Chapter One

It was warm as it usually was and the sun was beginning to stream through her window today the king was to return with his new hand. That meant she would be returning as well. Averill scoffed at the thought of their return and lay in bed a few more minutes savoring the silence of the castle.

Things had been so nice since they had been away, so quiet things were actually getting done and most importantly she wasn't being emotionally attacked on a daily basis. The blond female sighed as she sat up and brought her feet on the warm carpeted ground. She made her way over to the window and saw the kings' banners not to far off in the distance, which meant she needed to get ready now.

"Lilly!" She shouted called for her handmaiden. Only moments later a young girl with dark hair and dark eyes was at her door. "Ah there you are be a dear and draw me my bath the King and Queen are returning with the Hand, I suppose the Queen would want me to look presentable." Lily began to draw the bath water as Averill shut the door and began to undress.

"Well I suppose I knew that it wouldn't last forever, that they would need to come back eventually ohh , but what I would give for one more day of not having to hear her vile mouth." Averill smiled brightly at the girl who simply glanced up meekly and nodded in agreement. Averill rolled her eyes slightly, of course this poor girl would never openly agree with. Even she shouldn't be saying these things out loud. Averill walked over to her cabinet, nude, and began to search through which dress would be most appropriate. She settled on a dusty blue gown with a sweetheart neckline and golden embroidery of some pretty birds.

After bathing and dressing and having her hair styled in one of the many intricate style of the south Averill felt it was now time to go out and greet the royal family.

"Well look at you, I'm surprised you're up so early my Lady." Even the sound of his voice sent chills down her back. Averill simply smiled politely and turned to great Petyr Baelish.

"Well, I can't say the same for you Lord Baelish you always seem to be slinking about the castle at all times. I must say one thing for you Lord Baelish you are surly dutiful." He laughed at her comment still keeping his grey-green eyes on her.

"Well I am beyond flattered that you would say so. Well Hill, I suppose I'll be seeing you around later." With that the little man, with his stupid little half smile slinked away from her towards the small council room. Averill felt rage flair up inside of her but did her best to contain it after all she was about to see Cersei she would need to be on her best behavior.

As she stood outside on the steps she saw the royal families carriage begin to approach. As the exited she was sure to curtsied to the royal family, Cerseis eyes darted towards her already filled with anger and disgust.

"What are you doing her?" She spat at her; Averill simply returned her words with a smile.

"I'm glad to see you are doing well your Grace, oh you do look marvelous." That wasn't a lie though she was sure to say it in an over the top manner to make her believe it was. Cersei always looked stunning, she was absolutely beautiful even as she grew older. Cersei was sure smile as she hissed hatefully to Averill

"You will silence yourself, you will not embarrass me, now get inside." Averills' face began to flush red, she hung her head low to his her embarrassment. This was how it always was, sure Averill was a bastard, but it was still no excuse for Cersei to hate her as much as she did.

"Hey!" Robert yelled. "You don't get to dismiss her woman, that is my privilege" Robert smirked down at her; Averill offered a small smile though she felt some what disgusted. It was no secret that King Robert had take many women to bed, and it was also no secret that he would've asked to bed Averill if there was ever the chance." She simply looked up at him and curtsied again.

"Thank you, your Grace!. I was simply excited to meet the new hand and his family I've heard that you and Lord Stark were once great friends_" Cersei was beginning to walk away she stopped before going inside "Something wrong sister?" The word made her eyes fill with fire just as Averill had anticipated.

"Never call me that, you are no sister of mine. You are a bastard do not forget your place. Why father even sent you is beyond me, there is no place for you in court, I would sooner have a fisherman's wife come to court than you." Of course her elder sister words hurt, but there was truth to them. Yes, she was a bastard. Her father Tywin Lannister was intimate with a Lady in the west and Averill was the result. Unfortunately Averills' mother died during childbirth and though Tywin may seem a heartless man he didn't think it fair that a girl who would've lived a comfortable life due to her mothers status would be cast out into the world and into a peasant orphanage. So he decided to take her in and though he did not treat her as well as he treated Cersei or Jaime (which wasn't all that great to begin with) he treated just about the same as Tyrion, which was good enough for her. She always had money a rough over her head and the finest cloths. Now her father decided it was time to try harder to find someone who would want to marry her. Though she was a bastard she was a Lannister bastard and that had to count for something.

Averill simply sighed and shook her head at her elder sister

"You know why I'm here, and believe me I'm as thrilled as you are." Cerseis nostrils flared before she abruptly turned away from the smaller framed woman. Averill looked at the floor slightly embarrassed for another moment, until she heard a loud thud. She looked up and saw the revoltingly familiar face of Sandor Clegane, or better known as the Hound. His gray eyes found her and she quickly looked away not wanting to provoke anything from him. Her elder sister could say nasty things but physically she was no threat, the Hound on the other hand he could destroy her if he wanted to. Though she had not been in Kings Landing for too long she had a feeling that this man greatly disliked her.

His massive form walked past her, nearly bumping into her and knocking her to the ground. Averill simply smiled not wanting to displease him any further than she already had. It wasn't much longer until the Starks had arrived. Eddard wasn't quiet what she expected, but he seemed like he would be a great hand if Robert would listen to him. He also had two of his children come along with him, the elder one Sansa was beautiful with blue eyes and gorgeous auburn hair. The younger one, well she just seemed wild and not at all how a lady should be. After the greetings were done and Averill offered her sympathies for his ailing son she walked back into the castle and towards her room.

It had nearly been three months since she had come to Kings landing, three month of living under a constant façade. Three months of not trusting anyone, that was when she realized the one person she had actually looked forward to seeing had not returned. Averill stopped in her tracks as her heart sank down into her stomach. She was assuming the worse as she ran down the stone stairs. As she reached the landing she hit into something. Before she fell backwards onto the stairs two strong hands grabbed her shoulders.

"I'm sorry…" She began, that was when she noticed it was the Hound who had her in his grasp. He was even more terrifying up close; she managed not to shutter at the sight of him. Half of his face was mangled and burned the other half simply looked hateful and cold "Thank you…"

"You shouldn't be so clumsy imagine if it was one of Lord Eddards daughters you ran into and you knocked them over." He let go of her arms roughly then began to walk up the stairs.

"Wait! Ser_"

"I'm no Ser." He snapped back at her. Averill shuddered for a moment under the gaze of those deep gray eyes.

"I'm sorry Se_" She stopped herself before finishing the word. He looked beyond furious he looked rabid. "Look, can you tell me why Tyrion hasn't returned with them?"

"Hmph, the Imp? He decided to make a trip up to the wall." Any relief she had temporarily gotten was immediately taken away.

"Is he going to take the black?" Averill asked, she almost immediately realized how stupid of a question that was. Tyrion would never give up his women or freedom.

"Such a stupid girl." He said while walking away. Averill stood at the bottom of the stairs and she felt stupid and lonely. The gods only knew how long her brother would be gone. The one person she had at Kings landing would be away for much to long.