Chapter Nine

Such lovely reviews made this chapter happen a lot quicker than I thought! Thank you thank you thank you! We finally arrive in King's Landing in this chapter! I'm thinking this is the calm before the storm. Time to get to the action!

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The next morning Melara awoke to the pains low in her stomach. She heard the sounds of the people outside her tent packing things away in preparation of their departure. She tried to block out everything, as it just reminded her that today she would be back in King's Landing. She had a sense of foreboding in her that she couldn't quite place. She shifted a bit to try and ease the pains she felt but it only made her aware of the mess between her legs. The Septa who had helped her the night before was cold towards her and had not done the best job of showing her how to prevent things like this from happening. Getting out of bed, Melara had never felt dirtier than she did in that moment. She set to work cleaning herself, her clothes and her bed before a handmaiden came in to see. Even girls Sansa's age can take care of themselves. I wish Lady Stark would have shown me what to do. It was harsh to blame Catelyn but as Melara tried to scrub her moon blood from her small clothes she just didn't care. The weight of everything just seemed to be pushing on her shoulders today. Melara wasn't sure if she wanted to yell or cry at the pretty blonde handmaiden that entered her tent just as she finished cleaning the mess she had made in the night. She had seen this particular handmaiden before but she was always near the Queen or Princess Myrcella.

"Lady Melara, the Queen sent me to see if you needed any assistance this morning with your bleeds."

Why would the Queen send her daughter's personal handmaiden to me? Maybe I judged her too quickly. Melara thought back to the time when Cersei had held hatred in her eyes directed toward Arya. At the time, Melara had not understood why the Queen would look at a little girl like that. The more she thought of it she realized that in a way Arya was slightly responsible for Joffrey being attacked by Nymeria. What am I thinking? How can I think such things about sweet Arya. Melara shook her head at her thoughts, but the handmaiden took it as a sign that Melara did not need assistance.

"If you should need me, My Lady, now or in King's Landing, please ask for me." She gave Melara a warm smile. She has a smile that reminds me of Jaime. Thinking of him, Melara remembered the crude thing he had said to her the day before and she again felt the urge to yell or cry.

"Forgive me, but I don't believe I know your name."

"Rosamund Lannister, My Lady." Ah, another 'Lannister Shit'. Melara realized she had been spending so much time around her foul-mouthed and ill-tempered uncle that she was starting to think like him. I hope he leaves me be once in King's Landing. "My Lady, Queen Cersei has asked me to give you this as a gift, in honor of your flowering." Melara noticed the dress that Rosamund carried in her hands. It was a beautiful shade of red with gold stitching throughout the fabric as accents. It was in the same Southern style as all of the Queen's dresses. Melara was flattered that the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms would give her a gift as beautiful as this. "This belonged to the Queen herself, you know. She must think of you as a daughter to give this to you."

Melara just simply nodded, not entirely sure what to say. Rosamund made quick work of helping Melara dress. She called to some men, saying that Melara was decent and they could begin packing her things. Melara just sat on a chair feeling a bit awkward with being treated as if she were a princess. Rosamund stood behind her, braiding Melara's dark hair into an intricate Southern Style. As her hair was being pulled and pinned in a painful way, Melara just wished to be back in Winterfell. There she was not given this much attention and could just wear her hair down. She also felt more comfortable wearing the more practical and warmer clothes of the North. The dress she wore now dropped low in the front, making her feel self-conscious of the stop of her breasts that were exposed. She was grateful for the cooler material as the father South she went the hotter the sun seemed to be.

"There. Now you will ride into the Capitol at the King's side looking like a true Southern Lady. The Queen will be jealous of all the men looking at you instead of her." Rosamund walked out of the ten with Melara at her side. The girls bid each other goodday and went their separate ways. Melara was surprised to find Sia saddled and ready for her when she arrived at the tie line. She's too skittish to let anyone tack her up but me. She noticed that a different saddle had been placed on Sia's back. This saddle was much more expensive than the one that Lord Stark had given her for the journey. It also was made specifically for a Lady. Who expects me to ride side-saddle? She saw the blonde stable boy holding onto Sia's reins. Another Lannister no doubt.

"Who ordered you to ready my horse for me?"

"She was readied by Ser Jaime, My Lady." The boy, no older than Bran, held out a rolled piece of parchment to her. She took both the parchment and her horse's reins from the boy. She led the mare away before reading the note, which she suspected was from the Kingslayer.

