Lies 2

Catelyn

No.

This wasn't happening.

She refused to believe that this was happening.

Her family had just gotten over the loss, they were moving on with their lives, moving on from the ordeal that boy had bestowed upon them. She just couldn't understand the sheer audacity of him to just turn up out of the blue and disrupt her family to the core.

He'd made his intensions clear, that he was leaving to live his own life, to discover himself, he'd said so in his letter to her husband. So she couldn't for the life of her understand why he'd decided to turn up again like nothing had happened.

She huffed as she made her way to Ned's solar, he'd rebuffed any sort of conversation about the bastard yesterday but she wouldn't be denied the right today.

She didn't even bother knocking as she got to the door, Jory looked like he wanted to announce her but she wasn't interested, she'd come here for answers.

Ned looked up from whatever it was that he was looking at from behind his desk "Cat! What's the mean..."

"We need to talk." She said as she closed the door behind her, catching a glimpse of an uncomfortable looking Jory before it closed.

He sighed as she walked towards his desk and took a seat "If this is about J..."

She cut him off yet again "Of course this is about the bastard..."

"Catelyn..." He said in a low tone "I've warned you before about referring him like that..."

"I don't care anymore Ned. He's not staying here so I don't see how that is even important right now. What is important is what we are to do with this situation." She said with determination. She was getting a result from this conversation, she had to.

She could practically hear him grinding his teeth "What do you mean he's not staying here?" He asked.

"Exactly what I said, he's not staying here, end of conversation. The real conversation is what we could do to help him on his way, it's clear that he's been struggling out there these past few years and has obviously returned behind the safe walls of Winterfell because it's become too much for him." She said.

Ned looked at her like she'd grown a second head "...what?" He said.

She just shook her head "Don't be silly Ned, even you must see how obvious it is that he's made a huge miscalculation of his own worth and has reluctantly turned back to you for help. We owe it to him to at least help him find his feet." She said.

It was Ned's turn to shake his head as he looked at her oddly "We owe it to him? You don't owe him anything, you've made that quite clear in the past. What's with the change of heart?" He asked.

She looked down at her skirts and brushed her hands across them "Answer me this my lord, would you consider me a religious woman?" She asked.

Now he really looked confused "I'm not sure what this ha..."

"Just answer the question please." She interrupted.

He sighed "I suppose I could consider you a religious person yes, but I still don't see how this has anything to do with the current topic of conversation we are having." he replied.

It was her turn to sigh as she looked up at him "I pray to the seven on a daily basis my lord, I pray for many reasons, for the safety of you and our children mostly. And the gods have answered my prayers on many occasion, so I deemed it necessary, in the name of the seven, to forgive a motherless child, forgive him for his sins and to lead him onto a path of redemption." She answered.

Ned scoffed and shook his head "I knew it was too good to be true, you just can't help yourself, can you?" He said annoyingly.

She shook her head and pleaded with him "You wound me Ned, I'm trying to be the bigger person in this situation. I'm trying to help the boy not hurt him, why can't you see that?" She pleaded with him.

He just looked at her "Okay, I'll bite, how do we 'help' Jon out hmm? Not that he seems to need the help but still." He asked as he folded his arms.

This was it, she just needed to sell it right "We give him something to be proud of, a duty that he could take pride in. We can't give him a purpose, he made that clear when he left Winterfell all those years ago, no, we have to point him in the right direction, give him the ability to make something of himself, the ability to be his own man. He'll love you even more for coming up with this idea for him, trust me." She said, she almost convinced herself of her own plan.

Almost.

She didn't care if the bastard found the light or made use of his life for once, she just wanted him gone, never to return.

Her husband was sceptical before but now, leaning back in his chair and stroking his stubble, he looked almost convinced.

"It is an interesting idea I suppose, give him the tools to achieve what he wanted to achieve when he decided to leave home. That way, he'll realise that I have been listening to him and I do respect his wishes and choices." He said to himself. She didn't know what he was really talking about but at this point she didn't really care, she just wanted his blessing. "It might also keep him busy for the foreseeable future, keep him distracted." He finished, he looked like he was in his own world as he stared off into nothingness.

