A/N: Alright, alright...the hiatus is over. Get to reading! :)

"Perhaps you just need a good fucking." Tyrion told Jaime.

Jaime scowled at his younger brother's crass words, but only shook his head in response. Gods, he was exhausted. Not long after Dimeria had told him that she didn't know if she could forgive him, she left Jaime alone in their training area. He sat there in the moonlight, his heart barely beating in his chest. He would've been okay with her straight up saying 'no', at least then he would've had some closure. But with Dimeria not swaying either way, Jaime was left in a state of limbo, not knowing or unknowing.

Not particularly sure where he was going, Jaime's legs began taking him back up to the castle. Before he knew it, he was knocking on his little brother's door, his heart heavy with grief. Jaime didn't go to him to drink, didn't go to him for any specific advice; he just needed some company now that he didn't have Dimeria.

"And by that I mean you need to be with Dimeria." Tyrion clarified.

Jaime sighed and rubbed a hand across his stubbly face. "Do you think I haven't tried? Why do you think I'm here?"

"Because you're a love-stricken, pathetic fool." Tyrion seemed pleased with himself that it was his seemingly perfect older brother that was suffering, but nonetheless; he still felt badly for Jaime.

"I seem to remember you being the same way, little brother." Jaime shot back as he rubbed his temple.

Tyrion stifled the pain and irritation the comment brought up before speaking. "Yes, and as your little brother, I've decided to help spare you from experiencing the pain that comes along with that."

"Too late…" Jaime mumbled.

"Oh, lighten up, Jaime. It's not too late to fix things." Tyrion said as he poured some wine.

Frustration lit up inside of Jaime then, bringing life to his unanimated face as he spoke. "Well it seems like it is! I tried apologizing...I've given her time. What more does she need?!"

Jaime clenched his fists. Closing his eyes in contemplation, he tried remembering the last time a woman had made him so exasperated. Cersei came to mind, of course, but now that was different. He never truly loved Cersei, not as a lover like he thought he did, but Dimeria…

Dimeria arose a multitude of feelings in Jaime that he didn't know were possible to feel all at the same time: Compassion and irritation, joy and anger, peace and absolute turmoil...everything felt conflicted when he was with Dimeria, yet it also felt perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Tyrion handed a goblet of wine to his brother. "She needs to be reassured. You betrayed her trust…"

"Yes...I know." Jaime growled out.

"She needs someone to comfort her, she needs someone that she can confide in." Tyrion explained.

"And I suppose I'm the one that has to gain back her trust."

"Of course." Tyrion said cheerfully. Jaime rolled his eyes. "Don't doubt yourself, dear brother. You're the most handsome man in Westeros. You've won that girl's heart before, who says you can't do it again?"

...

"You seem rather preoccupied today, Lady Dimeria." Margaery Tyrell said as they walked through the rose gardens together.

Dimeria brought her gaze away from the fallen rose petals on the ground and refocused on Margaery. The Tyrell beauty had her large blue eyes fixed upon Dimeria with concern. The 2 women had only limited interaction; the small tea time they had weeks ago being the only time they'd had alone, but now Margaery decided she wanted to spend a little more time with Dimeria.

"Yes, I suppose I am." Dimeria agreed.

It had been 2 days since her confrontation with Jaime...since she told him that she didn't know if she could forgive him. They had seen each other several times within the Red Keep now that they were both guards, but every time Jaime looked as if he were about to speak with her, Dimeria avoided him.

"Something you'd like to speak about?" Margaery asked kindly.

An urge to say yes to Margaery arose in Dimeria's mind, but she squelched the desire; she had a job to do.

Remember what Cersei told you… Dimeria reminded herself.

She fisted her hands in the skirts of her dress. The Queen had requested Dimeria's assistance that day, saying that she had an important job for her to do. Dimeria agreed to help without hesitation, but that was before Cersei told her to do some digging on Margaery.

Margaery could see the uncertainty on Dimeria's features. "You can tell me, Lady Dimeria." She tried to comfort the bastard girl.

Dimeria considered her words carefully. How could she turn the conversation in such a way that she would be able to get the information Cersei wanted?

"It's just...I've been rather stressed out lately because of...guarding the Lannisters." She said softly.

A smile appeared on Margaery's face. "They can be quite stressful sometimes, can't they?" A chuckle escaped her lips.

Dimeria followed suit and planned out in her head how she could get Margaery to talk. "Surely it isn't that difficult for you. I mean, you're to be King Joffrey's wife; I would imagine their entire family is kind to you."

