ＰＥＯＰＬＥ Aʀᴇɴ'ᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ＳＯＬＤ (Heartz)

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Lord Lannister stared at his son with disapproval in his eyes, but he didn't bother demanding that he apologize. There was absolutely no point, and he knew it. Doing so would probably only throw fuel on his son's temper. Leim flashed a satisfied smile before turning and strolling out of the room.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Lady Brax looked to the Lannisters, "I'm sorry that this has stirred up trouble. I thought he would have known.."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Lord Lannister grunted. "We probably should have told him, but he wouldn't have come to this meeting. He probably would have taken a horse and rode halfway to the Crownlands before we realized he was gone."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Good riddance. Pippa wanted to roll her eyes, but she was in enough trouble already.

"Perhaps we can give the children a little time to adjust to the news," Lord Brax didn't want to back out of the arrangement, but pushing Leim and Pippa did not seem smart.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leim went to the stables, though thankfully he wasn't planning on riding to the Crownlands. He just wanted to go out and have some time to himself. Pouting on horseback was more sophisticated than pouting in your room. He geared up his horse and then took off out of the stables, startling the groom there.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Pippa glared at her parents, "Do I have to stay here?"

"Yes," Her father's voice was sharp, "I want you to make an effort to talk to Leim."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leim galloped for a long distance, probably longer and faster than he should have. The horse's sides were heaving by the time he slowed down. He was breathing hard himself, and sweat had formed on his skin. He stopped his horse and sat for awhile, just looking at the forest. He touched the hidden dagger and sighed. "Try to sell me to a prissy noble girl," he muttered.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"What? Why do I have to be the one to make the effort?" Pippa crossed her arms, "He doesn't want to talk to me either."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

In a fit of frustration, Leim whipped out the knife and hurled toward a nearby tree. It hit a knot in the bark. Say what you want about him, but he actually did have some talent with fighting. Maybe he would be a knight someday, if everything stopped standing in his way.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"No arguing!" Her father snapped, "This is not up for negotiation!"

Pippa huffed and turned, striding out of the room with a swish of her skirts.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"She'll come around," Lady Lannister said gently. "Both of them will. They just need a little time."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"She better," Pippa's father scowled and rubbed his face, "She's been causing us trouble for some time now."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leim strode over to the tree and yanked the knife out. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to figure out what to do now. He wanted more than anything to run away to the Crownlands, become a knight. He knew without a doubt that his father would hunt him down, though. He knew exactly where he'd go, so it wouldn't take very long.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Pippa was feeling the same. She'd much rather run away than be tied down to someone so surly and boring. He was not nearly as good-looking as the rumors and his personality didn't seem to make up for it. She would be trapped like an animal, her own happiness last on the list of priorities.

She took a deep breath and let her eyes roam the caste as she walked down the corridors. Perhaps she could find a way out, disappear, and never have to worry again.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leim closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the tree. The rough bark dug into his skin, but he ignored it. What could he do? Marrying the girl his parents suddenly decided was best for him was out of the question. He hardly ever did what his parents wanted, and this would be no exception. He was going to fight tooth and nail to stop this. He could only do that if he went back, though, so he got on his horse and rode back toward the castle.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

A few passing guards caught Pippa's eye and she flashed them a flirtatious smile as she swished by.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leim arrived back in the stables not long after he'd left. He rubbed his horse down and then strode through the hallways of the castle, back toward his room. Along the way, though, he ran into Pippa. Literally. "Oof!" He grabbed the wall to steady himself and then grimaced when he realized it was Pippa he'd run into.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Pippa's doe eyes narrowed and she smoothed her hands down her skirt, "Pardon me, sir," she muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I don't think a pardon is deserved," Leim said. Something about her really brought out the snotty side of him. "I do hope you and your family will be leaving Casterly Rock soon? I wouldn't want to make a habit of... bumping into you."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Oh, I'd love to be gone from this wretched place as soon as possible. Perhaps, today, even," Pippa crossed her slender arms over her chest and glanced around, "How do you stand being here? There is absolutely nothing to do."