King's Landing

As they neared the towering walls of King's Landing Griffith, who had been talking to one of the mercenaries, sped up to ride further to the front of the column.

He greeted the common folk who were kneeling at the side of the road, as he passed by, but most of them ignored him and only darkly glared at the ground.

Smiling sadly, Griffith rode up past the few knights in front of him and only slowed down as he came up behind the prince.

"Your highness," he called out, his arm raised in greeting.

Turning to him, Joffrey smiled, but Griffith could still see a cold glint in his eyes, "Griffith, how are you and how are Sansa and Arya? I must apologise for not meeting with them after what happened."

Combining through his black hair Griffith smiled courteously, "You mustn't apologise, your highness, we understand that you must have been preoccupied with more important matters."

He then sighed and looked across the vast grassland stretching out till blackwater bay, "Now I understand why you so desperately wanted to leave the north your highness, it doesn't even compare to the beauty of the south."

The prince chuckled and placed a hand on his sword's pommel, "Wait till you see the Kingswood or the royal gardens, they're even more stunning."

"I do hope I get the opportunity, your highness," Griffith said, as he gave the prince another bow.

***

The trip through King's Landing was long and tedious as the carts kept getting stuck on stalls and the royal wheelhouse even had problems climbing Aegon's hill.

He sighed as they rode through the gates of the Red Keep, this was his true home, the place where his ancestors ruled for generations.

"Magnificent isn't it!" the prince said from next to him.

"That it is your Highness," Griffith agreed, nodding deeply, "did you know the man who ordered its construction, Maegor the Cruel, butchered every last one of the workers and artisans that built it, so that none except for him would know the secret passages. Most people would call it evil but to me, it shows his ingenious and survivalist nature."

Joffrey turned to him and smiled amusedly, "You seem like a smart man, maybe you can tell me more about King Maegor when we have the time."

He then rode off towards the holdfast named after the same man they had been talking about mere seconds before.

Griffith smiled after the prince, before turning and heading to the Tower of the Hand.

He had just tied his stallion to one of the posts, when Arya, the dirt of the road stool clinging to her, stormed out of the tower's main entrance.

Not looking where she was going, Arya ran right into him, "What's the rush?"

She quickly righted herself and brushed the loose strands of hair out of her face, she smiled cheekily as her eyes met his.

"Septa Mordane."

Griffith sighed and looked up just in time to see the bony faced woman striding towards them.

He felt Arya slip out of his hands but as soon as she did he grabbed her again and held her to his side.

"Griff, let me go." she cursed while trying to pry his hands off her, but he only tightened his grip and waited for Septa Mordane to reach them.

"Arya, come back inside, you haven't unpacked your bags yet." the woman said, extending her hand to her charge.

Arya shook her head and started to struggle harder, forcing Griffith to kneel down and hold her in front of him.

"Septa," Griffith said smiling up at the older woman, "may I give my opinion on the matter?"

Mordane's eyes narrowed to slits but as eyes fell on Arya she nodded, "Alright, go on."

Griffith's smile softened and he slowly began to loosen his grip on Arya, who had visibly given up.

"As you can see my little sister is quite excited to explore the Red Keep, and not very much in the mood for unpacking her bags. But of course, I understand that it's important for her to learn discipline and the ways of Ladyhood. I just suggest that since it's our first day in the capital that you allow the girls a slight bit of freedom.

I'll make sure that both of them are ready for dinner tonight and you can have a well-deserved rest."

Septa Mordane's lips tightened, "Alright, but you better keep an eye on Arya, she has a tendency to get in trouble."

Chuckling Griffith stood up and stroked his sister's hair, "I will. Have a good day Septa."

He then led Arya past her and back into the tower.

As they ascended the stairs Arya smiled up at him, "Thanks for what you did back there."

He shook his head, "It's my duty to help my siblings."

Giggling Arya ran ahead, and Griffith followed.

They soon reached his room in front of which a large chest had been placed.

"Alright, help me get this inside."

Arya nodded and together they carried the chest into Griffith's rather large room.

It was beautifully decorated with a large double bed and massive windows from which he could overlook King's Landing in its disorderly beauty.

Placing the chest next to his new desk, Griffith sighed, "Now before we go, I have to re-do the colouring on my hair, I haven't been able to dye it in the last two days so I'm nervous it might come off."

***

I hope you enjoyed the chapter and please tell me if you see any mistakes.

Please give me some feedback.

Then I hope you have a nice day or night depending on where you are, goodbye ;)