A Throne Nobody Wants
Chapter 7
***King's Landing- Mordred***
Just before she could attack Arthur, Mordred pivoted away from the incoming attack and rushed toward the remaining combatants instead.
"Princess?!" A knight from a minor house called out in alarm before she struck him at full power, no longer holding back.
Speeding through the others, she took down a man that wield a smaller hammer than her 'father's' before smashing her pommel into his forehead, knocking him out.
She felt Arthur's behind her moments later as he started to dispatch the remaining knights. She saw Ser Barristan Selmy, who had been allowed back by virtue of never having been eliminated looking at her. Barristan the Bold they called him, she had to scoff at that, the man had surrendered as soon as she headed straight for him.
Coward.
Of course that still left her 'Uncle' Jaime on the field.
Mordred had been in the process of dispatching the Kingsguard when the execution of Ser Gergor Clegane happened, and it WAS an execution. The Mountain never stood a chance against the intriguing Black Knight. Who would've ever guessed that he was Viserys fucking Targaryen! It was like something out of a fairytale sung by bards; the handsome exiled prince, returning as a mysterious knight to avenge his family. Already her handmaidens were swooning upon realizing the implication of what had transpired.
Mordred saw the last of the knights, a man with a large axe, looking at her before he took a wide swing at her. She quickly ducked under the blow before punching him in his mouth, the man foolishly leaving his visor up. She watched as he dropped his axe clutching at his mouth, broken teeth and blood pouring into his hands as the officials disqualified him.
She turned around to seek out her 'Uncle' Jaime but saw him engaged in a furious duel with the Black Knight. She saw her mother out of the corner of her eyes, who was very invested in the fight. Of course the brother fucking bitch would be! Her father was cheering the fight on but she knew it wasn't for dear old Uncle Jaime. The glare her mother shot at him only confirmed that, Joffrey's eyes were on her, as was proper, maybe he'd learn something. Little Mrycella and Tommen were following Uncle Jaime of course, he with his golden armor and shining golden hair, cut quite a dashing figure.
That was when Mordred saw the blush on her baby sister's cheek. It appears that little Mrycella was paying attention to the wrong blond. She scoffed at Visy- Arthur foolishness. You simply cannot QUIT being a Prince, you were born one. Even if he was destitute or became a beggar in the street, the blood line of royalty ran through his veins. That was an indisputable fact. Not so much for her of course. She was a bastard, but people did not need to know that and as long as she drew breath, they never would.
'Note to self, try to arrange for Baelish and Varys 'accidents' after the tourney.'
The eunuch and the Master of Coin were starting to move against her family again. Varys by giving Lord Eddard the lineage book, which she swore she had 'accidentally' burned the last copy of, and dear old Petyr trying to whisper insinuations of incest in the new Hand ears.
Thankfully, this huge tourney had distracted him and given her ample time to take care of the... problems. Varys' mistake was thinking no one would pay attention to children sneaking around. Most of the adults in Westeros didn't, she wouldn't have either if not for the fact that when she was a child Varys was more careless around her and the little children he used as his network of spies were more open.
Varys' children were taught to be wary of adults. Not three year old princesses, who had disguised herself as a street urchin to get away from her mother. Varys had been careful, his children much less so. A kind gesture here, sharing food there to the children her age earned their trust. She found that Varys children were mute, but they could read and write. Commoner children should not be able to read and as she got older, she paid attention to those children in and around the Red Keep. Varys' spy network was truly impressive but she knew how to circumvent it.
Then of course there was Petyr, who was a much simpler man, but clever none the less. He simply bribed key people in positions of power while using his whore house to pick up information from loose lips. Thankfully as she got older, she was able to send in her own whores as double agents and, no matter how much money Petyr offered them, she maintained their loyalty by ensuring the protection of their children.
So after the tourney, she would have to arrange nice little accidents for the two, of course not at the same time. She'd have to spread out their death as to not draw suspicion.