My Lady Melara,

I hope that this will reduce the pain that riding has caused you on this long journey in your future rides. I also hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me for the foul words that I spoke yesterday.

Jaime

Melara could not handle the onslaught of emotions that came to her after she read the letter. Although the letter didn't say much, it still confused her as to why Jaime would feel the need to apologize. Both Cersei and Jaime have given me gifts today. I feel like I'm being suffocated by Lannisters.

She hoped that the Capitol would provide her with places to hide from the sibling pair that seemed to think highly of her. Of course, as Melara was soon to find out, what one hope for and what one gets rarely are the same thing.

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Jaime watched as the girl walked up to her horse. He had been the one to saddle the mare himself when the beast flinched from the aggressive horsemaster. What a fitting pair horse and rider make. He was shocked to see her in one of Cersei's dresses, but his shock quickly turned to arousal. She looked just as beautiful in Lannister red as Cersei had. Did. Does. As beautiful as Cersei does. He had to applaud his sister for her cunning ways. What could be viewed as an innocent act of a caring aunt was really just a reminder to Robert of how powerful Cersei was. Jaime never needed to be reminded of his sister's power.

He was surprised when Cersei had asked him of what he knew of the girl. He became worried that her questions were just a trap and that she had not forgotten her jealously of the girl. Contrary to popular belief, Jaime was not a hateful man. Except towards Robert. Or any man really. Or most women who weren't Cersei. Well, he at least held love for his brother Tyrion. And now apparently I feel some sort of emotions for the King's niece. Jaime did not understand what about the girl he had become attracted to. Why would he spare a thought for her when he had his sister?

When Cersei had told him of her newest plot to spite Robert he had listened but found himself becoming detached. He loved his sister beyond what the God's could fathom but sometimes he grew tired of her scheming. Jaime did not try to convince her to leave Melara be, that would have drawn too many questions from the Queen, but instead tried to think of ways he could protect the once broken girl.

Whenever he looked at Melara, his mind showed him the images he had seen that night he found her body. He figured that everyone else had forgotten that the one they called the Kingslayer had pulled the raper off the young girl and saved her from death. He had struck the man so hard he heard his own knuckles snap on the impact. He left the man, who was clearly unconscious, and scooped the girl into his arms as gently as he could. She had continued to scream as he held her against his chest but Jaime just spoke to her the same way he had spoken to Cersei after she lost her first child. By the time he had made it to help, the little girl had stopped making any noises. He saw that her eyes were staring at him without actually seeing anything. Her mother's rooms were empty when he laid her down on the bed. The eight year old Melara looked to him and he barely heard her when she spoke, her voice raw from screaming. Why. She had asked him why. Jaime didn't know what she wanted to know. Why had the man done that? Why had Jaime saved her? Why hadn't Jaime been there before the man had taken her?

Jaime snapped back to the present as he saw the now seventeen Melara walking away with her horse beside her. She looked as though she had forgotten what had happened to her, with all the grace a young woman should have. She may have forgotten, but I never will. Jaime vowed then to do what he could to keep Melara safe from anything happening to her while she stayed in King's Landing.

Cersei is really not going to like this at all.

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Riding side-saddle took a bit of an adjustment for Melara, having not done so in nearly ten years. Just as she was beginning to feel steady in her new saddle they had passed through the gates of King's Landing. People lined both sides of the streets, hoping to get a look at the new Hand of the King. She felt many stares land on her as she rode next to her Uncle. She was uncomfortable with then attention and Robert must have sensed it.

"Keep your head high, Girl. You show any fear and the lions within these walls will eat you alive." Melara wasn't sure if he meant the Lannisters specifically or just anyone that lived at the Red Keep. She nodded her understanding to him and sat up a bit straighter on her horse. He surprised her when he continued the conversation. "I see that my wife took no time in turning you into her doll." She may have come to like her uncle but the way he spoke of and treated his own wife was reason enough for her to learn to hate him. No highborn woman should be treated that way by her own husband.

"I think that Queen Cersei did me a great kindness, Uncle. The South looks good on me. Don't you think so, Ser Jaime?"

"Lannister red would look no lovelier than on you, Lady Melara." Jaime could tell that wasn't the answer she was expecting from the blush that coated her cheeks. He enjoyed the feeling of power it gave him to see her flustered by his words.

