The Infamous Ball and A Hard Decision

Having my doublet properly tightened by a servant, I couldn't hold in the sigh any longer. The servant looked up at me, "Is there something wrong, Young Master?" he asked and I just shook my head, signalling for him to ignore me and carry on.

The reason behind my sigh is a conversation I had earlier today with Evenstar Selwyn. He entered the courtyard after speaking with Ser Goodwin - about what, I don't know, I wasn't actively trying to listen because I had training to do - and quickly started speaking to Brienne who seemed both flustered at his sudden arrival and energetic to show her father her progress.

Safe to say, he looked quite proud of the little blonde.

That's when he turned his gaze toward me. He dismissed Brienne and told her to prepare for a grand ball that would be held tonight. In a good mood from her father's visit and a productive day of training, Brienne didn't argue and waved goodbye to me before dashing off.

She even forgot to take off the padding. Ser Goodwin will have her running laps because of that which fills me with a small amount of amusement, honestly.

But even that is diminished by the thoughts currently going through my head.

Evenstar Selwyn told me that tonight a ball is being planned to decide Brienne's husband and that I should try and stay away from her as to not ruin her chances with any potential suitors. He didn't say it in a threatening way or a condescending way. He was just being genuine. I had to admit, I was somewhat scary to children around mine and Brienne's age. I was taller, bigger and definitely looked stronger. If I was next to Brienne, I'd no doubt keep anyone away from her.

Now, I don't hold any love for Brienne other than platonic love. She's like a sister to me*. But what I do care about is that this is the infamous ball where she gets the nickname 'Brienne the Beauty'. A night that, quite frankly, emotionally scars Brienne.

(*Oof. Sister-zoned already.)

I...I don't know what to do with that information. If I protect her from it, I could change the future and piss off Evenstar Selwyn at the same time, but if I just sit by it could be even worse than before because I, Brienne's only friend, just sat by as she was bullied.

But it's even more complex than that. If I keep defending her, she'll become dependent on me. If she's dependent on me, she'll be weak-willed. These events are needed. They forge Brienne into a strong woman. Not physically but mentally.

As soon as the doublet was tightened and tied properly, I waved my hand, "Leave, please," I said with a grim tone. The servant, thinking they'd done something wrong, scuttled out of the room quickly, apologizing and bowing to me. I just watched them leave without saying anything. They weren't scared of me or my family background. They were scared because I was friends with their Lord's only remaining heir and daughter.

I didn't have time to think about these things, so I just banished it from my mind and looked at myself in the mirror. At the doublet and pants I was wearing, featuring the colors of my House. Red and White. Though the white was very minimum it still balanced the red quite well. On the right side of my chest was my House's coat of arms - the two Griffins, one red and one white, fighting one another.

I turned away from the mirror and sat down on the edge of my bed. I only had a short time until I was called for the beginning of the ball yet I also had to figure out my own stance on what I should do.

I wanted to help her. But I couldn't scare off the boys unless I want to be blamed for why Brienne doesn't have a suitor. Personally, I don't care what kind of punishment they would throw at me. Rather, I just don't want my family to take the fall for me. They had done nothing but love and care for me and I didn't want to return that love with punishments from a much bigger House.

Thinking this, I came to my conclusion.

I can't help Brienne. Not directly. I could get involved with the boy's plans and leak them to Brienne. But I can't let my emotions control me and let me start beating up the sons of Lords.

I come from a House of Landed Knights. Enmity with actual Lords was the last thing my House needed.

I honestly can't wait until I'm older. It'll let me do more of what I want.

But for now, as a child, I have to play by the rules somewhat. Doesn't mean I can't use the rules to my advantage, does it?

. . .

Sitting in the great hall, on a table towards the middle of the hall and next to the great fireplace, I sipped at the iced honey milk I'd just gotten. This entire ball was set up eerily similar to an actual feast which was odd because everyone who'd attended was between the ages of 8 and 13, so there was no alcohol...and yet all the boys were managing to be just as rowdy as drunk adults.

There weren't many boys here. Only about 14 of them and inside this massive hall, the group looked even smaller.