She managed a smile and nodded at him "I think he'll really appreciate what you're trying to do for him, instead of giving him a life, your letting him earn it himself, like he wanted to in the first place. He'll respect you for giving him that." She said. She could feel the tide turning, he was actually going along with it.

He started nodding to himself "Okay."

She blinked, he agreed with her? Was it really going to be this easy to get rid of that boy?

She nodded herself and smiled "It's the right thing to do Ned, for all of us, you'll see." She said.

"I hope so." He replied.

He clapped his hands, making her jump "Right, since it was your idea, have you got any suggestions on how we proceed?" He asked. He seemed determined which was good for her since the next words to come out of her mouth would be the final step to her plan.

"I have had one idea but I'm not sure how you'll receive it. You might not like it but it would be the best for Jon and ultimately, that's what all this is for, remember." She said.

He took a deep breath "Okay, hit me with it." He said, preparing himself for her next words.

"Let him join the Night's Watch with his Uncle Benjen." She said. Mentioning his brother in an attempt to ease the impact of her sentence.

It didn't work.

His eyes closed and his head dropped, she was losing momentum.

"The Night's Watch is an esteemed order, a place where any nobody can become somebody, something Jon has clearly been trying to achieve. Plus, his uncle is there as well, it's not like it's going to be some lonely life living up there. He can still visit Winterfell whenever he's allowed, I'm sure the children will appreciate those visits." She pleaded. She left the last part in begrudgingly, she wanted him gone forever but if the promise of sparse visits here and there was the price for him to be gone, well, we all had to make sacrifices at some point in life.

"...get out." He said, almost growling at her.

She shook her head "What?" She said.

He looked at her with such disgust that she had to straighten her spine as to not cower under his gaze "I said, Get. Out." He said.

She raised her chin at him, she was so close to getting her way that she wouldn't be giving up that easily "And why would I do that? We are finally getting somewher..."

He stood up from his chair and pointed at the door "I SAID GET OUT!" He shouted.

She wasn't gonna get anywhere with him being like this, she'd made good progress today but had obviously gotten too greedy in her attempts at finalise her plan. It had taken a hit but it would recover, and when he'd calmed down, she'd be having this chat with him again.

She cut her losses as she stood up and curtsied "As you wish my lord." She managed to get out.

Jory gave her a worried look when she exited the room, she barely gave him a second glance as she made her way down the hall. The sound of glass shattering coming from her husband's solar was the last thing she heard as she made her way to break her fast with her children.

Let's hope the bastard is still in bed.

Elia

The afternoon sun beamed down on her and her little friend as they sat on a bench in the royal gardens. She always felt at peace whenever she was sat in the warmth of it, made sense with her being a Martell and all. It would seem her guest enjoyed the sunshine as well.

Ser Oswell and Ser Barristan were on duty, currently protecting the Queen and her little Princess.

"Bab!"

She smiled as she looked down at her lap where she held her granddaughter, little Alysanne had a small white sundress on with a little matching hat, and she was currently pointing at all the different flowers on display in front of them.

"What's that sweetie?" She asked her precious.

Alysanne looked up at her whilst still pointing towards the flower bed "Bab!" She said.

Elia smiled at her, she was an intrigued little girl, even at such a young age. She was also gonna be trouble when she was a little older, she was still young but already had a vocabulary of two entire words. One being 'Bab', which she said whenever she pointed at anything and the other being 'No', which was slowly becoming a problem for her mother.

She had to laugh when she offered to look after Alysanne for a few hours, poor Margaery looked like she'd been offered the world when she'd been asked. It's not that Alysanne was a difficult child, it's the fact that Margaery was new to the whole motherhood aspect of being a wife and was clearly in need of a little break, a break Elia was all too happy to give her. Especially if it meant spending time with her favourite little person in the whole wide world.

Had nothing to do with wanting to hold a little baby girl in her arms again.

She was broken from her sad thoughts as Alysanne gripped her forearm and pointed at Ser Barristan, who was currently walking towards her with a smile on his old friendly face.

"Bab!" Alysanne chirped as she pointed at Ser Barristan.

The veteran Kingsguard chuckled as he approached them "My Queen, princess." He said as he knelled in front of them.

