𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐖𝐎 | Ignorance

{ Joffrey }

✧✦✧

𝕿ensions ran high for the next week, as Lyra waited nervously for any news from her brother. True to her word, two days after the wedding, Lyra had told Sansa of what had happened and that Robb and Eliza had been warned. Now, both the Stark girls, and Tylar were nervous wrecks, waiting to hear any news. It was enough to put Joffrey on edge.

He was still puzzling over how to go about asking whether Robb and his wife were still alive as he entered the Small Council chambers, Tylar behind him.

Slumping down into his seat, Joffrey barely acknowledge anyone else, before a roll of parchment was passed to him. The young king's eyebrows furrowed, as he looked at his grandfather, before reading through the contents of the note. 

"Well, what are your thoughts?" Aware that he had an audience, Joffrey looked back up and tried to figure out what to say.

"Robb Stark's not dead, nor his wife," He stated, looking over at Tylar cautiously. The Stark soldier was chewing his lips at the news, and Joffrey paused, before continuing. "But his mother and the direwolf are."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"What exactly did this achieve?" The remainder of the Small Council looked at him with wide eyes, as the teenager drummed his fingers along the arm of his chair.

"I'm not sure I quite understand, Your Grace," Tywin said, narrowing his eyes at his grandson, but Joffrey refused to back down. Tywin had pushed him around for long enough.

"All I've got from this letter is that Catelyn Stark and the direwolf are dead, but Robb Stark, his wife and his entire army are still alive," Tywin and Cersei both began to speak, but Joffrey held his hand up. "To top it off, Roose Bolton has been taken prisoner and is now being used as a hostage, as are Walder Frey's sons. We could have had a good spy in the Stark encampment, but now he's rotting in a prison cell. In my opinion, this has achieved nothing."

"His mother is dead,"

"Did his mother participate in the planning of battles? No. Did his mother lead the army? No," Joffrey spat out, as the Small Council shrunk further in their seats. "So, what did that achieve?"

Cersei went to speak again, but the door opened to reveal Tyrion, who looked around the room with narrowed eyes.

"I see you all started without me," He said as he sat down and Joffrey sighed, before passing him the letter and waiting for him to read it.

"'Roslin caught a fine fat trout. Her brothers gave her a wolf pelt for her wedding. Signed Walder Frey.' Is that bad poetry or is it supposed to mean something?" Tyrion asked, looking around the table in confusion.

"Catelyn Stark was killed, as was Robb Stark's direwolf. Roose Bolton has been taken prisoner and otherwise nothing else has been achieved," Joffrey glared in his grandfather's direction, as Tyrion sat back in his chair. "I would also like to know why some of us weren't included in these plans because if so, I would've told you that having a spy in Robb Stark's camp would have been the best course of action."

"We're sorry, Your Grace," Varys said, trailing off at Joffrey's harsh glare and cold eyes.

"So, what else can we now do to work out Robb Stark's progress?" Joffrey asked, drumming his fingers once more, as he resisted the urge to get up and leave the room. "Have we got anymore spies in the North that aren't dead or hostages?"

"No, Your Grace." The Small Council mumbled, as Joffrey's glare increased.

"Can we actually do anything in the North now, or is it too cold?" Everyone avoided eye contact with the young king. "We now don't know Robb Stark's movement, what his plans could be and where he might be going. If winter is coming, they'll all be going back to their keeps or they could take advantage of the cold, and march South, but we don't know that, do we?"

"Your Grace, I did what the hand of the king should do..." Tywin began, before Joffrey cut him off once more, tired of his grandfather undermining him in every decision that he took.

"What you should do?" He raised an eyebrow, his voice dropping as he continued to speak. "As far as I was concerned, all of these plans were supposed to be run past the ruler so that they could see what would be affecting their country. But you didn't, which meant you went behind my back to do this."

"Your Grace, sometimes situations, such as these, arise and we need to deal with them quickly and quietly," Varys tried to placate the man, but it did little to help.

