"How are you faring here, my dear? I assume the capital is to your liking?" Cersei asked the Stark girl. If it were up to her, she would never let a primitive girl from the North marry her Joffrey, but she couldn't do anything about it. It was the king's will.
"Yes, Your Grace." Sansa, who was called over to have dinner with the queen, could do nothing but nod her head.
It wasn't that she didn't like it here, but it wasn't any better than Winterfell either. She had no opinion regarding this. She only came because her father and the fat king decided to marry her off to the prince.
Sansa was overjoyed, but if only the prince looked anything like Thor. She tried hard, but no matter what, she couldn't replace the image of the handsome, muscular foreigner with the prince in her mind.
She got an earful from Septa Mordane for this. "Don't be near that man. What if someone sees you? You're promised to the prince now," she said, while Sansa found Septa herself sneaking a few peeks at him.
"Good. Apparently, you're the only Stark who does. It's nice that you're adapting well. I see Joffrey is very fond of you," Cersei said with a fake, coy smile.
At this, Sansa only lowered her head in shyness.
"Tell me about that foreigner. He's been your guard all this time, has he not?" Cersei suddenly asked, taking Sansa by surprise.
"Your Grace?" Sansa stuttered.
"I heard from Joffrey you blushed seeing him train." Cersei's tone changed, her eyes now glaring at Sansa, making her almost shake in place.
"It's not like that, Your Grace. I… I just… he was bare-chested while training when both the prince and I got there, that's why… believe me." Sansa stuttered to say anything.
"Of course, I believe you, dear…" And within seconds, her tone changed again. Cersei returned to her fake smile.
Sansa visibly relaxed at this. Her face had almost gone pale earlier. The poor girl was being played with like a toy in the queen's hands.
"I was once your age too. I know the allure of strong, handsome men," the queen narrowed her eyes, her words now teasing Sansa like an adult seeing through a junior's mind.
Sansa stiffened again. She tried hard to suppress her upcoming blush but failed miserably as the queen reminded her how handsome Thor was.
"How was he?" Cersei asked suddenly.
"Your Grace?" Sansa looked at her with a confused face.
"That man. How was he—bare-chested" Cersei asked while taking a sip of her wine.
Sansa's blush deepened. She felt like she was talking with one of her friends about boys back in Winterfell. It was a dangerous thought, even considering Cersei Lannister as a friend, but ignorance is bliss.
At first, she hesitated, but seeing the queen looking at her intently, she finally spoke.
"He's… he's handsome. Has strong muscles," Sansa said in a small voice. She had no idea why the queen of all people was asking her this, but she didn't want to continue this talk any longer.
"He's tall, and there is no fat anywhere on his body," Sansa said, thinking maybe this much was fine.
"I see. What more?" Cersei clearly didn't think so.
"He has a deep voice, long blond hair, and blue eyes."
"Broad shoulders with well-defined muscles." At this point, Sansa felt like she was repeating herself, already out of things to say about the prince of her dreams.
"What more?" The queen took another sip while slowly caressing the glass like it was her lover, her eyes in a daze, but she was listening to Sansa with concentration.
"Hmm… huh, he has a mark on his back."
"Men like him often have those. They describe their victories in wars," Cersei replied while still looking at the glass in her hand.
She had seen a few on Jaime too. He didn't have many, but the few he did, he often showed with pride. They were a sign of his skill in battle and his victories.
Oh, how desperate she was to be in her brother's embrace now. More than two months, and she was almost on the verge of madness. These urges her body brought her—a woman's need.
She could have any man she wanted, but not just any man was worthy of her. So she waited for the man she loved to return. But it was a hard-fought struggle as time passed.
'Jaime will pay when he comes back… for leaving his queen like this.'
"Hmm, no, it wasn't a wound. It was more like a birthmark. It was strange, like a spider's web or a tree's branches spreading out."
"Tree's branches?" Cersei, who had been in a daze, suddenly looked at Sansa with confusion, like she had heard a joke. But then, her dazed expression cleared up.
"Sansa, my dear, could you explain that mark in more detail?" Cersei asked.
---
[MC POV]
"You're Ser Hugh?" I asked a blond man who seemed to be preparing for the upcoming tourney. He was currently at the jousting field, measuring the field distance with his foot.
Hugh didn't even look at me, just waved his hand before moving forward.
I saw the man who ignored me with a little resentment, but since I was here to ask a question, I calmed myself down. Anger wouldn't do me any good here.
"I have some questions I want answers to." I walked up to him again and spoke, finally making him stop and look at me for the first time. I could see a little surprise on his face upon seeing me, then his eyes went to the hammer I carried.
"I'm sorry, you're Ser…?" he asked, maybe thinking I was someone important. Only now did I realize that looking good had several advantages.
"I'm no knight. I want to ask you some questions about—" I started, but he cut me off midway.
"Oh, well, you see, I am one. And I'm busy, so later." He ignored me again and kept moving.
'Maybe a little rashness is needed to deal with his kind.' I hadn't even realized my hands clenched at Mjolnir. A smile appeared on my face for some vile reason.
This man here was Jon Arryn's Squire and a recently promoted knight. Maybe that were his haughty attitude comes from. Knowing the plot has its advantages, I didn't needed little finger's help to find him.
Even after not remembering his name or his looks I found him by just looking for Jon's Arryn's squire.
Ned Stark wanted to know what happened to Jon Arryn, well he'll get to know it but on my terms.
I'll have my revenge with whoever sent this dagger to me but not right now, besides I'm not certianly who exactly send the assassin outright having some very strong presumptions, my main concern is about convincing Ned Stark to go back south and perhaps the cannon is not altered enough still now for me to use it for my goal.
"I heard you were participating in the tourney. I can't wait to see your skills in action, it's been a while since I fought someone worthy." I smiled and walk upto him once again attracting his attention.
"You're in the Tourney ?" he asked with a suspicious look on his face.
"Aye, I'll be taking part in both Jousting and Fighting after that. Though I have to say I got not much experience with Jousting before, would you mind helping me out." I asked with a big smile.
Just as he was about to retort and refuse Ser Hugh felt a powerful blow at his back which almost throw him to the ground. He look at me like I just hit him with the hammer but as his eyes went to my hammer he realized that all did was to slam his back with my other hand.
'What in the Seven is this strength…' Hugh now felt uncomfortable seeing my left hand went from his back to his back neck, grabbing it firmly before I said.
"Let get you a drink, in the name of our new friendship," I said with hearty laughter before practically dragging the man along with me to the corner, away from prying eyes
Slamming him to the wall I grab him by the mouth before stomping on his toe earning a delightful weil from the man which I of course muffled by blocking his mouth.
"Do you know what you're do…" He shouted as soon I as removed my hand from his mouth, though still holding him against the wall…."
"Ahaaa…." He let out another yell when my foot found its way to another of his toe.
"You'll speak only what I want to hear, or you still have eight more finger before I break the once in your hands."
He looked at me with pain and fear filled eyes before nodding.
"Good man, and here people sprout nonses about violence not being the way." Can't help but a smile appear on my face.
"Unfortunately for you my new friend, I'm not the one you have to speak to. Let get you to him first." I said before dragging the man away with me.
xxx
I'll be slowly adding additional chapters in my Patreon. Got 5 Additonal Chapters In Patreon. If you like the story then please consider supporting me.
Patreon.com/Kamidemond