Weiss
After several more days of traveling on slowly improving dirt roads, the Golden Tooth was finally in sight, Weiss had finally reached the Westerlands border. The Golden Tooth, Alysanne's home, was one of the main entrances into the hilly Westerlands, and heavily guarded, even in times of peace. Even when there wasn't war, robber knights and bandits still roamed the Seven Kingdoms. Weiss was just thankfully they didn't run into any of them, likely thanks to the Lannister banner they flew and her mounted armored men-at-arms. Even the most fool hardy or desperate bandit would be reluctant to pick a fight with a column of armored men. There was little Weiss could do to stop the smile that was growing on her face. Her travels had resulted in some delays, so there was a chance that Alysanne had managed to beat her to the Westerlands. It would be nice to see her old friend, before they returned to Lannisport. At the very least, not having to see the same faces day after day would be a nice bonus.
"Almost home." Weiss whispered under her breath as they drew closer to the Lefford stronghold, her eyes peering through the opening of her wheelhouse. They were about a day away, maybe less if they ran the horses ragged, yet that would make them tired after such a journey. No, her horses had done well, and would be able to feast on the finest meals back in Lannisport. She was almost home, there was no sense inviting any risks or embarrassments by rushing too fast.
Once they were a few hours away from the castle, Weiss would have to change into more presentable clothing, which meant removing her dirty riding leathers in favor of a dress. Westerosi men still weren't used to women wearing trousers, sadly. That was a shame, even if Weiss loved wearing any and all kinds of dresses, wearing pants while horse riding was a different kind of exhilarating.
She allowed the small curtains to droop back into place, covering the window, as she leaned back against her well cushioned seat. Soon Weiss would be back home, in the comforts of the Gold Keep and Lannisport. She would be able to see Mother, Father, and dear Rosamund, who was likely expecting gifts, which Weiss had prepared for her and the rest of her family. A small smile formed on the Lannister Heiress' face.
Weiss missed her sister. If it wasn't for Father's duties as Lord of Lannisport, they likely would've been able to join Weiss on her journey, though she wouldn't have been able to take her little detour through the Riverlands. Ah well, you win some, you lose some.
"Now if only Blake was here." Weiss whispered under her breath as she leaned her head back to stare at the roof of the wheelhouse blankly. Perhaps the former Belladonna could pay Lannisport a visit in the future? After all, the Royal Fleet could use a base on the other side of the continent, and Lannisport was newly expanded and had empty berths to spare as a result. Father had spent the past few years rebuilding the Lannister Fleet to its former glory. And Weiss could always return to King's Landing. At least they were able to send each other ravens, now that they both knew that the other was alive.
She closed her eyes shut, her mind pushing out the noises of her guards and servants talking just outside her wheelhouse. Even the sound of the horses and the clanking wagons started to fade as Weiss drifted off to sleep.
"Caw~." A raven's crow went unnoticed.
Blake
Uncle Robert departed a fortnight after he announced his intentions to head North to Winterfell to the Royal Court. He brought Ser Jaime Lannister and Ser Boros Blount with him, leaving behind Ser Barristan to help the Small Council rule in his absence, not that he ever did any actual ruling. The realm would be just fine, Blake mused. Father and the late Lord Arryn had been the ones who kept the Seven Kingdoms in order ever since the end of the Greyjoy Rebellion, with the occasional assistance from one of the others. She kept a neutral face as Blake stared out of the window of her wheelhouse, which Father had forced her to bring along despite his hatred of them. And true to his word, Blake was escorted by more men than was necessary, at least in her mind.
Uncle Andrew served as her main escort, being her kin and one of Father's closest confidants. Following that, Ser Richard Horpe commanded a score of Father's knights and squires, while Ser Godry Farring was in charge of the two-score plus mounted men-at-arms that formed the majority of her security. They drew too much attention, in Blake's opinion, if anyone bothered to ask her, but Father was as hard-headed as she was, and refused to back down. Blake earned that with how she forced him to allow her to head North with Uncle Robert.
Lazing on the couch in the gaudy, yet still rather plain wheelhouse, Blake was bored out of her mind. She kicked one of her legs in the air limply, staring at the small, cloth curtains that allowed a slight breeze to flow in. Uncle Andrew was likely riding with Uncle Robert near the head of the column, leaving her with either Ser Richard or Ser Godry, neither of whom she was particularly close to. Ser Waymar, or one of the Seaworth boy's would've been better travel companions, yet Father had need of them.
Blake sighed as she placed an arm over her eyes in an attempt to fall asleep and allow time to pass by. "Not even a ball of yarn to entertain myself with." Oh Brothers, she was such a
stereotype, wasn't she? Loved fish, hated dogs, and now was looking for a ball of yarn to occupy herself with. Yang or Weiss must never learn of this, or she'd never hear the end of it.
Blake preferred traveling over water, on one of Father's dromonds ideally, but she'd settle for almost any ship that wasn't a small fishing boat. At least she could fish for snacks over the side, instead of sitting around and waiting for time to pass as they traveled through the Crownlands.
"Is this how Weiss felt?" Blake sighed to herself. She knew she should've packed more books than she actually did, even if she did miss having many of her favorites on her Scroll. With the rate they were traveling, it'd be several weeks before they reached Moat Cailin. Every lord and minor knight that they came across wanted so desperately to host their great and fat King.
This was starting to feel like a drag.
Weiss
A small camp had been built outside the walls of the Golden Tooth by the time Weiss and her party arrived. Banners with the sigil of House Lannister along with the Royal Baratheon stag decorated many of the tents. Weiss narrowed her eyes as they approached the outskirts of the camp, riding on her mare and dressed in a beautiful blue gown with traces of white and silver.