The customary smile on Margaery's face suddenly started looking very strained as she progressed further into the conversation. "Lady Dimeria, I know you're new here in King's Landing, but surely you cannot actually think that any of the Lannisters are genuinely kind." She said.

Dimeria thought for a moment about all the Lannisters. The first one that came to mind as being kind was Tommen, but hell, for all she knew it could just be a facade. "I think they're kind to the people that they need to please for their own benefit." She said after a moment. Margaery sent her a curious look. "And from what I've been told, the Lannisters are in debt and need your money-or should I say, your family's money."

"They do need my family's money, and our support." Margaery said.

Dimeria began pushing the conversation in a slightly different direction. "Your family is very kind for helping the crown. I'm sure most families would hesitate to help the Lannisters." The bastard girl felt wrong doing this. Dimeria wasn't meant for lies and sneaky tricks and she had no clue how to subtly get information out of anyone; her usual tactic was to just beat up whoever she was speaking to.

"Believe me, the Lannisters aren't the only ones benefitting from my marriage to King Joffrey." Margaery said with a mischievous smile.

A puzzled look came upon Dimeria's face; she, being clueless to the deceit in King's Landing, didn't have any idea what Margaery really wanted. She wanted to be the Queen, she wanted to have power...She wanted to rule. And she would do anything to get what she wanted.

After biting her lip for a moment, Dimeria spoke. "I'm glad that you're happy with this arrangement. I know I wouldn't react well to an arranged marriage."

Margaery closed her eyes to stop from rolling them. Gods, Dimeria truly was naive! Her grandmother had warned Margaery that since Dimeria was now working for the Lannisters, she would no doubt become one of their spies. Margaery remembered telling her grandma that Dimeria was not accustomed to the ways of King's Landing and was quickly realizing she was correct. Dimeria had no clue how to subtly extract information from anyone.

"Perhaps we can use that against the poor fool…" Margaery's grandmother had said.

Margaery looked over to Dimeria to consider what she wanted to say. She didn't see the bastard girl as a threat; she didn't even know how to trick people, but Margaery knew her grandmother would scold her if she were too careless.

"Of course you would be upset with an arranged marriage, Lady Dimeria." Margaery said. "You're a free spirit, born to do whatever your heart desires no matter how foolish that desire may be."

Dimeria furrowed her brows at the backwards compliment, but continued listening.

"A person like you cannot be bound to a cage, but I, on the other hand, was practically bred to live a life dictated by other people. People like you fight their way through, only hoping and praying that blunt force will get them where they want; late Robert Baratheon is an example."

The urge to defend herself against Margaery's words leapt in Dimeria's chest, but she held back the irritation knowing that what Margaery was saying was absolutely true.

"I play my cards when and where I need to in order to get on top. If I play them right, nobody will ever push me back down the way you'll get pushed down because they won't even see me coming." Margaery turned her eyes back to Dimeria, a wicked glint shining within them. "As a foolish young girl with a spirit such as yours, I would be upset with my marriage. As the woman I am though, I'm more than pleased about it because it means that everything is going as planned."

Dimeria was stunned by the subtle, yet more than evident slanders Margaery was throwing her way. She had always thought the Tyrell girl to be sweet, but she clearly underestimated her. As Margaery excused herself to go back to her grandmother, Dimeria tried to remember they way she had spoken; she spoke with such grace and knew exactly how to walk directly on the line separating kindness from flat out rudeness, but no matter how hard Dimeria tried, she just couldn't figure how to play the game of thrones.

…

Dimeria kicked stones on her way back into the Red Keep. She hated King's Landing and all of its' inhabitants.

You don't hate Tyrion… Her mind said.

"Shut up." Dimeria grumbled to herself.

And you definitely don't hate Jaime…

"Shut up!" She said louder, drawing stares from people walking by. Rolling her eyes, Dimeria increased her pace to go back to Cersei and tell her what she found out, or rather, what she didn't find out.

A deep frown was drawn upon her face as she walked to halls. People were hurrying about all over the place; King Joffrey's wedding was coming up quickly causing everybody in King's Landing to be in an uproar.

The conversation with Lady Margaery had set Dimeria on edge. I'm not a stupid foolish girl… Dimeria thought to herself. She's the stupid one. What sort of idiot lets others dictate their life…?! Huffing as she went further along, Dimeria debated with herself in an effort to convince her mind that she wasn't the weird one. Hatred for Margaery Tyrell filled her then. At first she couldn't even process what the woman had said to her, but now that she had time to dwell on it, Dimeria was quickly deciding that the Tyrells were not anyone she wanted to be associated with.

