Cersei Lannister, for all her riches and grace, did not paint as pretty a picture as Rosalie Tyrell had expected, though she was wiser than to speak her thoughts as the queen mother smiled coldly in Rosalie's direction. Margaery, Rosalie's older sister, intercepted the look, squeezing Rosalie's hand in her own briefly before the two of them averted their eyes to just above where the king and queen mother sat. It had been a mere few moons since the battle of Blackwater, a battle Rosalie had been indulged with information about by the queen mother's younger brother, the Imp Tyrion Lannister and now she was here, in the lion's den. Rosalie praised the Seven that it was not her having to marry the little prick of a king astride the Iron Throne.
There were murmurs, though none too loud for terror of him hearing, that if one found the Iron Throne uncomfortable, that they were clearly not meant to rule. Rosalie did not voice this, however, knowing better than to even mention such blasphemy to her sister. Margaery's attention was now on the king, simpering sweetness and their grandmother shared a brief look with Rosalie, Olenna gagging conspicuously and Rosalie hid a smile. She was without doubt her grandmother's favourite for she resembled neither her mother nor father and Olenna seemed to be exceedingly proud of that. When she was born, a mere sixteen summers ago, she did not open her eyes for quite a time and her grandmother had hoped she would not look at all like her siblings, who resembled their mother something fierce. However, the eyes that had eventually opened were like those of her brother, the infamous topaz colour. And though Rosalie had the same high cheekbones as her sister, Loras and Rosalie also shared golden hair but in terms of similarities, that was quite it whilst Willas and Garlan she resembled little, something she was glad for.
Rosalie's eyes darted over those present in the throneroom, Tommen and Myrcella Baratheon and to her curiosity, Jaime Lannister hovered close to the Iron Throne, she recalled he was indeed the King's Guard but upon closer inspection, she adhered the rumours to be true, her eyes narrowing in on the golden hand. Jaime Lannister was true to the stories, one of the most beautiful men she had ever laid eyes, sandy blonde hair, blue eyes and that stoic set to his mouth, gods she could just about have melted on the spot. There was no lie in the whispers that had reached her about him, he was the one of any sane woman's dreams. Her gaze shifted slightly, aware that she was staring at him and then Lord Tywin Lannister entered her line of sight, who to her concern was studying her with quite ferocious a gaze and Rosalie shied back a little, she was the less confident of the sisters and preferred her sister to take the attention off of her. When they had been younger, both girls had been called fair by all, though Margaery now used such beauty to seduce whilst Rosalie's attempts to hide any beauty she could were usually in vain.
Tomorrow, Margaery would be married to the blonde child smirking down at them and Rosalie wanted to hate the situation but for fear the anguish would be present on her features, she kept her features smooth. She curtseyed briefly at the lions, before she and Margaery headed away, their brother strolling ahead with their grandmother, a conversation Rosalie knew she would prefer not to be part of until a voice called her back. Her shoulders stiffened and she swung, pushing all emotion from her face as Tyrion Lannister hurried after her on short legs.
My Lady Rosalie, could I ask you come with me please? Lord Tywin wishes to speak with you." Rosalie made brief eye contact with Margaery before she nodded at Tyrion, smiling faintly as he turned to head in another direction, towards a part of the castle Rosalie was not familiar with and so she stuck close to Lord Tyrion as he led the way through several lamplit hallways and into a study of sorts, decorated so heavily in red and gold it was easy enough for Rosalie to note this must be the Lannister wing and though she knew she would not be harmed, Rosalie still stiffened slightly, fear coating the inside of her belly. Her fingers skimmed to her waist, where concealed her grandmother's dagger, though she knew it would do no good, it was no more than a penknife in comparison to the swords that hung at the belts of lords but at least she felt safer knowing she was armed.
Entering the study, she was aware of four other people already there, Tywin Lannister, Jaime Lannister, the queen mother and to Rosalie's surprise, her father. Mace Tyrell looked out of place among the abundance of lions and though Rosalie was standing quite near the Imp, who she didn't mind the presence of, she still felt quite overwhelmed. Internally, she berated herself, weakness was something the lions preyed upon and if she could convince them she was the frightened lamb her sister was not. Rosalie was the gentler of the two, the more well liked. People were drawn to her more so than they were drawn to Margaery, the only issue it seemed was on occasion Rosalie's barbed tongue got the better of her, here is King's Landing she was careful but in her own land she was free with her words. She'd even heard people say she was the thorns where her sister was the rose though it bothered Rosalie not, she would not compete with Margaery and the two were both Tyrells, they were both roses in the end even if Rosalie's thorns were more obvious than Margaery's.