A small group of boys were around Brienne who looked both unsure of what was happening and joyful at the attention she was getting. She occasionally looked over at me but I pretended to not see her gaze.

I hadn't hidden what her father said to me when I distanced myself but that didn't mean her slightly immaturity couldn't come through and still allow her to be annoyed with me.

She didn't see the reason behind why I had to stay away or why I was listening to her father. She didn't understand the consequences of my actions tonight but I couldn't blame her for that. She is only an 8-year-old, no matter how talented in combat or how much bigger and older than her actual age she looks.

Just as I suspected, the plan was already being enacted, with the boys whispering in her ears and making her giggle shyly, no doubt with sweet nothings about how pretty she was and how they wanted to marry her.

What I was waiting for was for one of them to try and get me involved. Which seemed to be something I didn't actually need to wait any longer for as one of the older boys came up to me.

He looked to be around 12 but he was a little shorter than I was and much more slender. From what I could see he hadn't trained with a sword or any kind of weapon for any amount of time in his life so far. He was one of those useless young Lords who leave everything to everyone else.

Pathetic.

He had black hair and bright blue eyes, which put me somewhat on edge - black hair and eyes is a sign of a Baratheon or some House related to them. Just to be safe, I couldn't piss this kid off.

Yet, anyway.

"Hello there," he smilingly greeted with a polite bow, "I'm Jon Staedmon, nephew to Alesander Staedmon, Head of House Staedmon. What's your name and house, friend?" he greeted amicably with a practiced smile on his face. I returned the practiced smile, my lessons here at Evenfall Hall not going to waste as I stood up and bowed in reply.

"My name is Lucius Connington, son to Ronald Connington, Knight of Griffin's Roost, young lord," I came up from my perfect bow, a perfect smile plastered over my face, "I'm a page here at Evenfall Hall. It's my honor to meet you," I finished, having to hold back my gagging at the fawning approach I was forced to take.

A slight disdain crossed over Jon's eyes as he heard that I wasn't a part of a Lorded House, but that quickly passed as he showed a shocked face and came in to whisper to me, "You're a page here? With that beast over there? I pity you, Lucius," he whispered before laughing and patting my shoulder in an overly friendly manner.

I gripped my cup somewhat tighter and forced out a smile, "Indeed it is. She's quite the unsightly one, isn't she?" I questioned with a low chuckle, though the words themselves hurt to say. Despite me not meaning anything of what I was saying, it still felt like I was betraying a friend in a way. But I didn't let that get to me and kept up my act and smile.

Instantly, Jon smiled widely and laughed, "Yes, yes she is," he replied merrily before continuing, "If you help me with a little joke, I'll ask my uncle to have you page over in Broad Arch, House Staedmon's Seat*. That should be a good deal, no?" he asked with a cunning smile.

(*A/N - Basically a House's main castle.)

Trying my best to look interest, I nodded, "Do go on, Jon," I gave a smile and he returned it before telling me the 'plan'.

The 'plan' being lie to Brienne about how beautiful she is and to court her as a joke.

I agreed and Jon finally left me alone with a smile on his face, thankfully. To him leaving, that is.

I downed my cup of milk and crushed the cup, splintering the wood harmlessly into my toughened skin. I forced a smile, looking away from anyone who was looking at me, and I closed my eyes and grit my teeth.

An odd look but I didn't care right now. I needed to stop my rising and building emotions from blowing out the top of my head.

This was all really pissing me off. My first instinct was to beat the all to a bloody pulp, honestly. But if I did that, I'd really be in the shit. Even with House Tarth backing me, which I doubt they would, I'd still have signed a death certificate for myself, my family and my House. Which is not how you play the 'game' in Westeros.

Keep calm, Lucius. It's fine to be angry, furious even, but you should never let that anger cloud your decision making skills. Always be in control of yourself and your anger. Not the other way around. Never that. That's how people die.

Opening my eyes, I turned around and with practiced etiquette, I walked toward Brienne with a wide smile.