Who the hell does she think she is...telling me how stupid I am for living my life…

There was nothing wrong with what Dimeria was doing in her own mind, and if anyone tried to tell her otherwise; well, they had another thing coming.

Irritation blocking any of her normal senses, Dimeria didn't bother knocking on Cersei's chamber doors before she walked in. She slammed the door shut and crossed her arms over her chest with a scowl set upon her face.

Dimeria could see the clear discontent on Cersei's face, but she didn't care at the time; she was still too frustrated.

"Did you talk to her?" Cersei asked, pushing away the displeasure she felt upon seeing the bastard girl's face. Cersei couldn't afford to let her hatred for Dimeria get the better of her; she needed any ally she could get and so far, Dimeria was the easiest one to manipulate to do her will.

"Yes." Dimeria snapped.

Cersei inhaled sharply. "I suspect you already know that you should never keep a Queen waiting, but if you haven't learned that yet…" She left the threat open ended to let Dimeria figure out the danger herself.

Stifling a sigh, Dimeria unfolded her arms to place them on her hips before she spoke. "She's pleased with the marriage...she said that it means her plans are going accordingly." Dimeria said bitterly.

Cersei's rage towards Dimeria was suddenly redirected at Margaery. She scowled as she talked. "Yes, her plans to ruin my entire family…" She mused. Cersei looked up to view Dimeria and saw that the girl had began fidgeting with her hands, obviously anxious to leave. "What else did she say?"

Dimeria didn't bother hiding her sigh this time; she was definitely not in the mood to scheme with Cersei. "Nothing, that's all." She told her.

Disappointment settled upon Cersei's fair features. "That's it? That's all you could find out?"

"You told me to get as much information as I could; that's what I did."

Cersei took a moment to reign in her annoyance. Dimeria was still under the pretense that they were friends; if Cersei wanted to keep using her as a tool, she couldn't ruin the facade she had built up.

"I was expecting you could get a little more than that." She said through gritted teeth. Cersei honestly didn't know why she expected any more than what she got from Dimeria; the bastard girl was a moron!

Dimeria's nerves prickled like the spines of a porcupine. It took every ounce of self-control she had not to scream at the Queen; that and the fear of what would happen if she did yell at her. "I'm not one of your spies, Your Grace. I'm supposed to be a guard for your family. If you wish to extract information from your enemies, or...whatever the Tyrell's are to you, then I suggest you ask Lord Varys." Dimeria said with a tight throat. "That's what he specializes in, is it not?" Dimeria's muscles were pulled tight with tension; she was a horse ready to buck. Gods, she was so tired of playing the role of some undercover spy for both Varys and Cersei.

Cersei's eyes blazed with surprise and anger. What the hell just happened?

Did that orphan bitch just defy me?! Cersei's mind screamed. Bitter and sharp words wanted to fly from Cersei's mouth, but she could form none; the shock was too much. Cersei had based her plans off of the fact that Dimeria didn't know any better than to do what she said and while it was true that Dimeria was naive; Cersei hadn't expected her to so blatantly disagree to her orders.

The Queen took a breath to reorganize her thoughts. "Yes, I suppose you're right." She said through pursed lips. New plans began forming in her mind in order to compensate for the fact that Dimeria could not spy on her enemies for her. The girl had gotten people to like her by being herself, though Cersei didn't know what about her personality was so enticing; perhaps that's what she had to get Dimeria to do: just do her job, but keep her eyes and ears open.

Cersei turned away from Dimeria, for her brilliant blue eyes and that white streak of hair were only enraging her even further. "I'll make sure not to compromise you, or my plans by forcing you to spy anymore." She said bitterly.

A sigh of relief escaped from Dimeria. "Thank you, Your Grace." She said as she turned to leave.

"I would have you keep in mind Lady Dimeria, you were accepted very quickly here in King's Landing, but I can get rid you even quicker if need be." Cersei said, not feeling content until she had threatened Dimeria.

A twitch in Dimeria's hand drove her to reach for the sword at her waist, but there was none there since she was in a gown for the day. She escaped from Cersei's chambers and walked down the hall as quickly as possible until the weight of what had just transpired hit her.

"Seven hells, Dimeria. You're a fucking idiot…" She said to herself as she leant up against the wall.

