I was in much the same spot when I received another knock at the door a few days later. The castle was still in recovery from the tourney. Lord Tywin and his retinue had been the last to go and with them the queen and the children, and of course wherever they went there was Jaime to stand guard and half a village of attendants and admirers and servants to follow them. I hadn't thought there was anyone left to call on me.

The maid opened the door to two girls I vaguely recognised from the few afternoons I had spent in Cersei's quarters; Cerenna and Myrielle. They were tall and golden with fair, even faces - how could they be anything but Lannisters? I was considered tall in Winterfell but I'd gotten big quickly with the baby and I felt a bit squat and hairy standing to greet them. They curtseyed deeply and I gave an awkward bob in return.

They were very formal at first ("we've been praying each morning for the birth of a healthy Lannister heir") but once they were seated it all fell apart. "It's just so dull with them all gone west," Myrielle said. Her eyes were roaming, openly judging my rather humble parlour.

"We were supposed to go, but there's a ball for the queen and we haven't got dresses."

"What about you?" that was Myrielle again, leaning forward, eyes bright. "Why haven't you gone? Have you quarrelled with Jaime?"

"Myr! Don't be rude," Cerenna said. She tossed her head, (she had to be aware her hair was her best feature), but she glanced at me sidelong all the same, to see if I'd respond.

"No, no, nothing like that," I said quickly. "The queen just thought I shouldn't travel, with the baby and everything."

"Rotten luck. You'll get to go again though," Myrielle said sympathetically.

"Obviously, idiot. She's inheriting it."

"Who's being rude now? Ooh, is this cat yours?"

The kitten peered into the room from the windowsill. He was a bold little thing and jumped in to be caressed.

"Tommen gave him to me before they left," I said.

"Oh yes, I saw him going around with a great armful of them," Myrielle said. "Good thing this one got away, Joffrey usually kills them faster than they can breed."

Her sister elbowed her. "His grace doesn't mean it, obviously," Cerenna said quickly. "Just you know how little boys can be. It only happened once or twice anyways."

Funnily enough I couldn't remember Bran or Jon ever accidentally killing anything. Even Theon had more care.

"You had a quick escape with him," Myrielle said. She was freer than her sister, especially pre-occupied as she was with the cat.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"There was talk of Cerenna marrying Joffrey, even though she's heaps too old. People say she looks like Lady Joanna, though, so Lord Tywin liked it."

"It was never really going to happen," Cerenna said. "The king's got a bit of a thing against mixing with any more Lannister's right now."

"Well I hope they find somebody for you soon - I can't get married 'til you do."

"You've got brothers, haven't you?" Cerenna asked.

"Bran's only seven, sorry," I said. "There is Jon, but he's a bastard."

"Pity." Cerenna sighed deeply and pushed herself back into the sofa. It felt a bit strange to have other people in my rooms even though the parlour was for entertaining. "You're lucky it was sorted for you so young," she went on. "And you've got Ser Jaime too."

"Cerenna's always admired him," Myrielle said slyly.

"I have not. He's our cousin."

"So? Lord Tywin and Lady Jo were cousins and they were the greatest love story that ever lived."

"Were they?" I asked, my interest piqued.

"Well I don't know. She died ages ago," Myrielle said. "But there are some great songs about them."

"I love that one - The Lion and His Heart but all we ever get is the stupid Rains of Castamere."

"When Jaime inherits you should make a rule that nobody can sing that song."

"Maybe there'll be songs about us by then," I said dryly. Somehow I couldn't see anybody being inspired by the heat of our love.

"There's one already, didn't you hear it? It was that bard from home," Cerenna said.

"It was about him breaking his kingsguard vows because he heard a description of your beauty."

"I thought it was quite good, but the queen hated it," Cerenna said. "She said it was tacky." She shrugged.

"Do you remember that was the day she slapped Senelle?"

They were off then, rehashing the incident. It reminded me a bit of the old sewing circles up north - Sansa and Jeyne Poole giggling and elbowing one another under the Septa's watchful eye. It felt funny to just laugh along. I had almost forgotten what it was like to hear new things and talk to new people (which was, on the whole, pathetic). I quite fancied the idea of making a few friends at court.


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