#annuell

-------------

  Ser Annuell Lannister emerged from the shadows and exposed his pearl white teeth in a fake smile. He opened his arms as if to welcome the trio in front of him.

Annuell walked with a dignified charm. His golden hair neatly tied in a ponytail, with long bangs parted in the middle. The Lannisters were always famed to have blonde hair and green eyes, but Annuell possessed excellent Lannister genes. His hair was a rich gold that rivaled the King’s own crown. And some say his eyes were better than any shade of emerald seen in the South. The people at court would say he possessed the same traits as his cousin, Lady Lou, the eldest daughter of Lord Lucas, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West. He had a strong jawline, a tall frame that complemented his features, and a certain smile that made the other knights of the capital call him Ser Annuell the Vain.

He was wearing a crimson doublet with lions embroidered in gold in each sleeve. His sword hung from his belt, glittering gold under the sunlight. Despite the heat, he wore a black supple coat, draping from his back and swayed at each movement with a certain grace they did not know a coat could possess.

The young Lannister became as famous as his uncles the day he was knighted by the King himself. At the age of 18, he became one of the most famous knights in the capital. Two years has since passed and his fame still shone as bright as his hair, his smile so vain it could cut.

Some would say he deserved his knighthood when he saved King Lyon from a savage beast on one of his hunts. He slew the beast with his own sword, its head hanging on the wall of his chambers. Others would say he earned his knighthood with gold. The people liked to believe the latter.  

“I’ve always wanted to meet a Stark in person.” He told them.

The Starks have been in the castle for two days, but Annuell was not present upon their arrival and showed little interest in them until today, when he saw them walking in the courtyard looking so lost like a trio of polar bears stranded in a tropical forest.

He saw Shiro Snow eye him carefully, the man’s hand firmly gripping the sword hanging from his belt.

“Well there’s three of us.” Shiro muttered.

Annuell raised an eyebrow. “Three? There’s only one Stark in front of me right now and we all know it’s not you, bastard.”

He thought it amusing as well, when he saw their little sister, Khail, clench her fist and eye him with a stare so cold he could see the Wall.

“My brother’s name is Snow but he has Stark blood in him!”

Lowell raised an arm to silence her.

“I am Lowell of House Stark, heir to Winterfell and the North, and these two are my half-siblings, making them Starks as well. I’m sure your maester taught you that in your youth. But I’m not so sure if he ever had the time to teach you manners. Mind the words that flow from your mouth, Lannister. And we will mind ours.”

Heavy silence engulfed the castle yard. A light breeze blew against Lowell’s sweating brow, and no one had uttered one single word in several minutes until Annuell roared in boisterous laughter.

He slapped his knee continually as he held his stomach, almost out of breath as he wiped a tear from his eyes. He had been laughing for so long that the sound of it scared Shiro away.

“Ahhhh…you Starks are always so glum! Cheer up!” He smiled from ear to ear as he made his way to Lowell and Shiro to engulf them in a ‘manly’ embrace.

Annuell felt Shiro trying to brush him off but the blonde’s grip on him tightened. Lowell maintained a poker face, but Annuell could feel him tense up in his touch. He pulled them closer, eyed their sister who looked at them in confusion, and then whispered.

“You have no power in the South. Remember that.”

Annuell let go of the two men and patted their backs. The smile was still on his face as he paced backwards and bowed.

“Well, I must be off my lady.” He said to Khail. “I expect you two to be in the banquet tomorrow Stark, Snow. Your lively presence will be most anticipated.” He laughed to himself, as if proud of his sarcastic remark.

With that he walked off, his footsteps leaving silent remnants of the friendly reminder he whispered in their ears.

But he was sure they knew there were no friendly reminders in the South, only deadly threats.

-------------

His footsteps continued to echo along the halls as he made his way inside the castle. He passed the throne room, a maester’s chambers full of potions and chattering servants until he arrived at his desired destination.

Two guards were standing by the door, bowing as he came closer.

“My lord.” One of them said. The other opened the huge door.

The soles of his boots met lush purple carpet as he entered the chamber. Servant girls were busy setting the table with fruits and cakes. He smiled at one servant as he took a lemon cake from her tray and popped it inside his mouth. The servant looked on, oblivious of the redness that formed on her face.

“Well, did you have fun?”

“I only did as I was told.” Annuell responded.

