I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire, or any of the characters. Those belong to the amazing George RR Martin.

As the moonturns passed by, Cersei grew more and more accustomed to holding her head straight, as Father had bid her. As she did not have a crown to practice, she resolved to take some old books from the Rock's library and tried to walk around her solar, doing her best to keep them from falling off her head. When fat Jeyne first found out about it, she laughed and tried to make a game out of it, proposing that Melara and her should try as well, to see who could walk the longest around the solar. Cersei hadn't been pleased.

Both girls arrived to the Rock a few days after Mother and Jaime left; Jeyne by ship, with a chest full of clothing and a few other belongings, and Melara by horse, with her father and one of her father's knights to guard her. Now, both fat Jeyne and bold Melara shared Cersei's lessons, meals, and even her bed. She had liked that even less, but when she tried to dismiss them, her aunt Genna had lectured her.

"These girls are you mother's wards, highborn ladies brought here for your sake. And you intend to treat them like servants? You may be the daughter of their fathers' liege lord, but they deserve your respect. A young lady should know better than that. Even queens are known to have ladies in waiting to keep them company." The meaningful look her aunt had given to her gave Cersei pause. Could Father have told her about her silver prince? Cersei did not know, but she could not bring herself to ask her aunt directly.

By the time Mother was back from Dorne, Cersei was accustomed to having the girls following her everywhere she went. Cersei liked to pretend the girls were part of her court, living in the Red Keep, among singers and knights. And my prince. My future husband, the heir to the Seven Kingdoms. How beautiful our children will be.

She liked Melara the best. The girl was clever, easy to laugh, and bold, maybe bolder than Cersei herself. She could spend the night under the blankets, telling Cersei and Jeyne scary stories, about monsters and ghosts and evil men, until she made Jeyne cry or Cersei bade her to stop. She always wanted to explore the Rock, sneaking into the dungeons or the dark mysterious corridors deep into the huge castle's loins.

"But there are ghosts here," said Jeyne, ever fearful. "Angry ghosts, with clacking chains on their rotten wrists." Melara had only laugh.

"The only ghost that could be lingering here are my forebears," said Cersei, unwilling to look craven. "And they would never harm me." When they finally walked into the dungeons, Melara had jumped behind Jeyne, taking hold of her. The girl had fled screaming as Cersei and Melara laughed. It took a few hours before the guards could find her, still crying and shaking, hidden in a cell that has been unoccupied for ages.

Their little laugh had earned them a good scolding from aunt Genna and Mother, who made them ask the gods for forgiveness in the Golden Sept.

"See that the girls pray until the hour of the owl," said Mother to septa Jeyne. "Four hours, each one for every hour poor Jeyne was lost."

It did not matter. All of her mother's scolding did not matter anymore, not since Cersei found out she would be queen.

"I will be Queen Rhaenys, and you can be my ladies in waiting," would state Cersei, when they played at the Stone Garden.

"Queen Rhaenys," Melara would mock her, bowing her head. "It seems that you are missing your dragon. Pray tell me, where is Meraxes?"

I have a dragon, you fool. He lives at the Red Keep, and he plays a silver harp.

Cersei oft wondered what would happen after they were betrothed. Would she move to King's Landing with Father, or would she stay at the Rock until they were wed? Would they marry as soon as she flowered, or would they have to wait a few years?

"When will I get my moonblood, septa?" asked Cersei, while she and the girls practiced their needlework. The woman looked quite shocked, but she answered all the same.

"Most girls flower around their thirteenth nameday, but it can be as soon as they celebrate their twelfth nameday, or as late as their fifteenth."

"But not before?" asked Cersei, disappointed. She would turn ten on her next nameday.

"Not before, my lady," repeated the septa, before she resumed her needlework.

So many years...

"Queen Cersei Targaryen," mumbled Cersei to her pillow, with Melara sleeping by her side. It sounded silly, no matter how she say it. "Cersei Targaryen. King Rhaegar and Queen Cersei. Queen Cersei." That she liked better. She licked her lips and tried again. "Queen Cersei."

"I thought you were supposed to be Queen Rhaenys," said a voice behind her. Cersei jumped, startled. "But we are not in the Stone Garden anymore."

"You scared me, stupid!" said Cersei, pushing Melara. The girl rubbed her eyes, sitting.

"Well, you woke me up with all your noise," said Melara, as impertinent as ever. "What was that about?" She felt her stomach turn. Cersei did not know how long Melara had been awake, but she was sure she would not stop teasing her until Cersei gave her an answer.

"What do you mean?" she said, trying her best not to look nervous.

"That thing you were mumbling," Melara grinned. "Queen Cersei. Shall I call you Your Grace?"

"It's non of your concern," said Cersei sharply.

"As Your Grace commands," mocked Melara, bowing her head. Cersei could feel her anger rising.

"Shut up, Melara!" she threw back. Cersei was very tempted to pull Melara's dark, common hair to erase her little grin from her freckled face, but her aunt's warning gave her pause. And what if Melara told mother, and she told Lord Tywin? He was very clear with Cersei, and if he found out someone else knew about her prince...

"And why does it bother you? You sounded quite happy about it," she continued. Cersei tossed her golden braid over her shoulder.

"If I tell you," she started, "you promise you will keep my secret?" Melara's grin grew wider.

"Of course. You can trust my silence, Your Grace"

"Stop that!" said Cersei, looking nervously at the door. Ever since Jaime left her, Lady Joanna finally removed the guards from Cersei's bedchamber, but still... You could never know who is listening.

"Well?" pressed Melara, raising her eyebrows.

Where to begin?

"I am to be betrothed," she started, feeling her heart beating faster. No, that wasn't right. She took a deep breath and held her head straight, trying to sound as regal as possible. "My father, the Hand of the King, told me..." She took a little pause. Yes, that's better. "I'm to be betrothed to the prince. Prince Rhaegar Targaryen." The name made a smile come to her lips.

"To the prince?" asked Melara, a little too loudly. Cersei slapped her hand.

"Be quiet!" she hissed, as Melara rubbed the back of her hand. "No one can know, not until the king and my father make the announcement. You can't tell anyone, do you understand? Not even Jeyne." Melara snorted.

"I won't tell her. Your secret is safe, Your Grace." Cersei pushed her, but smiled despite herself.

Your Grace.

Queen Cersei.

Will our children have green eyes, or the purple eyes of Valyria?

Well, this was a short one, but I hope you all liked it! Reviews are always welcome!

Love,

The Lady Clegane