Cedric and Pod were just beside her, the two carrying the banners of House Lannister and Weiss' personal sigil. Behind them were the rest of Weiss' wagons, servants and guards. A group of riders in the colors of House Lefford and Lannister slowly approached to greet them. They must've spotted Weiss' party earlier in the day when the sun was still high in the sky..
A plump old man rode at the head of the small greeting party, wearing a doublet of leather that had been dyed blue. His eyes widened slowly when he caught sight of Weiss' snow-white hair. It was clear she wasn't expected, or he was afraid of being caught in the crossfire between her and someone else.
"Lady Weiss! It's such a pleasure to see you once more." He exclaimed, one of his thick hands holding onto the reins of his stallion. She pretended to not notice his hands twitching a little as she looked at him.
"The pleasure is mine, Ser Briden." Weiss gave the Lefford sworn sword a tight and calculated smile. He was more of a steward than a knight, with soft hands and preferring to hold a fork rather than any blade. Still, that didn't mean he couldn't be a threat. Just one from a different angle.
"We had heard word that you had decided to travel through the Riverlands." Ser Briden continued, his companions behind him remaining silent. He turned to the knight in Lannister colors beside him for the briefest of seconds who tilted his head to the right. "Unfortunately, we do not have space for your knights and servants within the Golden Tooth, my Lady. And we have no room for your tents. You see, her Grace, Queen Cersei is a guest of House Leffords."
"Very well." Weiss said politely. It was hardly his fault he had a higher ranked guest present. If she'd chosen to come straight away, maybe she could've skipped this entire mess. "May you please inform Lady Lefford of my arrival."
"Lady Lefford is entertaining the Royal Family, alongside her Father, Lord Lefford." Ser Briden's rosey cheeks turned darker as he spoke. He gave her a forced smile. Ser Briden should've known better than to try and turn her away. The Queen must've put him up to this, judging by the Lefford knight being surrounded by the Queen's men. Subtle, the Queen was not.
"Lady Alysanne is one of my dearest friends, Ser Briden. It would be rude if I didn't present myself." Weiss kept an easy smile that she didn't mean, and what she suspected Ser Briden knew as well. "I am still one of Lord Tywin's kin, and yet I don't see bread and salt amongst any of you. Has the law of guest right changed since I visited King's Landing?"
She hated having to throw around that vicious man's name to get what she wanted, but it was still effective. If nothing else, his reputation was fearsome enough to cow even the Queen's men, in this case. Weiss turned to Ser Cedric with a slight flourish, holding onto the reins of her mare with one hand.
"Inform the rest that we'll camp further up the road, Ser Cedric." Weiss said with a slight smirk on her face. "I shall need to send a raven to my Father and Lord Tywin with all due haste."
The only influence her Father had in the Westerlands was due to the Lannister name, and the wealth Lannisport had acquired. Lord Tywin on the other hand, being favored by him meant that Weiss could afford to be a bit more blunt than necessary, whenever he wasn't around at least. And besides, given Ser Briden was seemingly disrespecting a Lannister, well, she suspected he might approve of the threat.
"As you command, Lady Lannister." Cedric obeyed with a lazy smile, never allowing the Lannister banner to droop, not even an inch, as he moved his horse to turn to inform the rest of Weiss' party. She swore she could see some of the eyes of her party droop in sadness, knowing they were so close to a proper castle to sleep in, and yet were denied.
"However!" Ser Briden spoke up, his voice high and filled with anxiety. The Lannister knight beside Ser Briden gave him a sharp glare. "Your quarters have already been set aside by Lady Lefford, Lady Lannister, and I'm sure we can find some space for your household to set up their tents."
Better to risk the Queen's wrath rather than the Lord of the Westerlands, Weiss supposed. The worse the Queen could do, well, would be nothing in comparison to what Lord Tywin would do. She wouldn't be surprised if he was one of the few who could override her. "You are very kind, Ser Briden."
Ser Briden rubbed his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief that had appeared as if by magic. "Nonsense, my Lady. We are all loyal servants of the Crown, to have such a noble lady such as yourself spend another night under the stars would be a disservice to Westerland hospitality. You there, bring out some bread and salt for Lady Weiss and her household." He ordered a young page that was on foot, who immediately ran off to the sea of tents.
The Lannister knight, likely some croney that served the Queen, gave Ser Briden another sharp glare. Such arrogance from someone who was merely a sworn sword, not even being one of her distant kin. Did he look down on her? Just because she was from a cadet branch-
Weiss bit the inside of her cheek and steadied herself internally. Having to go through puberty a second time was taking a toll on her mentally, which combined with finally reuniting with Blake meant that she could be unbalanced at times. Add in the latent sexism from being in Westeros, and one got a volatile compound.
Stupid hormones. She hated the way they made her act, haughty and rude, the way Weiss had been before she met Ruby, Blake and Yang. It wasn't helping, she was having to resort to what she termed her 'Heiress Face' more and more, which was causing a mental backslide. Weiss would have to practice more self-control, but that was for another day.
The Page, a young Broom, came running back with a platter of hard bread and a slight dusting of salt, likely the first he saw at a random tent. He offered it to Weiss when he came a foot away, lifting the platter as high as he could above his head.
Someone was keen to avoid being named in her conversation with Lord Tywin.
She grabbed the smallest piece and pressed it against the salt before placing it in her mouth. Weiss chewed on it slowly, staring down Ser Briden and the Queen's Lackey until she swallowed and bowed her head slightly. Alysanne was going to love this story, especially given how close it was to her home."I will be sure to give the Leffords my thanks for their hospitality."
But for now, she had a Queen to piss off.
A/N
Annnd we're back. The next chapter will be delayed due to the hurricane heading Night's direction.
And we have reached our 50th chapter! I'm surprised by all the progress that was made in less than a year.
