Noah [Game of Thrones] ✓

Kings road

Noah stands just beside Jon amongst those awaiting the royal family. "Arya. Take that helmet off. Bran. Stop fidgeting for goodness sake. He is a king, not a god.", Noah hisses softly, keeping the bunch in check. When they finally stand still she leans ever so slightly against Jon with an inaudible sigh. Yet the boy notices and cracks a smile of amusement. They watch as the carriages and horses enter the courtyard and then bow their heads as the king marches over and starts to converse with Lord and Lady Stark, following down the lines. "I never knew such pretty women lived in the north." The stench of alcohol enters Noah's nose and she slowly lifts her head. "They don't, my liege. I'm from Essos." "A southern woman so far north?" The man asks. "Your idea, Ned?" "Mine, your majesty. She is the keeper of books and the one who teaches our children to read, to write and about the history of the world." Catelyns word finally free her from the kings devastating bad breath and make him look at her very.. differently. "You're a smart woman." "I am a more than well educated woman, your highness." "If your children are in need of lessons even on the road I'd highly suggest them to visit her. She has taught them a lot in close to no time." Robert Baratheon takes a few more steps away as Noah straightens her posture. "It would be an honour." "I have three ones you'll need to deal with." "I don't doubt I'll have the time.", she simply answers, bowing her head again, then falling silent.

That very evening she had been forcivly invited for dinner under the kings command. And there she was. Entering the hall in one of her finest dresses. Her hair as always up and pulled back. "The pretty lady.", the already drunk king laughs. She simply takes the seat left for her. Close to the kings wife. "Your name is Noah, I was told." Cercei Lannisters voice is sharp but Noah stays calm and collected. "Noah Mars. Yes. Correct, my lady." "Do you plan on whoring yourself to my husband tonight?" "I plan on helping one of the cooking helps to learn to read.", she says calmly. "And after that?" "I'll make my way to my bed alone. Your husband may be the king but I am not a whore for neither money nor influence." Her voice is low but Cercei Lannisters understands her well. The blonde woman finds herself immediately pulled towards the young woman. She found her trustworthy. An unheard thing for a Lannister. Still there was one more test she had to fulfill. "Why do you not want my place?" "Because I couldn't imagine myself acting like a lady the whole time. When I want to practice archery I can. When I want to swear and curse like a sailor I can and when I want to simply disappear for a while.. I can. When I don't want to marry I can deny the man. I do not like the thought of nobility and it restricting my life." Cercei finds herself wearing a thin smile. "Understandable. Would you show me around the castle?" "Certainly, Milady. If you wish so." With that their muttered conversation is over because the kings drunken antics get worse. After exchanging a look with Lady Catelyn Noah gets up. "My apologies but I shall take my leave now. Lady Cercei I will return for our tour of the castle but I shall quickly take the children to their rooms. Bran, Rickon, Arya, Sansa, Robb. Come on." The group quickly flocks to her and she guides them out of the hall and to their rooms. "Are we sent away because of the king?", Robb asks Noah softly. She nods slightly. "Your mother wanted me to get you out of there while she can't leave.. if you bunch will go to sleep I will make my next lessons only on reading and an easy breeze. The younger ones all immediately leave for their rooms but Robb stays. "What do I get? I don't have lessons anymore." "A lesson in decency, Robb.", Noah says, rolling her eyes. "Why do you deny me your hand?" "Because I want to live my life by my own  rules and not bowing under a husband and all the nobility the north has to offer. I don't want children. All I want is to drown myself in the old worlds hidden inside books and help where I can until I fade. I don't love you in the way you want me to love you, Robb. I adore you, but I can't see you as more than a child and I doubt I ever can. There is no easier way for me to say it. It will always hurt." Robb nods slowly, taking her hands. She had small hands with thin fingers and well taken care of nails. He kisses her knuckles. "I'll find a way some day to make you love me." If only he knew what she knew. He would die before even his firstborn could leave the womb. And his mother and wife would die beside him at the red wedding. Brushing a hand through his hair she gives him one sad smile, then turns around. "Go to bed, please." Robb leaves for his chambers while Noah returns to the hall and Cercei looks almost thankful to see her, getting up, rounding up her children and joining her. "Could you first show them to their stays?" "Of course. Please follow me. I am quite sure you chose to stay at the tavern over the royal guest house. Understandable as it is always freezing there." Cercei nods and Noah gently guides the three children in between her and their mother to keep them safer, then leads them steadily to the tavern where the young ones are brought to their rooms by staff. "I hope three hours are enough to show you Winterfell Milady. My student awaits me then." "I should not take too much of your time. It's been a long day. Maybe we shall divide the tour between today and tomorrow." "That would most certainly work. A good notion Milady. Please come. I shall start with my favourite spots. First: the market." Cercei hurries to walk by the slightly taller woman's side as she talks about the market days and the traders tents making dots of colour in the snow. Somehow they actually end up touring the area for more than two hours and decide to end it while in the godswood. "I shall bring you to the tavern and then proceed with my lesson if that is alright with you, Lady Cercei." "It is. Thank you." Accompanying her back to the tavern Noah allows the queen to leave for her room before turning around, hurrying to the castle so she'd be on time to teach.