'Hmm, Varys or Peytr, Peytr or Varys... hmmm...'
Looking at the fight between Arthur and 'Uncle' Jaime, she let out huffed breath as the man was clearly outmatch but decided to prolong the fight by staying on the defensive. Probably was hoping to get in a lucky hit somewhere. She didn't have time for this. It's not every day you get to fight a Targaryen. She looked at her mother, drawing her attention before beaming her a smile.
Her mother narrowed her eyes and glared at her. The woman knew her too well. With her mother eyes still on her she made for a dead run at her dear Uncle.
"Jaime!" Her mother shout could be heard making her brother head look in direction too late as Mordred swung the flat of her blade at her Uncle's back thigh putting him onto his back.
A moment later she stabbed her blade into his upper thigh, eliciting a horrified scream from her mother.
"Yield uncle!" Mordred demanded looking at green eyes so like her own.
Her 'Uncle' to his credit merely winced and raised his arm in submission. "You, my dear niece, are too troublesome."
Mordred watched as two official came to help her uncle to his feet and support him on his way out. She had made sure to stab him near his groin area so as to cool his ardor for her mother. No need to leave anything to chance, she doubt even the fanciest whore in King's Landing could get the handsome Kingsguard 'up' at the moment.
Her uncle motioned for the officials to stop and turned to her with letting out a small hiss of pain as he put some weight on his injured leg. "You know my beloved niece, I have never bet against family, Lannisters never do, but for you, I'll make an exception."
Arthur naturally looked confused while she herself was merely amused. "Oh? Are you going against a Lannisters now Uncle?"
"You're a Baratheon niece," Jaime replied smoothly before he turned to Arthur. "I am going to wager on your victory, Ser Arthur, and hope to get a proper rematch later."
"I'm hurt but I wager I don't need your goodwill," Mordred grinned arrogantly, much like how her 'uncle' was known to do from time to time. "I am going to win."
Her uncle gave her a matching grinned and looked at Ser Arthur again. "Help us get rid of her and I will be indebted to you and a Lannister always pays their debts."
Arthur, of course, only became more confused, looking between her 'uncle' and herself quizzically.
'Don't tell me he doesn't know about... Oh this is marvelous.'
Men who usually tried for her hand in marriage usually fought differently. Men that fight to win were different. They were not afraid of giving her a real fight and Mordred loved a good fight. Besides, he had proven to be the best of the lot, and if she wanted to reign as champion, she would have to beat him and not by forfeiture. The fact that she herself was fighting to remain single motivated her greatly.
He didn't stand a chance.
"Looks like it is down to us Ser Arthur," She greeted the black armored knight. He was handsome in a rugged sort of way. His skin was also a lot more tanned, sort of like a very light bronze. Still, she didn't plan on losing to him.
"My Lady," Arthur dipped his head in respect and got into a ready stance that she matched.
"Ser," Mordred replied before she charged forward and swung her blade quickly with all her strength, intending to end the fight quickly.
CLANG!
She had to admit, she was impressed with the man's speed and strength as the two blades locked. His response to her attack was quick and efficient. However, she wasn't done yet!
Pushing against him, she went for a quick horizontal strike, only to be knocked off course from a vertical strike from him. Once more, their blades were locked as she could feel him testing her strength. She was abnormally strong for a girl her age, she knew that, but she figured it might have something regarding her true origin and till this day, she had never met anybody quite as strong as her.
"Impressive Ser," She dipped her head in acknowledgment. "Let's see how truly skilled you are."
She broke the stalemate by backing up before, focusing, she breathed softly and prepared for her next attack. He had proven strong; let's see how he did against her full speed.
"Hah!" Mordred charged and closed the gap between them quickly. Then, gripping her sword with two hands, she began to quickly slash at him. She suppressed any reaction when she felt her blade meet resistance, but instead moved it again to attack from another angle. And then another. And then another. Each time, she was met resistance she quickly struck someplace else. She unleashed her full storm of attacks on Ser Arthur's person and, as expected, he began to fall back. Sensing the retreat, she began to herd him toward the arena rails.
