The Legacy

Part 12

Viserra woke to her head pounding and her throat burning. Her eyes struggled against the light coming in from the window. She vowed never to drink again as she always did after a night of drinking. Bantis licked her face and she felt the sting of her arm as she tried to hold him back. Her eyes scanned the room for the pitcher of water. She slowly rose up from her bed and flinched as she overextended her arm. Unaware of what time it was, Viserra dressed slowly for the day when a knock interrupted her.

"My lady?" Jory's voice was muffled by the door.

"Yes Jory, come in." Viserra slipped on her boot.

"Your uncle asks that you meet him in the Tower of the Hand." Jory opened the door and stood in the doorway.

"What abou-"

"And I do not know what about my lady." Jory interrupted and watched as Viserra struggled to lace her boots. "Do you need help?"

"Jory in all the years you have known me, have I ever needed help with anything?" Viserra answered.

"No my lady, but you've been trying to lace that boot longer than we've been in King's Landing." Jory laughed as he walked over to kneel in front of Viserra.

"Funny" she answered sarcastically. "and thank you." Jory finished laced the first boot and moved to the second. "Is my uncle upset with me?" for some reason Viserra felt guilty about the night before.

"He's just worried, Sera" Jory stood up and offered her his hand. "Don't let King's Landing fool you, it's not safe here for any of us. Including you the legendary Viserra Stark." Viserra took his hand and called Bantis to her side.

"Thank you Jory" Viserra leaned forward and placed a small kiss on his cheek. "You have always looked out for us, a debt we can never repay." She linked her good arm through his.

"It is my honor and privilege my lady." Jory tapped her hand that held his arm and escorted her to the Tower of the Hand.

Viserra climbed the tower and only stopped twice to catch her breathe. Usually she could handle the climb, but this morning her stomach battled against itself. She had reached the door and her hand rested on the handle just as Queen Cersei appeared in the doorway.

"My queen" Viserra greeted and bowed before her. Cersei shut the door behind her and stared at the Stark girl. The queen extended her fingers under Viserra chin and tilted her face upward until she met her eyes.

"You are a beauty, aren't you?" a compliment with a venomous undertone.

"Thank you, your grace." Viserra maintain eye contact.

"It is strange." Cersei paced around Viserra. "In some instances you look exactly like your mother, and in other like your aunt" the queen twirled a strand of Viserra's silver hair. "It is a wonder why you haven't been wedded. I bet you would be a prize for any lord."

"I'm afraid you are too kind your grace." Viserra gaze never left Cersei's.

"Funny" Cersei scoffed. "I heard the Targaryen Shewolf was never afraid." Cersei dropped the strand of silver hair and walked away. Viserra watched her leave and waited until she was out of her sight to enter the study. Ned Stark sat at his study and frowned at the papers in his hand. He acknowledged when she entered the room.

"Sit" was all Ned told his niece as he motioned to the chair in front of him. Unsure Viserra walked toward the chair. His tone was stern, but he seemed to be elsewhere.

"Uncle, I am sor-"

"Viserra" The hand interrupted. Viserra sunk in her seat. "What you did was foolish" he started to become visibly was upset. "You let yourself become vulnerable and put yourself in danger!" He rose from his desk and faced the window behind him. "You have no idea the situation at hand and here you are wandering the streets drunk!" Ned didn't expect to be so upset at his niece, but he was. She was being irresponsible, first with Robert the night she broke free of the keep, and now getting drunk with the King's bastard. The queen has made it clear where she stood when it came to the Starks. The poison of King's Landing's politics had started to wear on Ned. The same poison he had tried to shield his niece from. "I expected you to set an example for Sansa and Arya, and not have to chase after you like an unruly child." Ned turned around and faced her. "I will no longer accept this behavior, understand?"