"No." Alysanne said before she could even open her mouth. She smiled at him and shrugged her shoulders "Apparently not Ser Barristan, the Princess has spoken." She said amusingly. She held out a hand and motioned for him to stand.

He laughed as he stood back up "It would seem I have been misunderstood all along." He said. She looked down at Alysanne who was currently blowing raspberries with her mouth and fiddling with one of the rings on her finger, the one with the ruby that Rhaegar had gifted to her for one of her past name days.

She looked back up at the knight "What can I do for you Ser Barristan?" She asked, bobbing one of her legs as Alysanne started to become a little restless. She'd been trying to climb down and crawl in the flower bed ever since they'd sat down.

He cleared his throat as he looked down at the little Princess "Your nephew, Prince Quentyn requests an audience with you, your grace. He's just at the entrance to the gardens." He said.

Interesting.

She nodded "If you would Ser Barristan, tell my nephew I would be delighted if he joined me and the little Princess here on this fine afternoon." She said as the old Ser nodded in affirmation and went to go and get her nephew.

"I wonder what he wants." She said, mainly to herself.

"Bab!" Alysanne replied.

She looked into the distance where Ser Barristan had just rounded a corner out of view "Bab indeed, little one." She replied. Alysanne's answer was to just bounce up and down where she sat.

She huffed as she readjusted her grip on the little rascal "Slow down sweetie, I'm not a pony." She said. Alysanne just looked up at her and gave her a gummy smile, carrying on with pretending her lap was a horse.

"Your grace." She heard as she turned her head, her nephew was stood looking at the two of them with a bemused look on his face.

She patted the space next to her on the bench "Quentyn, please sit." She said as he took a seat next to her. Alysanne had stopped bouncing on her lap, thank the gods, and was currently staring at Quentyn like she didn't know what to make of him.

Quentyn gave Alysanne one of the most forced smiles she'd ever seen and went to shake her little hand. Unfortunately for her nephew, Alysanne had other ideas and snatched her hand away before he could even reach it.

"No!" She exclaimed.

Quentyn looked up at her like he didn't know what to do "Don't worry about her, she's in one of those moods. Think she might be getting hungry that's all." She lied. Alysanne had only just recently been fed, just before Margaery handed her over but she didn't want Quentyn to feel bad.

"Oh, that's alright." He said. "I love babies and all their little charms." He finished as he smiled down at the little girl.

She narrowed her eyes "Since when?" She asked. She could smell a fish and wasn't best pleased that it was a family member trying to play games with her.

He wasn't fooling anybody.

His smile faltered when he looked at her "What do you mean? I've always adored babies." He said.

She just hummed as she started rocking Alysanne on her lap again.

"Ser Barristan said you wanted to see me for something..." She said as she looked at him.

Her nephew seemed to prepare himself before saying whatever it was he was about to say, he cleared his throat and looked her dead in the eyes "I was hoping you could help me?" He said before he looked down at his lap.

Now she was really suspicious, Quentyn had never asked her for help involving anything, it was always her two brothers or even his sister that were asked before her.

She humoured him by nodding, she was still a little bit intrigued as to what he wanted help with in the first place "Go on." She said as Alysanne finally calmed down on her lap.

He sat up and looked at her "I came to the capital with Prince Viserys not only to see you and my cousins, but to give you a warning." He said ominously.

She looked at him in confusion, now she was really lost. Her hold on Alysanne became more secure as she checked to see where her two Kingsguard were in her peripheral vision.

Quentyn won't hurt us, he's not that stupid. And Doran would disown him in a second.

"A warning? And what prey tell is this warning, dear nephew." She said a little shortly.

He sighed "Its father, he's beyond upset, he's angry and he's losing his patience." Quentyn said.

She scoffed "I find that hard to believe. Your father is one of the tamest men I've ever known. Are you sure you've not gotten him mixed up with your uncle Oberyn?" She asked.

He looked a little annoyed by her reply "No, I haven't. Uncle Oberyn isn't the one getting it in the neck by the residents of Sunspear, my father is." He said.

She arched an eyebrow at him "I fail to see how this has anything to do with me and this so called warning. Your father is a capable man, any problems or gripes his people have will be resolved in time." She replied.