She did not dare let up for a single instant as she forced him on the defensive, even scoring the occasional glancing blow on his armor. Then as she was about to pin Arthur against the protective railing around the arena, something shifted. Her warrior instincts warned her of an incoming attack and she reacted, blocking a strike, then a second, then a third.
Mordred cleared her mind of all other thoughts as she blocked strike after strike from Arthur. Still, she refused to budge but found herself unable to push back the man any further. She had never encountered anyone like this before! Slowly, yet surely, somehow, the battle shifted once more and not from her lack of skill. For the first time in this world, she found someone that could push back at her in swordplay.
It was, however, during the last exchange of blows that she felt herself parried and exposed before Arthur's sword swiftly came down at her head for a killing blow. Before she realized what she was doing, she had pedaled backward and out of reach. Yet, just as she registered that HE had made HER retreat, he rushed her like a bull.
Mordred remained on the defensive, lest she lose an important body part. The harmony of her sword skill have been disrupted and that she was mainly relying on her reflexes to defend herself now.
The sound of steel clashing, once sweet, began to grate on her ears. There were openings in Arthur's attacks but she could not capitalize on them. Furthermore, she noticed that her arms were slowly becoming numb due to the strength behind the blows that came down on her like a sledge hammer.
Without warning, the attacks ceased, her sword swinging wildly in the air. Confused, she looked to her opponent only to see the beginnings of a thrust. With the strength behind that strike, she would never be able to deflect it without getting maimed.
Flipping her blade onto its flat side she brought it down to shield her belly just in time as the point of Arthur sword struck. The force from the attack was such that she found herself rock on her heels. Even then she was already recovering when she felt Arthur blade coming down swiftly overheard, aimed between her neck and shoulders. Reflexively, she brought the blade up to block.
Under normal circumstances, she'd be able to set her feet and absorb the blow, but she'd been trying to regain her balance and Arthur had put his entire weight behind that last strike. Though she blocked the strike, barely, she found herself losing the purchase beneath her feet and felt herself falling onto to her back.
Immediately, she tried to recover her balance but Arthur swung once more, coming in a wide arc from the side and hammered her completely to the ground, only by angling her sword across her body was she able to blocked the fatal strike. Before she could even think about rolling to her side and getting back up, Arthur's foot was already on her sword, pinning it against her chest.
The next thing Mordred knew, she found the edge of his sword pressed against her neck.
"Yield." Arthur state simply.
Mordred was extremely angry at herself, cursing her weakness, before she noticed Arthur's own expression. His face was flushed and he was breathing heavily, showing how far he had pushed himself in order to defeat her. It wasn't easy for him, and his eyes demanded her submission. There was steel to them that felt familiar, one that no longer existed in this world. One that she had once served in another lifetime and one that she found herself nodding to in submission now.
"I... yield." Mordred stated softly and noticed that the silence was deafening. It was then she realized something else and her face paled.
She had been defeated. She, Mordred Baratheon had been defeated! That meant that... Mordred eyes flickered to Arthur even as she felt him ease up and removed his blade from her neck.
He was to be her husband.
Unfortunately that was when Robert's booming laughter echo out across the yard.
Mordred sighed and allowed herself a moment to relax on the ground. "Mother fu-"
+++Robert+++
"Bwahahahaha!" Robert found himself laughing non-stop as he pointed at his daughter. He couldn't even speak anymore as he nudged his wife to join him in his mirth. To his surprise, the frigid bitch actually had a wide smile, while his two youngest children were clapping happily.
Joffrey however looked heart broken. Robert wasn't stupid, contrarily to what people thought! He seen the way Joffrey looked at Mordred. Joffrey wanted to fuck her. Well he had news for the boy, ain't no brother going to be fucking their sister under his watch!
Still, today was a great day indeed! As he continued to laugh, he could feel the nerves on his stomach clenching painfully tight as he tried to (unsuccessfully) bring his mirth under control.
