Jeyne dropped the plate in the sink as the lukewarm beer splattered against the back of her head. "Mother!" She spun around.

"I didn't raise you to talk to me in that tone, young lady!" Sybell sneered, shaking the empty glass in her hand. "Did I leave you at the hospital when you were born? Did I give you up for adoption? I could have, but I didn't. Instead I put up with your ungrateful ass for eighteen years. And now you're pulling this on me? You're not going anywhere with those good-for-nothing friends of yours."

"It'll only be a few days. Maybe it'll be good for her." Gawen suggested in the mildest tone humanly possible. Rarely did he ever contradict his wife, and it made his daughter's heart leap a little that he'd done so for her.

"Good for her?" Sybell yelled, "She's not going to any fancy colleges without money, and the last time I checked, we don't have any. Whose fault is that Gawen? Not mine, that's for sure."

"Mother, its just a college tour." Jeyne Westerling. "I know I'm not going to college, but Lessa needs my support."

"And who's gonna support us?" Sybell demanded. "You're gonna take days of work because your empty-headed friends don't know what school to waste all their parents' money on? And what about Eleyna and Rollam? Who's gonna take them to school? Who's gonna clean the house? Who's gonna cook dinner while your father and I are at work trying to feed you kids? I don't know who taught you to be so selfish."

Tears threatened to roll down Jeyne's cheeks. She admitted softly, "I thought you guys would be okay without me for a few-"

"Are you gonna cry?" Her mother cackled like a witch, "Oh Jeyne, so tough and confident when things are going your way; crying like a little bitch when we all don't play along. Get out of my house!"

Jeyne ripped her stained apron from her shoulders and grabbed the car keys. But before she could get out the front door, her mother grabbed her by the arm and slapped her.

"You better have gas money. You don't even have your wallet, stupid girl." Sybell yelled. She pried the keys from Jeyne's fingers before letting go.

Jeyne ducked her head, and went over to the bedroom she shared with her little sister. Eleyna had her face buried an old textbook, even though school had ended a week ago. She must have heard what happened in the kitchen. Jeyne's new high school diploma was on the night stand collecting dust. She rummaged through the grey backpack she took to work for her wallet, counted her change, and put the wallet in her purse. Jeyne also picked up her phone, just in case. She gave Eleyna a kiss on the forehead for going out.

"Where are you going?" Sybell asked from the couch, now watch one the old-fashioned crime shows she loved so much.

"Out. Bye Mother, bye Daddy." Jeyne shrugged and sprinted out before her mother could say something else.

It was just pass noon on her day off, so she took a subway to the Rock. The Crag was one of the lower-income neighborhoods in Lannisport; built on the outskirts of the city, on a cliff overlooking the Sunset Sea. Not far off, a few celebrities and moguls had beach-side mansions lining the shores. Downtown, known to locals as Casterly Rock or the Rock, is where all the interesting stuff happened. By comparison, despite only being a few miles apart, the Crag was as dull as tapioca pudding.

Jeyne climbed out of the subway station with no destination in mind. People moved past her as though she weren't even there; not that she really minded. There were men in business suits; women in thousand-dollar boots; men in worn out jeans and mud-splattered sneakers; woman in faded, out-of-style sundresses. Strolling through the crowded streets, Jeyne let the noise of the city drown out her own problem. She gave a homeless woman ten stags, her spare tampon and a card for the shelter Lessa's uncle ran.

As she walked, Jeyne noticed a line outside what looked like a community center. A large sign read "AUDITIONS HERE" in bold red letters next to a poster with smaller writing. Closer up, Jeyne saw that it read "Florian" is fancy, medieval style font.

"The line starts back there sweetie." An annoyed woman said to Jeyne, rolling her eyes.

Sure, why not? Jeyne shrugged and went to the back of the line, which wrapped around the corner of the block. Anything to keep her from having to get back home. She picked up a script and read through it several times. For the next hour or so, Jeyne listened to snippets of other people's conversation.

