Chapter 5

Waking up the next morning was like waking up in paradise. Not what many would describe Kings Landing, but the oasis I had found myself living in was paradise, in its purest form. With the floating curtains and the gentle breeze, it was perfect. Just perfect.

Slumping back down onto my bed I close my eyes again and try to remember what important thing I had to do today. Yes, very important thing, but what? I question myself in frustration. Something to do with practising curtains, curtailing, ah curtseying. Why would I need to that unless…Realisation hits me and I shoot up and fumble with the bedding, jolting myself out of bed so fast that the knotted sheets around my legs wouldn't keep up with me and as I pitched myself off the side they held fast, keeping me squealing and dangling off the floor over the edge.

I harrumph and pray that my already disapproving ladies will not come in to find the source of the noise and see me swinging like a wanderer caught in a hanging trap by tribesmen. Turning my head I glance to the door but fortunately it seems today my luck is holding as no search party has come, yet. Maybe they just don't like me, I shrug and with that the bed sheet of course miraculously unknots and I am freed and subsequently dumped the last foot to the floor on my shoulder. I lie there for a moment tempted to bang my head against the floor, then I remember the reason I had made my elegant descent from my bed and jump up, running to the mirror, checking for any marks from my slight fall.

Today I was meeting Queen Rhaella and her ladies, so I had meant to get up with the sun to prepare myself for the introduction, but as with all things I had subconsciously to not leave my bed of dreams; oh joy. The good news from my mirror examination is that my face was as pale as porcelain with practically no bruises to be seen, the not so good news was that I had no idea what time it was, and how long I had. My ladies aren't here yet, so I must have a while, I muse as I walk over to the open archway in my long nightgown. Like all the gowns made for me by the famed Mistress Moray, it was both engaging but not wanton as dear Willas had instructed me, was it a week ago?

Standing in front of the mirror I look at what I saw. My midnight blue hair fell in loose ringlets to the centre of my back, piercing violet eye staring back at me, lit with an eternal flame that would often haunt my reflection. Willowy body, possibly a bit too much chest and behind, but at least I really was blessed not to have my mother's huge nose, but a dainty one which suited my smaller stature than her gigantic hawk-nose would have. To think about it, I was the exact opposite of my mothers haughty, and oversized face, apart from her slightly upturned nose which I had always taken as a sign of aristocracy. I have never really thought about my appearance, as I had always thought that I would spend the rest of my life behind a veil.

I step back form the mirror, turning to the side and correcting my slightly slumping posture and I raise my skirts and lower myself into a curtsey. I get down into what I consider an elegant curtsey, and then straighten again I look back in the mirror. Perfect. Now I try again revealing a hint of cleavage and a pert behind, and then straighten up again with a seemingly genuine smile on my face.

Pleased at my final achievement I settled into a chair and call for Grace and Ana, the poor sods who had to tend to my every whim until Raven and Ruth made the journey. As the two girls came in and begin to wash me I think back to my friends, and the contradiction that their arrival will mean as they can only get here when Ruth is discovered whilst pretending to be me, so it could really be months. When I am dry again and my hair has started being pinned up I stop Grace who had already begun piling my curls onto my head

"Leave it loose Grace, but do pull back the front strands so they don't cover my face." With that I politely smile at her and return to my brooding, but I don't miss the look she gives Ana before she shrugs slightly and begins to do what I ask. I wonder if Lyn is instructing them on what to do with me, the thought annoys me, but I let it by as she is on my side, so she knows what to do. She will not change me inside however, I vow to never change inside no matter what happens to the outside.

Ana pulls one of the gowns out of the chest and I smile when I see Lyn has chosen the amethyst coloured one, which I allow myself to acknowledge is my favourite, not least because of the matching choker and that the colour is the same as my eyes. The corset is tight as it is winched around my upper half, but my waist looks about 22 inches in girth and my breast pop out in greeting to an onlooker. The dress is fortunately not too heavy and hot as it is still summer, and the silk whispers against the skin as in glides down my arms.

Looking back at myself in front of the mirror once Grace and Ana were done, I took in the goddess in front of me: red lips, wide eyes framed by long ebony lashes, porcelain skin flushed cheeks, hair pulled back with chain of amethysts with fed into the plaits restraining the dark and silky, ringleted mass which fell to her waist. The dress seemed to fall over her body, yet made her seem like two triangles pointed at each other with a silver filigree mesh siphoning across her middle, allowing some of the violet colour through, with the long sleeves trailing the floor and the relatively low cut neckline this creature was the embodiment of a goddess. What was I doing all those years wrong I questioned, and where were the overly-generous breasts and wide hips that I had attempted to hide days before? Now they were shown off into bountiful assets, ripe and wanton.

Slightly smug at my sudden change in appearance I clasped my dragonscale necklace given to me by my father around my neck and allowed it to drop tantalisingly beneath the edge of the neckline and in the valley of my breasts. I dare any man whos vision I cross to not fantasise as to what it leads to.A knock on the door caused me to suddenly turn, put on edge, and relax slightly on seeing Lyn there carrying a tray of food.

She looked at me aghast, and I conceitedly smile, which she returns. Placing the platter down before turning to analyse my turned figure from top to tail. She nods to herself and after clearing her throat address me:

"My Lady, your introduction with the Queen is in one hour in her attendance room, do you need any assistance before then?"

I shake my head gently, mindful of the precious stones in my hair, and she smiles says "With one look at you, heaven help Princess Elia, for she has no hope." I begin giggling at this, nerves or humour I didn't know but I found it hard to stop so I knocked back my head and roar with laugh, filling room with echoing ricochets. I laugh at the absurdity that Rhaegar could let a young vixen tempt him away from his loyal but sickly wife, and begin howling again when I remember that the vixen is me. I howl with laughter at the fear I feel in the court and in the madness I feel for power I can take. When I finally calm down to stifled giggles, Ana and Grace began to slowly back away from me whilst Lyn came forward and wrapped her arms around me in an embrace.

Mother never did embraces, well she did with my brothers but never me so I had assumed that women did not hug others, but here I was being proven wrong about the world, again. I heard gentle sobs, and try to turn my head towards the noise but when Lyn begins reassuringly rubbing my back through my hair I realise that it is me making the choking noises and I immediately regain control and stand straight, dropping my arms which had circled around the taller woman's waist. Crying in any form was improper, and I was not someone who would sare to ever do anything improper, well unless it meant my own gain. At this clear act she steps away from me, wiping my eyes in an calm manner she told me: "Do not fear them, or they will not let themselves fear you. Now come, you have history to change."

With that she loops her arm around mine and tugs me at first towards the door. With that we exit, my brooding I follow in tow. I front of the door she turns and icily smiles at me, I copy the expression and together we turn and the door opens and I am led into the corridor.