"My King, Please..." Ned, his best friend had rushed over to his side as he began to guffaw.
"He- Heh Hee! He did it Ned!" Robert wheezed out painfully between laughter as he gripped his friend's arm and continued to chortle.
His friend looked at him as if he was crazy. Of course he would. Ned didn't have to live with Mordred! He didn't have to put up with her smart mouth and her clever words. He never had to deal with the fall out of her temper tantrums. Why there was the time where the rumor that his cock had the rot barred him from the whorehouse for a while. He was certain Mordred started that rumor because he denied taxing whorehouses!
He could have forced the whores to sleep with him but he was no rapist. He wasn't Rhaegar!
No, his friend, his brother all but in blood, would never understand why he was so giddy. He had resigned himself living miserably to the end of his days. When the girl was younger, she had been less forceful, less cunning and had less power. But as she got older, she was more difficult to deal with. He loved the girl, she was the darling of his heart, truly, but he could see the shift in power.
Why just earlier he had order the dragonspawn arrested but she countermanded his order. HE, the King of the entire Seven Kingdom, had his orders defied! Yet, the amount people that once listen to him or Cersei were growing shorter by the day. When she was but one and ten, she had told him she was going to run the kingdom from Joffrey's shadow. He had laughed and indulged her then.
Now at six and ten, he could only be fearful that it was already happening. Joffrey, the weak little puissant bend to his sister every whim. However, when caught between him and Mordred, Joffrey feared the girl more than his own father, even his own mother!
He couldn't even begin to fathom how the girl had attained so much power in such a short time. He was proud that she had, and it had been great to see Cersei and the rest of the fucks on the small council fucked over by her and her little plots. But then she began to cross lines.
First, she would do things in his name and nobody would question it. He didn't find out about THAT little gem until three years after she done it. Then there were mysterious wine droughts when he failed to bend to her whim, usually asking for more power. It got so bad that he had to go to the royal kitchen to drink directly from the barrel itself. He was a king! He should not have to resort to drinking in his own fucking kitchen!
Jon Arrys, his former Hand, much to his chagrin, view all the changes Mordred did as the good of the realm and only lightly reprimanded the girl for overstepping. The girl had her hooks into the old man too, playing off their relationship like an over indulgent grandfather to his granddaughter. Cunning little bitch.
Then she would go with him to the Kingswood when he was hunting and it wasn't so bad until she started to bring the fucking Kingslayer with her everywhere she went! Of course, even something like that was a small issue, until she shadowed him and stole all of his kills for fun.
It was an accident she claimed, that they simply been hunting the same creature together, but he knew better. It was getting ridiculous and his wife, for once had agreed. So when she was four and ten, they scoured the kingdom for the best fighters to challenge the girl, take her off their hands. The spearman from Dorne, the fucking sword fighter from High Garden, that twat form the Vale, his own bannerman's sons. All of those fuckers lost to her, Cersei even had the gall to suggest Gregor Clegane.
Now he wanted his daughter out of his hair, but Gregor? He nearly slapped his wife for such a stupid idea. The only bright spot about Mordred was her forcing him to practice with his war hammer at least once every day. Much to his lament, he had let himself go, but at least most of the fat had muscle underneath it.
At five and ten, the fighters from Essos weren't much better. Worse of all, she appeared to be growing stronger by the year. Of course, it was his own stupid fault for agreeing to it in the first place, but the girl had trapped him neatly, making him swear on the Seven, the old gods and finally Lyanna's spirit. She KNEW he loved Lyanna more than life itself. So he could never revoke the royal decree.
But now...
"Hee hee hee!" Robert continued to chuckle gleefully with Ned looking even more concerned.
Now, he would be free!
"Robert! You don't look well!" Ned said in concern.
'Ah, Ned, you worrywart!'
"Oh enough!" Robert finally bellowed as he got up on his feet. "Today is a joyous occasion or have you forgotten the agreement with Mordred?"