She met my smile with a smile of her own but also a slight confusion. Though her apparent joy at me seemingly forgetting what her father had told me caused her to forget that confusion and just welcome me with a smile.

Further up the hall sat Evenstar Selwyn and a few others, and Selwyn looked at my action with confused yet scrunched up eyes.

But I ignored that and watched as Jon cleared the other boys for my approach. They didn't seem confused, so it was obvious my inclusion to their 'plan' was expected all along, but I didn't let that faze me. I just kept walking until I was next to Brienne.

She went to speak to me but I bent over and began to whisper into her ears at such a volume that only she could hear me, "Just react like I'm saying something nice to you, Brienne. Please," I begged and there was a pause in her reaction and her facial features but her trust in me quickly kicked in and she listened to what I'd asked and did it, smiling widely and looking shy, "Whatever they've been saying to you, Brienne, they've been lying to play a joke on you. They plan to reveal that it was all a joke soon. I can't help you deal with it, only you can do something. Don't cry. Don't run away. Instead, embarrass them. Beat the first of them to laugh."

I pulled back and Brienne had lost her smile and her shy expression, and was just looking at me with a pained gaze. It hurt to be bearer of bad news, but I'd rather her be hurt and prepared now than to be caught off-guard and hurt much more later.

Nothing was said, and I knew I had to signal for her to smile again, so I spoke with a genuinely gentle smile on my face, "I hope my words were nice enough, Lady Brienne," I did a small bow before backing up.

Brienne got the message and smiled before quickly wiping at her eyes, stopping the tears building there, "...Y-yes, they were. Thank you, Lucius," she said and I turned around, clenching my fists.

...I need more power. I need to be older. I need more training. I need more political influence.

I needed so many things.

Jon looked somewhat suspiciously at me but I just looked at him with an innocent smile that hid all of my malice and anger completely and then walked passed him back to my original place near the fireplace.

Sitting down, I heard the first snigger and I felt my anger boil to the top again. In the end, I had to close my eyes and just keep myself calm as the sniggers became full-blown laughter which quickly became taunts and jeers from the others who said such things as ''Who would want a beast like you as a wife?'' or ''You? Beautiful? I've seen Aurochs* with better looking behinds!''

(*A/N - A type of Bull-like creature in GoT.)

Each jeer and taunt got more and more horrible until I heard Selwyn stand up and begin to march over. I turned around and looked at the scene and felt my heart clench in both guilt and pity.

Brienne was crying. Tears were just pouring down her face, over her cheeks and onto the lovely blue dress she was wearing. She looked...so, so sad. Her face was twisted in a frown that struck right at my heartstrings.

Even if I did what I did to ensure I didn't get myself or my family killed...I still felt bad.

Then Brienne met my gaze and her eyes and face just looked...betrayed by my inaction, and I couldn't blame her. From her perspective, her only friend who she knew could take out all 14 of these little shit stains, was just sitting aside and letting her get insulted. As far as she was concerned, Houses didn't matter, consequences didn't matter--Brienne was still hooked on handsome and strong Knights who save pretty maidens from evil Lords. That's the type of thing she thought happened in this world.

Tonight was a rude awakening for her. A rude awakening for me and how calculating I could be. How selfish I could be.

The betrayal and sadness in her eyes, however, quickly turned to anger and she quickly stood up and swung for the nearest person, who just so happened to be Jon Staedmon. Her fist hit his face, clocking him right on the jaw, and he went down like a sack of potatoes.

Then she moved to the next boy...and then the next...and then the next. Some of them put up better fights than others...but most of them lost. And those that didn't lose? They didn't even get a punch off of her or put up a fight. They just backed up and ran away to other sides of the hall.

Brienne, with her tear-streaked face and snot running down her nose, looked around at the hall and then at me. She held her gaze on me for a few more seconds, more tears coming from her eyes.

And then she ran off, right passed me.

My shoulders slumping slightly, I quickly turned around and started to run after her. I could've easily caught up to her...but I didn't need to. I knew where she was going. We spent most of our time together there and she'd said to me multiple times that going there helps her calm down after a rough day.

Where exactly? The training/fighting courtyard, of course.