"Yeah Taena Merryweather's hot, but she's way too old to play the lead."

"I heard Cersei Lannister was going to be in it. Her brother's the director, right?"

"I think the promotional pictures are coming out in a week or so."

"Wouldn't it be amazing if we got to be in a scene with Robb Stark? I'd be telling that story to my grandkids for years."

Robb Stark, the hottest actor in Westeros, was in this movie? Jeyne blushed when she remembered that Florian was the new movie Robb Stark had been cast as the lead it two months ago. And she called herself his biggest fan. Gods, a chance to be on screen with Robb Stark, even if she would just be one of a hundred faces in the crowd scenes? Maybe this day was looking up.

At around two-thirty, as the line slowly inched forward, a tall, slender woman with ink-black skin addressed the many hopeful. Through a bullhorn, she announced "All positions for male roles, and all positions for female roles over the age of thirty-five are filled. If you fit into one of those two categories, Seven Kingdoms Studio thanks you for enthusiasm." A roar of grumbling overtook the street as the crowd dissolved. In two minutes Jeyne was far further ahead than she had been in two hours.

After another twenty minute wait, the same woman ushered her into a waiting room with nine other young women. They each received paperwork to fill out: name, contact information, medical stuff, and more. Five girls went into an adjacent room for their auditions before it was Jeyne's turn.

"Good afternoon," the dark, beautiful woman shook Jeyne's hand as she entered the room. It was small, rectangular and all the walls were painted a bland beige. There was a set up with a two chairs and a camera. A man sitting on one of the chairs waved at them. "My name is Alayaya Xoloja. I'm the assistant casting director. And this is Lommy Greenhands. He'll be playing opposite you."

"Jeyne Westerling. I, uh, don't really have much experience, besides school plays and stuff." She admitted shyly.

Alayaya smiled kindly, "That's not a problem. Just give it your best shot. Please, take a seat."

After shaking hands with Lommy, Jeyne got ready to get into character. From their seats, she played a naive peasant girl, while Lommy played an flirtatious drunk trying to get her into bed.

The scene went for almost twenty minutes, longer, Jeyne noticed, than the other girls' auditions. Or was that just her imagination? Alayaya had them do the scene again, only this time they abandoned the script and the peasant girl and the drunk switched roles. It was pretty neat to try, though Jeyne knew for certain now that there was something different about this audition.

"Wow, you were amazing." Lommy complimented her when they were finished.

Jeyne blushed, "Thanks." She briefly considered returning the compliment, but then decided that he must have been doing this all day. Before she left, Alayaya handed her a business card and tell her she'd be in touch.

After a few minutes of the wandering around the Rock, Jeyne stopped at a cheap fast food place for a burger and soda, though she didn't have enough to get french fries unless she planned to walk home. Jeyne used the last of her money to catch the subway back home. As the sunset lit the sea a bright orange-red, Jeyne wondered how much money she would get payed as an extra. She'd had to look up more information about Florian, but the only computer in her house was her parents' work computer, and the last thing she wanted was to annoy her mother again. Actually, she didn't want her mother knowing anything about her audition.

"Hey." Jeyne muttered into the house as she walked in.

Sybell glared at her from over her shoulder, "We don't have leftovers."

"I already ate." Jeyne answered jogging into her room. Eleyna and Rollam sat on the bottom bunk playing cards, so she sat on the floor next to them. "Hey guys. Have fun at Emery's house, Rolly?"

"Yeah. He let my play with his Playstation." Rollam replied with slight longing in his voice.

"Okay, can I tell you guys a secret? From Mother?" Jeyne whispered. When her younger siblings nodded seriously, she continued, "I auditioned for a movie today."

Eleyna's eyes went wide, "Really? You're gonna star in a movie?"

"Well, not a star. I've going to be extra."

"Extra what?" Rollam asked.

