, however, was anything but a darling and despised the r...
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Esmae was breaking fast in the common room of the Inn they had settled in the night before. It was an impressive three-story construction of pale stone but even so could hardly accommodate the whole of the king's party, which had almost doubled in numbers. Esmae was enjoying bread with honey, while Tommen was reading his favorite book of legends and marveling at the great Serwyn of the Mirror Shield, who had not only fought giants but also slew dragon Urrax, "He tricked him with his shield! Can you imagine?"
Myrcella gave her little brother a gentle smile.
"This is one of my favorite stories," Lady Melysa said. She had joined them for breakfast as well and was sipping on her hot tea.
Tommen's eyes lit up, "Really? What are the others?"
Esmae smiled into her cup as she watched him. Tommen had developed a bit of a crush on Lady Melysa during their trip. It was quite endearing the way he always stole glances at her in the wheelhouse when he thought no one was looking and sought to impress her with the most ridiculous of tales.
"I love the one of Prince Aemon Targaryan and Queen Naerys," Melysa told them, a bit abashed by the sudden attention everyone was paying her.
"He is one of my favorites as well!" Tommen exclaimed. Esmae knew that her brother was obsessed with Targaryan history, a secret they did well to guard together.
"The way he defended her honor against Ser Migil? I wish the men in our times were as gallant," Melysa's eyes looked sad and her voice was laced with something akin to regret.
Esmae raised her brows in surprise, "Why, Lady Melysa, I didn't know you had such a romantic soul." Melysa's cheeks flushed and she didn't answer, taking a sip from her cup instead.
Esmae took another bite of the honeyed bread and frowned mid-chew when she heard shouting coming from without the inn that was quickly followed by a distinct sound of galloping. Curiosity piqued, she rose from the table and made her way to the window to see what was going on.
Three horsemen rode into the inn's yard: a white cloak, the Hound and a third knight that Esmae couldn't yet identify.