He took his eyes away from the lemon cakes and looked at his cousin, sitting in front of a mirror by the window. Her back was to him, and her golden locks flowed lusciously to her back, so golden that it rivaled the piece of jewelry dangling from her neck. A servant was busy brushing her hair, securing a portion into a bun, while letting the rest flow freely.

“Leave us.” Her deep feminine voice rang. The servants hastily grabbed the empty trays, made final arrangements on the table, and left before Annuell could even blink.

He looked at his cousin, looking amused as she examined herself in the mirror. He didn’t know which of them was more vain.

“Father had this made for me.” She smiled at the mirror before looking right at Annuell. She held her skirts as she twirled around, and showed him the luscious red gown with maroon and golden embroidery, fastened with a delicately detailed gold belt.

“You will certainly be the center of attention tomorrow, cousin.” He told her softly. She took a necklace with a ruby pendant from one of her boxes and wore it as a finishing touch to her brilliant ensemble.

She knit her eyebrows together. “The only attention I want is the Prince’s.”

“He would be a fool to not notice you.”

“Oh cousin, I don’t need expensive clothing and jewelry for him to notice me.” She twirled her hair, her smile radiating a level of pride only someone from their family could possess. She was Lord Lucas’ golden daughter after all.

Looking at his cousin was like looking at a mirror. They looked so much alike that people would mistake them for twins in their youth. Lou possessed a tall, slender, and graceful figure with supple breasts and womanly curves. Although a lady in a manner and appearance, she has the attitude and personality of her Lord father; calculating, cunning, politically-astute and brilliant. The both of them had extravagance written all over them. A Lannister wears what is fitting to him, Lord Lucas, his uncle would always say. A Lannister this, a Lannister that.

He pulled a chair for Lou before he sat opposite her. His cousin seemed uninterested at the various pastries before her, but he was already half finished with the lemon cakes on the table.

“What did Father tell you to do, exactly?” she asked.

“He told me to see if the Starks were comfortable.” He responded innocently.

“Well you looked like you were having fun making them ‘comfortable.’”

“Spying again, cousin?” he asked her amused.

She knit her eyebrows together. “What am I supposed to do when Father has me locked here and guarded all day? We’ve been here a week and yet I haven’t seen the prince. He knows I hate being controlled.”

“Everybody knows that.” He told her. “Im sure my uncle has something in mind.”

He popped a chocolate tart into his mouth before continuing. “And yet it seems odd to me how easily you agreed to this arrangement, despite ‘hating’ control.”

“’You are to be the next queen of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms’ were Father’s exact words the day he came back to Casterly Rock from here. I did not agree to it, cousin. I was meant to be queen.”

“Aunt Catherine is the next queen, not you.” Annuell said matter-of-factly.

“That wench is marrying that old drunk for political reasons. The King is a frail, elderly man. His son the prince is only a youth of 19, born the same year as I. They tell me he will become a better king than his father.”

Annuell studied his cousin carefully, clearly she did not care if someone would hear her insulting her own aunt. But he did not have much respect for her as well, being born young enough to be their elder sister. She was an unexpected child, Lord Lucas had said. And yet now that unexpected child grew up to become the pawn in one of Lord Lucas Lannister’s most ambitious plot yet.

“She’s no queen. In time my marriage to Prince Khenrich will give me that title, and father will send her back to Casterly Rock when she is no longer needed here.” Lou said.

“Alright, your royal highness.” Annuell teased. “But why is Uncle  hiding you from court? We haven’t seen Khenrich since we were babes and I doubt he would remember you.” He stuck his tongue out at her, behaving like a child.

Lou aimed a tart at his face but missed.

“Do I look like a magician to you, cousin? Do I look like a woman who possesses incredible magical skills that could infiltrate the mind of my devious, Lord father?” She sighed exasperatedly at him. He always enjoyed teasing her.

“Well, we’ll find out soon enough in tomorrow’s banquet.” Annuell said. “The Tyrells will arrive soon, the Starks are already haunting the castle with their dark and gloomy presence, and Jahnna Sand from Dorne arrived unnoticed, already terrorizing the castle and mocking the Southerners for being…well…Southerners. The whole party will soon be complete. I don’t care for politics, my dear Lou. I care for the mess that comes with it…”

He smiled at her with a smile so sly she almost didn’t recognize him.

“Besides…” he muttered. “Arent you excited?”

“About what?” Lou asked.