Dimeria scolded herself for being so careless. You're not talking to just anyone, Dimeria. That was Cersei Lannister, the Queen! It was a wonder that Cersei hadn't called for members of the Kingsguard to take her away instantly.

How could she have been so foolish? Dimeria covered her face in frustration. It was the stress...the stress of having to lie and trick all of these people for reasons she didn't want any part in! The muscles in her neck felt like knotted ropes and dark bags had begun forming under Dimeria's eyes, looking like someone had punched her in the face. A tangled line of lies she'd been having to keep up with ever since she had gotten to King's Landing was causing a pounding headache in her temples; a heavy blanket of deceit that weighed her down to the point where she could barely think.

A deep urge from her gut began welling up within Dimeria, though she had no clue what the urge truly was. A deep abyss of emotion she could not decipher or maybe just a tight ball of strained anxiety that needed to be relieved; she did not know, but she did know how awful it felt...how truly miserable her life was beginning to feel.

"Gods, now I'm depressed…" She growled lowly.

With more effort than was usually necessary, Dimeria pushed herself from the wall and began heading towards her next destination. She hadn't planned on going there, but the prickling sensation to head down to the dungeons had been with her all day; Dimeria just didn't know why. Well, technically that was a lie. She wanted to see her dragons, but the longer she thought about it, the more it freaked her out. It was still an unbelievable thought that she was now a dragon mother; she didn't particularly like normal human children, why would she like dragon infants? They were deadly and dangerous. Not to mention the fact that if anyone found out she had them, Dimeria would be killed on the spot.

As hard as she tried though, Dimeria couldn't fully squelch the fascination her heart felt that she now dragons. If she somehow managed to raise them to adulthood and train them correctly, Dimeria would be the most powerful woman in King's Landing, or maybe in the Seven Kingdoms...right?

No… Dimeria's mind said. Your half-sister supposedly has 3 dragons and she's still stuck across the Narrow Sea…

My half-sister. What was her name again?

Daenarys. Daenarys Targaryen. Dimeria thought for a moment. A small desire to meet her sister arose in Dimeria. What was her sister like? Was she anything like her, or the exact opposite? Dimeria began wondering if Daenarys even knew she existed. Probably not...barely anyone knew who she was in the Seven Kingdoms, let alone in the Free Cities.

A deep sigh left her mouth, doing nothing to relieve the knot in her stomach, but doing a wonderful job of summing up her feelings: overwhelmed.

Closer and closer Dimeria came to the dungeons; her dragons being the only things that occupied her mind instead of all the taxing responsibilities that had been thrown upon her. She went down the spiraling steps, approaching darkness with confidence and curiosity. As she closed the distance between her and her dragons, Dimeria couldn't help but think:

Perhaps you'll meet Daenarys one day… She thought to herself. One day…

…

There wasn't much for her to do around the castle these days. She usually just wandered about aimlessly, staying out of everyone's ways and trying to keep attention away from her.

She had heard about the Dimeria girl, the bastard that had arrived in King's Landing with Ser Jaime Lannister, but she didn't care much about it. There was only one person she ever really thought of…

No. The girl shook the thought of him away. He had made it very clear how he felt and what was more important to him, but that didn't stop the sting of rejection.

It was by pure coincidence that the girl happened to be in the same corridor that Dimeria was walking through. The girl watched the bastard who took no notice of her, for she seemed to be muttering to herself as she kept her head down. The girl watched Dimeria quietly, waiting for her to notice her, but she never did.

It was just pure coincidence that she saw Dimeria walk down the steps towards the dungeons...or was it? Had the Gods purposely planned it that way? The girl didn't think so, she had never really believed in the Gods, but she did find it interesting that Dimeria would go down there by herself.

With her almond eyes, she watched Dimeria's retreating back with curiosity. Why would she go down there? Hadn't she heard about the dragon skulls down there? Did that not frighten her? The girl shook her head. There had to be something down there that caused Dimeria to venture into the dungeons, the girl just didn't know what.

Perhaps she would follow her...find out what was really down there. One day. One day she would go down there, but not by herself, only an idiot would do that.

The girl shook her head and turned away, walking the opposite direction as Dimeria. Yes, only fools would go to the dungeons with no concern for who saw them. The girl wouldn't make that mistake; she was no fool.

No, Shae "the whore" as Tyrion had deemed her, was definitely not a fool.

So yes, we now have the introduction of Shae...not really sure how you guys feel about her, but it'd be interesting to hear your thoughts! Let me know how I did in this chapter; I miss hearing from you lovely reviewers!

Until next time...