Ned looked confused a moment before his eyes widened in realization. "Robert... you can't be serious. You hate the Targaryens. You are going to let him..."
Robert frowned at being reminded at the only negative to having Arthur as a goodson. He was a fucking Targaryen. Granted, the boy didn't seem to think much of his family, which was a point in his favor, but still, he was a fucking Targaryen! A Dragonspawn!
"My love," Cersei spoke up surprising both him and Ned. "Perhaps this is a good thing; I can see you haven't protested it right away which means you are not that adverse to the match."
Ned gaped at his wife and Robert found himself doing the same, but the woman had a point. He wasn't calling for Arthur's head. Perhaps because the boy proven to be more honorable, in the short amount of them he known him, than his entire fucking line?
Still... did he really want to give Mordred to a Dragonspawn?
"Besides, you made it a royal decree, you can't go back on it," Cersei reminded him, surprising him with the amount of support she had for this match.
"Why are you so insistent on this woman?" Robert asked his lady wife narrowing his eyes at her.
To her credit, his lady wife's face smoothed and looked at him imperiously, like she was so much fucking better than him. Fucking stuck up Lannister bitch.
"Let's look at this from a practical and political point of view," Cersei began as she looked between Ned and him.
"First and most important, you have someone of equal status to marry our daughter. You don't really want her to marry some Hedge Knight or minor Lordling, do you? And even if you did, it would still be disgraceful to her."
"Aye," Robert concede, as the thought of his daughter living out the rest of her days in a minor House made him angry. "You got a point there."
"Secondly, you can use this to convince the Targaryen loyalists that you have made peace with their faction. The inclusion of their last prince will go a long way towards doing that and further reducing any causes for rebellion."
"You've... got a point," Robert nodded along and saw Ned doing the same. That was his Ned, always the practical thinker.
"And third, you would have him within reach. Mordred is loyal to the family, of that there is no doubt, agreed?" Cersei asked; her green eyes hard as if daring him to deny her words. He had to agree though, Mordred did love her family.
"Aye. Whatever you say about her, you can't say that she doesn't look after her own," Robert grudgingly concede.
"So, if she was married to him, she could keep an eye on him in case he DID ever try to cause trouble," Cersei explained and he had to agreed, it was a good idea, after all who closer to a man than a wife? "And if he does ever show any traitorous intentions, I am sure Mordred would make him sprout a dagger from his chest."
Robert looked to his best friend for his opinion and saw his friend nodding along to Cersei assessment.
"It is sound reasoning," Ned admitted with a shrug. "You're the King Robert."
"Aye that I am," Robert nodded but had one more question to ask before he would give his blessing.
Turning to the arena, he saw Mordred had been helped to her feet by Vis- Arthur and were making their way to where he was; he drank from his wine glass and was half way done by the time they reached him before him.
"Arthur," Robert greeted the boy, who returned it with a nod. He then focus his attention on his daughter.
"Father," Mordred shifted on her foot nervously.
"You remember the decree?" Robert asked lightly, causing Mordred to blush prettily but it was Arthur reaction that almost sent him back into his chair laughing. The boy looked confused! He didn't know! Oh this was too good!
"Yes, father," Mordred replied solemnly, but her eyes, so much like her mothers, kept darting to Arthur. Who would have thought his foul mouthed hellion would one day act like a blushing maid.
"Are you happy with this outcome?" Robert asked cryptically and had to suppress a chuckle at the confused looks Arthur sent his way.
"Well...He won," Mordred replied softly, her eyes now found the ground at the feet very interesting.
"Piss on that! I am asking if it is acceptable to you," Robert asked seriously and saw the girl raise her head, looking at him appraisingly. What? He had acted like a concerned father before!
Mordred's face seemed conflicted before she blushed heavily and looked at him. "It is."
Robert, once again, began chuckling as he looked at Arthur. "Then it is settled! Vis- I mean, Arthur, you are to marry Mordred!"
"WHAT?!"