"Okay, you know how there are characters in shows and movies that don't really say much? People in the background. That's what I'm going to be."

"Oh," Rollam nodded.

"So you not going to be a star?" Eleyna frowned.

Jeyne shrugged, "I'll still be in a movie, won't I?"

The next morning, as she made breakfast, Jeyne called Lessa to let her know that she wouldn't be able to go on the college tour with her. After eating, Jeyne went to work at her uncle's restaurant, Spice Town. Rolph Spicer, her mother's younger brother, owned and operated the place, which primarily served Volantene food, most of which included beets. Jeyne's great-grandmother, Maggy Spicer, had immigrated from Volantis when she was young, but she never forgot her roots. Jeyne remembered her mother cooking traditional Volantene beet and pork stew on special occasion. While Sybell didn't cook much anymore, Jeyne was around traditional meals all day.

The lunch rush keep her frazzled and on her feet for a good hour. By the end of her shift, Jeyne was almost certain she never wanted to see another beet for as long as she lived. But then she'd have to do it again tomorrow. Just as she had for the last four years.

"Good work today kid." Rolph grunted to her from the cash register.

Jeyne smiled tiredly as her phone rang. It was from an unknown number. "Hello? Jeyne Westerling."

"Hello, sorry if I caught you at a bad time." A slightly familiar voice. "Its Alayaya, from the audition."

"Don't worry, its an okay time." Jeyne glanced to her uncle, who just shrugged and went back to counting up his profit for the day.

"Well, I showed your tape to my mother, I mean, the casting directer. She wants you to audition for a larger role. That depends of how the call back goes."

Jeyne's eyes widened at the words "call back". "Uh, just give me a minute." She mouthed a goodbye to her uncle and walked out the door. He was close to his mother, and Jeyne didn't want to risk him telling her anything. Outside, Jeyne continued, "Sorry about that. So, a call back? For me?"

"Of course. You work like you've been in the business for years. Why do think I had in there longer than the other girls?" Alayaya continued with a laugh. "We'll send over a new script for you to learn. Could you be ready in a week?"

Pondering on her schedule for a minute, Jeyne answered, "A week sounds great. But when and where will this audition be?"

"We'll find you an appointment and at a different address. It'll all be in the e-mail. So, everything's set?"

"Yes! Everything perfect. Thank you so much for this chance."

"Trust me, you've earned it. I'll so you in week."

"Okay, bye."

When Alayaya hung up, Jeyne let out a little sequel of happiness. Immediately, she called Lessa.

"Hey Jeyne. You home yet?"

"No, not yet." Jeyne looked around, then started walking home. "Okay, you won't believe what just happened. Yesterday I went to an audition and the casting directer wants give me a call back."

"You went to an audition?" Lessa asked incredulously.

"It wasn't my plan. I had to get away from my mom for a little bit, and I wandered into the audition. Its for Florian, that new Robb Stark movie."

"So what character are you playing? I didn't even know you were into acting."

"I don't know yet." Jeyne slowed her pace so she wouldn't arrive home too soon. "I planned to be an extra, but they're giving me a bigger role. They're sending me all the call back stuff through e-mail. Is this a good time to come over?"

Lessa exclaimed, "Of course! Oh my god Jeyne this could open so many doors for you. You can tell your mom you're helping me pack for the tour, since you're not going anymore."

"Thanks Les; you're a life-saver." Jeyne smiled. "I'll be there in a little bit."

It look a little while to remember where the auditions would take place, but Jeyne led Lessa there without much issue. Instead of a public space, the call back took place in a fancy office building in the hear to the Rock, the kind of place Jeyne had only ever seen from afar. She shifted uncomfortable in her nicest pair of black slacks. "I don't know if I can do this."

Lessa squeezed her hand in support. "You'll be great. C'mon we've been over this a thousand times."

With a shaky nod, Jeyne asked, "Come with me?"

