Chapter Text
“Gods I can smell their perfumed arses from here!”
“Theon!” Sansa scolded.
Riverrun Academy was trying something new this year; the board of education had decided to combine students from both southern and northern schools in hope of showing unity.
Not everyone was thrilled about the change, southern students complained about the savage northerners while the northern students complained about the prissy southerners.
“I for one am happy they’re here, perhaps they’ll add some class.” Sansa pointed out, her head rising slightly higher.
Robb and Jon rolled their eyes.
“You wouldn’t be saying that if bastard Baratheon was here.” Jon said.
Sansa sighed at that, she had almost forgotten her abusive first relationship. Joffrey Baratheon had given her hell and her brothers had wanted his head.
“Let’s just get to class. I’m tired of this hysteria already.” Robb complained.
“Robb!” They heard an annoying squeal from down the hall.
“Here we go.” Jon sighed.
At the end of the hallway was Talisa, Ros and Margaery. Margaery was Jon’s somewhat significant other, though neither of them claimed to be in a relationship. Ros was Theon’s girl, and the annoying girl with dark brown eyes and the worst attitude known to man was Talisa, Robb’s somewhat girlfriend.
None of the guys had asked the girls out, but given their ‘activities’ the girls would follow them around, more for social status than romance.
You see, Robb was the golden boy of the school. He was smart, funny and, to add insult to injury, he was incredibly handsome. Girls swooned at the sight of the ‘young wolf’ walking down the school corridors. Jon and Theon often mocked him for it but lately Jon could see that Robb’s popularity was bothering him, particularly when it came to girls.
“Hi guys!” Sansa said.
“Sansa you look darling, as usual.” Margaery smiled She was the least venomous of the girls, which is probably why Jon ended up with her.
Sansa was younger than the girls but was desperate to fit into their clique. Robb didn’t like that, he wanted his little sister to say his little sister.
The girls gathered in a group around the men, ready to gossip.
“Have you heard who’s started this year?” Ros whispered conspiratorially.
“No who?” Sansa asked.
“Myrcella Baratheon.”
“I thought the Baratheon’s were going to Kings Landing?” Margaery questioned.
“Not this one.” Ros sighed.
“Speak of the devil.” Talisa sneered.
They all turned to the lockers to see the new student. The girls looked at her with distaste, ready to make her an enemy before she opened her mouth, but the boys couldn’t help but gawk.
She wasn’t dressed like they were. Talisa would opt for tight jeans and tops that were cut far to low to be considered appropriate. This girl wore a baggy jumper that hung loosely over her skirt, her tight clad legs tucked into ankle boots. Her hair wasn’t styled in any particular fashion, it simply rested against her back, long, blonde and wavy.
She had finished putting her books in her bag and turned in their direction. Robb was mesmerised when he saw her, she was so natural and effortlessly beautiful.
“Maybe there are some perks to having southerners here after all.” Theon joked, earning him an elbow to the ribs from Ros.
“Ugh, if that’s the sort of thing you’re into.” Talisa laughed but stopped when she noticed how Robb hadn’t stopped looking at the girl.
Margaery noticed Talisa’s glare, “Lets get to class.” She said, and on cue the bell rang.
…………..
Myrcella was excited to go to Riverrun Academy. It was something different; her father had studied at The Vale and he had called it the best time of his life. Myrcella wanted that.
Her life back home wasn’t easy, her parents travelled a lot which meant she was left with her brothers most of the time. Tommen was a sweetheart without a bad bone in his body but the same couldn’t be said for Joffrey.
Too many times had he pinched Myrcella’s skin so hard it turned an angry shade purple, pushed her down the stairs, kicked her in the stomach, or pulled her hair back.
Every time she went to hospital she would tell them the same thing, ‘I fell.’ It was only when her uncle Tyrion realised that he’d heard that story one too many times that things began to change.
He took Tommen with him to Casterly Rock and placed his niece in the gifted children program. She was incredibly intelligent for her age, Tyrion use to call her Matilda after her favourite Raul Dahl book.
Myrcella was a very nervous girl (Tyrion blamed Joffrey for that). She didn’t speak unless spoken to, and she tried her hardest to stay out of people’s way. She never boasted about her intelligence, and it made her favourite uncle love her more.
She would forever be grateful to her uncle Tyrion, he took her away from a bully and gave her the chance to excel. So that’s how she ended up at Riverrun, though she was beginning to fear she might not be welcome.
She walked into her classroom, her books in hand. She moved to sit at the back of the room, hoping she wouldn’t be an inconvenience.
…………
“What is she doing here?” Talisa asked accusingly.
“I thought she was younger than us.” Jon said as he watched Myrcella walk into the room.
“She’s only sixteen,” Ros confirmed, “But I hear she’s smart, that’s why she’s been moved up two grades.”
“Super.” Talisa said sarcastically.
Robb watched the young blonde walk past curious eyes and hide herself behind a book. She was peculiar, he thought, he’d never come across someone so quiet and unsure.
Their lesson was just an introductory session, getting to know about the books they were studying. Robb tried to pay attention but his eyes would constantly drift to the girl sat at the back, writing notes from each slide vigorously. He smiled at her enthusiasm.
The bell rang and they all got up to leave, Theon however decided to introduce himself to the new girl.
“Good day m’dear, names Theon Greyjoy.”
Myrcella looked up startled, “Nice to meet you.” She said meekly.
“And does this angel have a name?” He asked.
“Myrcella.” She said as she got out of her seat.
Jon decided to interrupt, he didn’t want the new girl to be subjected to Theon’s vulgar ways.
“Hi I’m Jon, sorry about him. He doesn’t realise he’s not in a 70’s sitcom.”
Myrcella giggled at that and Robb smiled at the sound.
“This is my cousin Robb.” Jon introduced the pair.
Robb became suddenly nervous, “Ummm…. Hi.”
Jon looked at him questioningly but Robb couldn’t meet his eyes. He turned away, cringing at how rude he was being.
“It’s nice to meet you all.” She said quietly, fiddling with the end of her jumper sleeves.
The girls didn’t like the attention Myrcella was receiving, and they decided to make it known.
“So you’re the new girl.” Talisa said, it was more of a statement than a question.
“Joffrey’s sister right?” Ros said, knowing what the bad memories would do to the guys. To their delight the men stiffened and their happy exteriors faded.
“Nasty guy I hear, hope you’re not too similar.” Talisa joked, the girls began to laugh and Myrcella’s stomach sunk at the sound.
“I need to get to my next class.” Myrcella excused herself, leaving them all to watch her retreating form.
“She left in a hurry.” Theon remarked.
“Seems like a snob to me.” Talisa said.
Robb felt bad for the girl, but he couldn’t help but remember Joffrey and how badly he had treat Sansa.
Myrcella hurried down the halls to the girls bathroom. ‘I guess there are bullies everywhere,’ she thought.