Robert wasn't certain but he swore that along with Arthur he heard Ned's little girl shout.
+++ Joffrey+++
The first memory Joffrey remembered was of his golden haired sister. He remember following her wherever she went, and it was just so happen, that it was to a secluded spot. There she began to beat him, making sure he never bruised in any places that was visible. She called it training and had sought out his company to help her become a fighter. Even at that age, he realized she wanted to be like one of those armored men he saw walking around. Unfortunately, after the first few times, she found him unsatisfactory as a training partner.
'Come on! I've been hit harder by little babies!'
He had come to realize, as she had pointed out so many times, that any deficiency he had was his fault.
'Do not touch my practice sword or I will hurt you.'
Luckily, she never had to carry out her threat. To him, that was a good thing as her punches hurt. He remembered asking her why she had to train at such a young age instead of playing.
'So nobody can tell me what to do of course! Might makes Right Joffrey, remember that!'
Might makes right. It was as if all this time he was blinded to his own powers. Might makes right. His sister was gaining power to do anything she pleased. He liked that, he liked that idea a lot.
'Do you think I can ever become as good as you Modra?'
'You have a better chance at dying before that ever happens.'
Joffrey had to wince at that memory, his sister could be brutally honest but that was one of the many reasons why he loved her. But she was right, every year she became stronger and stronger. The lords of major houses had sent their sons to become his playmates. A way of fostering relations and get ahead in the courts. They were worms trying to leach off of him. They also proved to be the perfect playmates for his sister.
'It's sad that I can beat up someone two year older than me, but what can you do?'
'It's just because you are amazing sister.'
'Naturally.'
And she was right to have been so proud. No one her age was her challenge, all of his playmate that were to be future knights were all beaten up by his smaller older sister. It was embarrassing! Sometime afterward, his sister disappeared leaving him to fend for himself. He resented her then, up until he was eight, she had always been his constant companion. She even let him sleep with her when it had storm particularly hard outside. He had never seen lighting before and it scared him.
'Mo-Mordred... can I sleep here, until the storm pass that is?'
'… If you snore I am going to kick you out into the rain.'
After that, whenever he was scared, he would go to her and though her treatment of him was rough, he knew she did it out of love. After all, he had seen how she treated her enemies, not that she had many. There were some girls that looked down on her for his unladylike ways, but he wouldn't change her.
'You are not going to play damsel in distress with the other girls?'
'I did, I saved myself. They can go ahead and wait for prince charming. It'll be a long wait.'
However the time came where she was to be separated from him completely, he had different studies as the future king. He barely saw her and even then, it was only in passing. He had become extremely depressed but he remembered her lesson. Might makes right, so maybe he could show her how powerful he had become. To this day, he had no idea what came over him. His only thought was of impressing her. But he cut the stomach of a pregnant cat and showed his sister the unborn kittens think she'd be pleased.
She wasn't.
'You...what did you do?!'
'Aren't you proud of me?'
What happened next, he could only vaguely recall, save that it started when he saw Mordred's fist closing in on his face. Then an explosion of pain, pure, unadulterated pain. When he woke up, the maester told him they had been ready to declare him for the Stranger. Mordred had nearly killed him in her rage. Most of his teeth were missing, the maester said that he should have been thankful that it was only his first set. He had broken ribs and a snapped ankle, the maester once again told him that he should have been thankful as Mordred has broken his bones in easy to mend places. The list went on, he was bed ridden for the better part of the month and was not fully recovered until he reached age ten.
After the incident, he had avoided her, afraid of what she had done to him, but to his surprise, she had sought him out.
'Wh-what d-do you- want sister?'
'I am going to make you into something you are not.'
'Wh-what's that?'
'A passable human being.'
So began his knight training. She made him study the code of chivalry, train with the knights of the keep, help out animals that was trapped or stranded around the keep. Her lessons were harsh, and she pushed him hard. Eventually, he could not take it anymore and he made the biggest mistake of his life. He ran and told their mother.