"But this wasn't dealt with quickly or quietly. Everyone knows we tried to kill him," Cersei opened her mouth to speak again, but Joffrey continued on. "Let me remind all of you, that I am the ruler of this country and whatever stupid and rash decisions you make, reflect badly on me. If this happens again, you're not going to be let off with a mere warning. You will face consequences."

The room was deathly quiet at Joffrey's threat, the teenager glaring at anyone who tried to oppose it. Tylar stood behind him, his arms crossed as he seemed to vibrate with anger.

"This meeting is concluded. Call another one when you have something useful to discuss," Joffrey stormed out of the room, starting down the stairs of the tower, with Tylar rushing to keep up behind him. "We need to tell Lyra and Sansa."

"I know," Tylar nodded. "I can tell Sansa, Lyra's in the walled garden, Your Grace."

They took off in opposite directions, as Joffrey practically ran to the walled garden. If he knew anything about his family, it was that they were vindictive enough to tell those who had just lost loved ones, in the most brutal way possible.

He reached the walled garden, hurrying through the twists and turns of the maze, before reaching the pavilion. Entering, he froze at the sight of Lyra. The girl's hand was covering her mouth, as a lone tear slid down her face. It seemed that he was not good at hiding the sorrow on his face, for as soon as she saw him, she let out a cry of pain and collapsed.

Joffrey caught her quickly, bringing her close to him, as he hugged her to his chest, rocking the pair slowly.

"Please, tell me it's not true, tell me it's not true!" Joffrey hushed her once more, running his fingers through her hair

"I'm so sorry," He continued to rock her, pressing kisses to her head. "I'm so sorry that you have to go through this."

"They killed my mother, they killed her," He hummed, pulling her closer to him. "How dare they!"

"It's okay, I have already dealt with them," Lyra looked up at him through teary eyes, as he nodded.

"What about Robb? And Eliza?" Joffrey nodded, as she curled back into him once more.

"We will make them pay for this," Lyra sniffled. "I promise that they will pay for this and all of the harm that they have caused you."

✧✦✧

Joffrey stood outside of Sansa's chambers, Tylar opposite him, as they waited for Lyra to emerge once more. The latch clicked, as Lyra emerged from the room, her face forlorn.

"How is she?" Joffrey murmured, as Lyra reached out for him. He took her arm in his, pulling her closer as Tylar followed them back to the Stark atrium.

"As to be expected,"

"I see. How did she find out about it?" Joffrey looked back at Tylar, who was watching the floor with sad eye. Sometimes, Joffrey forgot that Tylar had been raised around Lyra and her family, and he had a connection with them, just as Lyra did.

"Someone told her whilst she was walking in the gardens," Tylar replied. "I found her too late. I'm sorry, My Lady."

"No need, Tylar," Lyra reached back to touch his arm gently. "Why don't you take the rest of the evening off, and tomorrow. I'll tell Arah where you are."

Tylar looked like he was about to protest, but one look from Lyra, and he was taking off back towards his quarters. Lyra watched him go with a sad smile, before turning back to Joffrey.

"Sansa can not stay here any more,"

"I know that," He replied, licking his lips as he glanced around nervously. "But the plan is not finished yet, and I don't know if it will even work."

Lyra hummed, thinking of what to do.

"You've had an idea," Joffrey stated, watching the girl with a raised eyebrow. She huffed, wrinkling her nose as she thought.

"What happens if we did it at our wedding?" Lyra mused. "And instead of poisoning just one person, we could pretend to poison you and Elia could knock the glass from your hands." 

"I thought you were going to fake your death after the food," Joffrey sent her a smile, as Lyra allowed herself a tiny giggle. "But I am intrigued, tell me more about how you shall kill me."

The pair continued on, unaware of the spectator that neither knew they had.

Tyrion was more confused than ever at the sight of Joffrey and Lyra conspiring in hushed whispers. The two were up to something, something dangerous.

𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐒

Hiya.

10.3k reads is wicked as is almost 600 votes. Also this is the end of book 3 and book 4 is going to start being published tomorrow.

As always, what was your favorite part of book 3?

Mine had to be the first chapter where Joffrey and Lyra went to visit Drew. Also, this next book is my favorite part of this book so I'm super excited for you guys to read it.

Love Li xx