He shook his head and got closer to her as he lowered his voice "Arianne has been complaining to him as well, it's about Prince Viserys." He said in a nonspiritual tone.

She rolled her eyes, of course it had something to do with that man child. She felt so sorry for her niece, having to put up with that for the rest of her days. Her and Rhaegar had had a little falling out when that betrothal was announced.

"And what has he done now?" She asked, her nephew looking a little uncomfortable.

"He's out of control. He's been harassing anybody and everybody in Sunspear without a single ounce of remorse. He walks around like he owns the place even though my sister is technically the one in charge whilst father is at the Water Gardens. The people want blood but my father has to protect him from them. If anything were to happen to Viserys, it could kickstart a war between Dorne and the Crown. Father wants to avoid that." He finished.

Her brow scrunched in confusion, the spider, Lord Varys wasn't the only person in the capital with their own personal line of spies, Rhaella had a few of them herself. A few of them she had planted in Sunspear with the sole purpose of keeping an eye on her son while she couldn't. She got monthly reports on Viserys, to make sure he wasn't going the way of his father.

If Viserys was causing trouble in Sunspear, his mother would know and do something about it. The only things those reports ever said were that he was rude to servants, cold to his wife and in general, miserable living there.

So somebody was trying to pull a fast one here.

She was beyond annoyed, but was rather interested in what he actually got out of all this so played along with him.

"What does my brother suggest?" She asked as Alysanne started to babble.

He cleared his throat "He thinks Viserys is being the way he is because he fells isolated, he misses his family." He said as he attempted to look sad at that notion.

It took all of her willpower not to burst out laughing, Viserys couldn't give a shit about his family. The only family member he showed an ounce of respect to was his mother and even that was very little.

She decided to play along though, she would have to send Doran a raven to see what in the world his son was playing at. "I suppose it makes sense then that he came to the capital, he just missed us all." She said.

His eyes widened as he nodded his head "Exactly. Unfortunately, father thinks the visit will do very little to change his ways and that he needs a family member in Sunspear with him, someone to calm him down." He said.

All the bits were fitting into place for her, another Targaryen in Sunspear. She couldn't possibly guess who her unmarried nephew was about to suggest move there.

She decided to play with him some more.

"Somebody to calm him down." She said as she tapped her chin "Ooo, I know. The Dowager Queen would be delighted with a little trip to Dorne, in fact, we'll go see her now and you can ask her yourself." She said.

Quentyn eyes widened, it was no secret to anybody how fearsome Rhaella had become after going through what she had all her life. The woman was like valyrian steel now, beautiful but incredibly dangerous.

"No no, I...father wasn't suggesting Queen Rhaella, no, he'd come up with a solution to all of this whilst also strengthening Dorne's ties with the Crown." He said frantically.

So predictable.

Doran will definitely be getting a raven now.

"And what suggestion has my brother come up with dear nephew." She said as Alysanne sat still on her lap again, a lap that was slowly getting warm.

You pick your times you little madam .

He took a deep breath and looked at her, she'd have found it amusing if he wasn't lying to her face and she wasn't currently being shat on by a baby "A betrothal, between Dorne and the Crown. He suggests a marriage between Princess Daenerys and me." He said.

"Of course he does." She said under her breath as she stood up, desperate to get out of here to change miss stinky who was currently giggling.

Quentyn stood with her "Are you alright aunt?" He asked.

She nodded her head but refused to look at the boy, she was too angry for that "Yes I'm fine, the little Princess here needs changing that's all. You'll have to excuse me." She said as she started to walk away from him.

"So was that a yes?" He shouted at her as she reached Ser Barristan.

She rolled her eyes and turned around "I'm sorry?" She asked.

"To the betrothal. Father would be beyond pleased for this to be resolved so quickly." He said. She ground her teeth at his shameless attempt at manipulating her.

"I'll have a word with the King. See what I can do." She said.

She had no plans to talk about this to anybody but Doran.

He seemed to relax as a smile crept on his face "Thank you, your Grace." He said. She nodded her head and headed off back towards the keep.

Don't thank me too early boy, this could very easily turn sour for you.

"Bad!" Alysanne said as they walked along. She looked down and smiled.

"Yes clever girl, he was bad, wasn't he?" She cooed.

Alysanne just started laughing.