His mother had been furious. Mordred had taught him that might makes right. Well, he had the might of their mother on his side. He was also going to be the future king. She was merely a princess. He had watched gleefully as their lady mother berated Mordred, but to his surprise she simply rolled her eyes despite all the threats their mother had leveled against her.
'Go ahead; lock me in my room for a month. See if I care.'
'That is it! Guards! Escort Princess Mordred back to her room!'
Joffrey had been flushed with victory as he had not seen Mordred in a month when she was guarded and kept to her room. She had taught him a valuable lesson and he had used it against her. Nothing could have been more perfect. Unfortunately, their lady mother could not keep her locked up indefinitely. He had heard their father released Mordred two weeks earlier than the time she had to served, but Mordred had refused and promised to serve the full month.
That had confused Joffrey at the time but on the day that Mordred was set free, Joffrey awoke to the touch of cold steel against his neck. Then as if to emphasis her power over him, cut a line from his chest down to his navel drawing a thin line of blood.
'You realize I can kill you right now but I won't.'
'W-wh-why not?'
'Because I don't feel like it, but cross me again, and you'd wish I had. Beside, you're family. I try not to kill family unless they make me angry enough to do so. DO you want to make me angry enough to kill you?'
'N-no sister.'
'Good boy, tomorrow we resume your training.'
And as if nothing ever happened between them, she continued to train him. To his shame, he continued to fail her from sword fighting to archery. Yet, for some reason, she persisted in putting him through the same training she subjected herself to, he knew he was a failure after a year that showed little progress.
'I don't know why the princess keeps on trying to train the boy, he'd never be a fighter.'
And when he asked her...
'Because I want to, do I need a reason?'
When she told him she wanted to spend time with him for no reason what so ever, he felt a warmth spread through his chest. Though he was only a year younger than her, he knew then that he was in love.
"I love you Mordred.'
"... Guards! Someone call the maester, Joffrey caught a fever!'
Unfortunately fate conspired against him. At her age of one and ten she was already a beauty and many had asked for her hand in marriage. But to his amazement, she had taken control of her own destiny and somehow coerced their father to agree to only marry her to someone that could defeat her. He had been nervous when the first few challenges came for her; they were at least a good three years older than her. She defeated them all easily. Still, he viewed that as a chance for himself as it was never stated that he couldn't vie for her hand.
'If I defeat you in combat, does that mean you will have to marry me?'
'Bwahahahahaha! You? Defeat me? In combat? Bwahahahahaha!'
"..."
Sometimes his sister words cut sharper than valyrian steel. Still, that was when he threw himself into training with his sister, but her regime became harder and harder every year. He was now passable, as she declared him, but if he was passable, then she was the Warrior reborn.
It came to him one day, that it was highly unlikely anyone would ever defeat his sister. At first he had been saddened but then it was Tommen of all people that pointed out the positive side of such an arrangement.
'Wouldn't that mean Mordred would stay at the keep forever?'
Joffrey realized then that if no one ever defeated Mordred, then she'd have to stay at the Red Keep, where he was king. It would give him more time to think of other ways to impress her. Unfortunately, his father had decided to engage him to the Stark girl. His mother was not impressed with the girl and, truth be told, he wasn't either. Not that the girl wasn't pretty, she was a true beauty, but she wasn't Mordred.
But once more, fate conspired against him. Mordred, his beautiful sister, had been defeated by a fucking Targaryen! It was like history being repeated all over again, a Baratheon bride being taken by a filthy dragon prince!
What truly angered him though, was the man's reaction. To even have the gall to consider rejecting her! As if she wasn't good enough for him! He was unworthy to lick her boots. And his sister! He had never seen her sister so docile and demure! By the Seven Gods, she was blushing! Blushing!
Then came the point that made him seethe with pure malice. He was married! His sister was beaten by a married man! At first he had rejoiced but then he was betrayed by the person who he loved second only to his sister.
