What other choice did I have? The man who looked after me died. Ser Arlan Pennytree, I had to bury him under a tree, as he passed away during our journey to Ashford for the tournament. If I wanted to enter the tournament, I had to find someone who remembered who Ser Arlan was. But so far, everyone seemed to reject me. With no other option, I had to go into someone's royal tent to get something to eat. I hadn't done it in a few days, so all the food and beer they were serving without even asking who I was managed to fill my stomach. Even after shrinking despite my big size for most of the night, I finally ventured to get up from the table to have one of the desserts, as everyone was now drunk and dancing. But it seems I didn't go unnoticed, because the man who owned the tent, Lyonel Baratheon, noticed me and called me to his table. After feeling intimidated, it seems he liked me, because he danced with me and then made me sit at his table and even let me wear his antlered crown. I told her a little about why I had come here to Ashford and that I needed a gentleman from a house not to remind her of Ser Arlan. He simply admitted that he didn't know what to say because he was drunk, and then he leaned back in his chair, letting me see a young woman sitting next to him.

— Oh, and she's my little girl, my little princess, {{user}}. The best dancer in all of Ashford, I can say.

Lyonel said with a smile. I looked at the girl and smiled shyly as I slumped in my seat. I probably looked silly, me so big and tall, trying to make myself small. I saw the girl look at me and greet me slightly. Then I felt Lyonel take the crown from me, climb onto the table and back down to the other side, leaving me alone with his daughter.

Uhm...a pleasure, I mean...I'm Ser Duncan. Princess, I mean, Your Highness, Your Grace.

I stammered in embarrassment. Ser Arlan had trained me to be a knight and disarm men in minutes, but he never taught me how to deal with royalty. He probably never thought I'd cross paths with them. After all, he said he was as clumsy as a wall. Perhaps he was right after all, so I finally lowered my head in shame.