Bowing courteously, Rosalie remembered her manners before any of the Lannisters could take her hesitation as a sign of offence and moved her hands to lace in front of her, a meek pose she usually adopted when she was in trouble. Mace nodded slightly, making her aware that whatever this was was serious.
"Rosalie Tyrell, youngest daughter of Mace Tyrell and Alerie Hightower. Unmarried and unpromised. Sixteen summers and I presume you have bled?" It was Cersei who spoke and Rosalie met the queen mother's eyes carefully before she nodded.
"Yes queen mother, that is correct." Seven hells, why on earth were they asking if she had bled yet. If they married her to another Lannister brat she would slit her own throat with the dagger in her clothes. She glanced around the room slowly, taking in those present. Tywin Lannister was watching her with that hawk like gaze he had, his eyes seemed to look straight through her and it slightly discomforted Rosalie, though she met his gaze as evenly as she dared. His eyes narrowed slightly and she adjusted her gaze, slightly fearful of being disrespectful and found her eyes meeting the queen mother's. Cersei Lannister was a coldhearted, conniving bitch, to say the least and it took all of Rosalie's might not to sneer at her. She loathed the queen mother, she was a vile, cruel excuse of a woman but Rosalie needed to play nice in the capital, so she lifted the corners of her mouth slightly, hoping the queen mother saw it as a shy smile. Cersei was clearly in a frightful mood as she simply stared boredly away, her eyes flashing briefly to Jaime Lannister, who Rosalie's gaze settled on next. He was the one she disliked least, leaving out Tyrion, who Rosalie got along with very well and she almost felt sorry for him. She had heard the story of his hand from Tyrion, though she knew better than to question the Kingslayer himself and she pitied him, he had lost a lot that day, the loyalty of his sister included. Tyrion had failed to mention that but Rosalie was perceptive enough to notice how close the two of them had seemed in Petyr Baelish's eyes though she knew better than to trust him.
"Will someone tell us why she's here, I fear we'll all implode with lust for knowledge if you don't inform us of the proposition." Tywin Lannister shot his daughter a cold look that Cersei avoided, Tywin standing from his chair. He was tall, taller than Rosalie realised though Jaime still towered over everyone in the room, especially Rosalie, who had only taken in her father in one way, her height.
"Lady Rosalie, I was discussing with my son earlier that in light of recent events, he will be needing to settle down, rule Casterly Rock and provide me with heirs that aren't bound to the capital and then you walked into the throneroom. I haven't seen Jaime look at a woman like he does a mirror before and you would be a first. You are not betrothed and you are beautiful and young, sister to the would-be queen Margaery and your family served the throne well in the battle of Blackwater. I believe that makes you worthy to marry my son, Jaime." The room went dead silent, Rosalie barely daring to breathe as she stared in confusion at Tywin Lannister, who had settled back into his chair. Rosalie made quick eye contact with her father, avoiding both the eyes of Cersei and Jaime for fear of what she would read in them and then she looked down slightly, her wide eyed gaze meeting Tyrion's. Her eyes remained on the hem of the dark purple dress she was wearing as Cersei made several undignified sounds before finally, she engaged her father, her voice rising.
"Father, you clearly are losing your mind in your age, Jaime is the King's Guard, therefore he is unable to and-" Tywin raised a hand and Cersei's tongue slowed, Rosalie swept her eyes up, pushing a confident front as she met Tywin's gaze squarely, trying not to let the confusion shine through her gaze. Jaime too had been silent throughout the exchange and she dared not look at him, but then he stood, drawing all attention in the room to him and finally they made eye contact. Gold met blue and then Cersei strode past Rosalie, sneering at her as she past and Rosalie flinched without breaking eye contact with Jaime, watching the emotion flare in his gaze as he watched his sister leave and watched his bride step back from her anger with the smallest, smuggest smile touching her lips.