"Well, Targaryen have been known to take more than one wife," Their Lady Mother, Queen Cersei, had said. The assembly had been stunned, even the northman, Eddy Stark or whatever, was stunned at her suggestion.
How could their own mother sell out his sister? To be a second wife in some, some, harem?! But surely base on the shock expression on his father's face, he would never allow it. His father HATED Targaryens.
"I'll allow it!" King Robert Baratheon, first of his name, boomed.
Joffrey was stunned. His father was allowing this farce? What about his sister? Didn't she get a say in being in a marriage with a man married to someone else?
"Unless you want to reconsider Mordred?" Their Father asked.
Finally! The man was doing his fatherly duties, now all Mordred need to do was tell him she didn't want the marriage and it can end.
"I... don't mind," Mordred murmur softly before looking away at a spot on the ground.
He couldn't believe it! His sister was going along with it! His proud, strong sister! No! He couldn't allow it! He had to save her! He WOULD save her.
"I object to this arrangement!" Joffrey stood up from his chair and glared at the slack-jawed knight who had beaten his sister. "You! I challenge you for my sister's hand in marriage!"
"What?" the man, Arthur, asked. He seemed to be asking that question a lot in the last few minutes.
"Joffrey!" His mother tone seemed sterner then usually, and if he had to guess, even a bit frightened. He ignored his father was looking redder by the moment. He was a stag and a lion, he could be as brave as his sister!
Taking off his glove he threw it at Arthur's feet but the aim was off and was going to hit the man in his face. The man caught it effortlessly before it hit the ground. Then as if realizing what he had done he dropped it, but it was too late, he had accepted the challenge.
"You fool!" Mordred half yelled; her face red as she glared at him. "You have nothing to wager with of equal value!
That brought Joffrey up short but only for a few second until he realize he DID have something of equal value. "I wager my engagement to Lady Sansa Stark against your engagement to my sister!"
"WHAT?!" It was Lord Eddard Stark who bellowed this time; his eyes were wild.
"Not fair!" the little Stark girl shouted in outrage. Good, he was outrage too at the travesty that was happening before him.
He saw his sister palmed her face as if hiding it in shame. She should be; she didn't want to be stuck in such a loveless marriage. He was going to save her. Jumping down to the dais he pulled his sword out and got into a ready stance.
"Ready yourself Ser!" Joffrey shouted as he he swung his sword with all of his might. Mordred had always taught that surprise was the best way to attack and always strike hard and fast. The man had fought his sister he should be winded after the melee and he wouldn't expect an attack so soon. Joffrey had all of the advantage on his side.
However to his amazement the man, with that bewildered expression on his face, brought his sword up just in time to parry his attack.
Joffrey had duel with his sister before, but it wasn't until now when he realized his sister might have been holding back on him as the moment his sword struck Arthur's blade, it rebounded and bit into his own shoulders making him drop his sword and cry out in pain.
Joffrey could only hear his own whimper, he tried not to but the cut was deep and to the bone.
"Joffrey!" Mordred roared. "You bumbling twat!"
As always, his sister words cut sharper than valyrian steel.
TBC!
Up Next: Psychedelic Wedding?
AN:First off thanks to everyone that left a review and enjoy the death of the mountain! Glad ya like it! Also special thanks to Cheesers and my pre-readers for their feed back on this chapter! You guys rock.
The Wheels, they're off I think...
So yeah I tired to draw parallels between Arthur and Mordred, and Joffrey and Daenerys, and how they were raised respectively by their siblings. It wouldn't be Game of Throne, Song of Ice and Fire if relationship wasn't fuck up and just plain crazy.
So in this chapter we have the Rematch of Camlann, the Rematch at the Trident, Robert history with Mordred and how he's been tempered by her. And Joffrey own view point. Joffrey have always been wrong, even form birth, Mordred can only work with so much.
Next chapter heh. Heh. Anyway! Thanks for everyone that left a review and those that discuss things with me in the PM!
As always, C+C Welcomed, Reviews Appreciated!