Robert let out a bitter chuckle before he spoke. "Lannister red. You've become so rich you own colors now, is that it, Kingslayer? Girl, get the women to make you new dresses in Baratheon yellow tonight."

"Yes, Your Grace." Melara bit her lip to keep her laughter at bay. She couldn't believe how child-like the King could be at times. Jaime rode close enough to her that she could speak to him without Robert hearing. "Thank you, Ser Jaime. For the new saddle, I mean." He shrugged his shoulders the best he could in his armor.

"A Lannister always pays his debts. I owed you a token of my regrets. My debt to you has been repayed."

Melara couldn't help but wonder if there was more to what he said. Ser Jaime, you will forever be a mystery.

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Melara looked out the huge windows in rooms and saw the city below her. Rosamund had not let Melara linger to watch the Stark's arrival but was immediately led to her rooms once they had arrived at the Red Keep. The King had noticed his daughter's handmaiden tending to his niece but didn't think to questions it. Robert had not spoken any more to Melara but instead left her in awkward silence.

So here she sat in her beautiful dress, in a beautiful room, on a beautiful chair and did nothing. She wasn't sure exactly what to do with herself here. In Winterfell she would have gone to the Godswood, or spoke with Lady Stark or ran with Arya. But here, she had nothing and no one. The knock at her door pulled her from her depressing thoughts. Thinking it to be Rosamund come back to fetch her she opened her door and was surprised when a man stood before her. She didn't recognize this man and instantly became fearful to be alone in this castle with a man she did not know.

"Lady Melara, how nice to see you after all these years. The last time I saw you, you were no higher than my waist! My, how the years have been good to you." Melara tried to shut the door on the man but his hand held the door firm. "Forgive me, My Lady, I only meant to compliment, not frighten. I am Petyr Baelish." He held the hand not holding the door out to her but she made no move to offer hers. Such a fearful little thing.

"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Baelish." Melara remembered the words her uncle had told her hours ago about showing fear within the walls. She straightened up and tried to act the part of a brave Lady. Just imagine you are talking with Jaime.

"The King told me to seek you out. He said that you were in need of a new wardrobe." Petyr saw the change in her as she found her strength. She was going to need it if what he had heard about the Queen's plans had been true.

"Are you a Master Seamstress, Lord Baelish?" He gave her a chuckle and a bright smile. She didn't want to smile back, but his jovial nature was infectious. He heard footsteps approaching and knew he had to make this visit quick. If the Queen were to find out I'd been talking with this girl it would mean nothing good for me.

"No, my dear, just a lowly Master of Coin on the King's small council. You see, the coin must come from somewhere for your clothes and that somewhere will want to know how much of their coin the Crown requires. To do that I need to know what you need to have."

"Lord Baelish, see to it that my neice receives no less than thirty new dresses, with matching slippers of course! We can't have the girl who has all of King's Landing talking about her disappoint by not looking her best!" Melara saw a man that looked like a younger, slimmer and more attractive version of her Uncle Robert approaching.

"Yes, of course, Lord Renly. If you will both excuse me. The coin is not going to master itself." Renly Baratheon approached his niece, desperate to see the girl after hearing the many rumors about her. My favorite is the one about the King giving into her every whim.

"Well, the North had certainly made a woman out of you. Do you even remember you favorite Uncle Renly? I suppose not, it's been nearly ten years!" He stepped towards her to embrace her but she shied away. Well at least the rumors about her fear of men are true.

"Forgive me, My Lord, I was so young when we last met."

"No forgiveness needed, Melara. Walk with me. You'll find that I am far better company than your Uncle Robert. I'm told I'm much less serious and I drink much less as well." He smiled at her and offered his arm. She gave him a shy smile in returned and hesitantly laced her arm with his.

"You've just described most of Westeros, Lord Renly." Renly gave a warm laugh that relaxed Melara. She was glad to have someone to talk with, having been bored sitting in her rooms. They passed her uncle's rooms and made their way down a set of stairs.

"Oh, my dear, I think I'm going to enjoy having you here."

As the two walked and chatted about nothing in particular Melara hoped that she had found someone she could trust while being apart from the Starks. Afterall he is family. And if my own family can't be trusted, who in this place can I trust?

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