"Of course."

Together, the two young women walked into the building and rode the elevator up twenty floors to the casting director's office. Alayaya, who had been shuffling through some paperwork at her desk, grinned when Jeyne and the other girl came in. She immediately dismissed the possibility that they were sisters because they looked nothing alike. Jeyne had the quintessential "girl next door" look: wavy brown hair, dimples and wide caramel-colored eyes. Her companion screamed "femme fetale" with her jet black hair against pale skin, heavy make-up, and high cheekbones.

"Jeyne, so great to have you back?" Alayaya shook both their hands. "Friend of yours?"

"Yeah, this is my friend Lessa Hill. She's here for moral support." After Lessa nodded in acknowledgement, Jeyne continued, "Lessa, this is Alayaya Xoloja, the assistant casting director."

"Alright, if you just step into this room." Alayaya showed them to her mother's office.

Chataya Xoloja had been in the entertainment business for almost thirty years, and if anyone could sniff out talent, it was her. Jeyne Westerling's audition tape was among the best she'd even seen. The girl knew how to work her face, knew to play on expectations, but most of all, she could just deliver. If Jeyne Westerling told you she thought the sky was green, you'd be inclined to look up just to check.

While Jeyne worked with Lommy Greenhands on the new script, Chataya watched from across the one-sided glass with her daughter and Jeyne's friend, Lessa Hill. Jeyne took direct well, Chataya saw, and was easy for the other actor to feel comfortable with. She was a bit nervous and shy, but that could easily be worked on. Her Riverlands accent also needed some work, but it was still passable.

"Ms. Westerling, do you have an agent?" Chataya asked when Jeyne's second audition had ended.

"To be honest Mrs. Xoloja I don't have any experience in professional acting." Jeyne admitted.

"I thought as much." Chataya reached into her desk and pulled out a business card. "Tanda Stokeworth's an old friend of mine. She practically specializes in up-and-coming actors, musicians, dancers, etc. If you need someone to show you the ropes, she's the one to call." Jeyne gratefully accepted the card.

It only took Chataya an hour to make her decision, but she had to get the director on board. She sent both audition tapes to Mr. Lannister that afternoon and by six she had her answer.

When Jeyne got home, she was on cloud nine. She'd completely rocked her call back, and from what Lessa told her the casting directer agreed. After all, why would Mrs. Xoloja give her the business card for an agent if she didn't expect Jeyne to be signing contracts in the near future?

Jeyne waved goodbye to Lessa from the front porch and walked into her home. All the lights were turned off expect the line in the living room. Gawen and the younger children sat together on the couch, silent.

"Hey, I'm home." Jeyne called, worried because the silence felt different tonight. "Daddy, what's going on?"

"Uh, sweetling, your mother's taking a break." Gawen choked out.

Jeyne's forehead wrinkled, "What do you mean?"

"She left us and she's not coming back!" Eleyna screamed, burst into tears and ran into her bedroom.

"Mother's gone?" Jeyne exclaimed. A sob bubbled in her throat. She shouldn't miss her mother, not after the way she had treated them all, but Sybell was still her mother; the only mother she had. "W-when?"

"Rolly, why don't you make sure Eleyna's okay?" Gawen waiting until his son had left before continuing. Jeyne took a seat next to him. "This morning, a little bit after you left, she didn't leave for work. Eleyna called my office from the neighbor's house, saying your mother was packing her stuff. So I came down, but Sybell wouldn't hear a word. One of her friends took her to the airport."

"Gods," Jeyne sobbed, "How could she do that to Eleyna and Rolly? They didn't have to see that."

"Jeyne, you know she was unhappy."

"Of course I know! Because when she was unhappy, everyone was unhappy. But...but now she's gone." Jeyne swallowed down another sob. "I don't know how to feel. I love her, but she just, she always..."

Gawen wrapped his arms around his daughter, "I know sweetheart."