The Iron Throne is just as Ostara remembers it. Too big, too dark, too imposing. There is nothing aesthetically pleasing about the mass of melted steel nor is there anything that would put her at ease if Ostara were a member of the common folk coming to seek audience with the King. The entire throne room is this way. But there are things that Ostara finds fascinating.
Like the dragon skulls lining the walls, those are something truly amazing to behold.
Perhaps they are not as lovely as her dragons' skulls would be but they are stunning all the same. There are no true similarities between the skulls on the walls of the throne room and the skulls of the dragons in Valyria, of course, but Ostara likes to think that the Targaryen dragons wouldn't have been so terribly different in their structures. The amusement of the thought sours when she thinks of how these dragons deserved better then to be mounted on the wall by men wishing to relive their glory days.
This is why she has kept her own dragons hidden.
She will not expose them to anyone save herself until they're large enough to carry her on their backs, until their scales have hardened to the point that not even the strongest of blades could pierce their bodies. She has no doubt that if anyone were to learn about the dragons then they would be coveted by men like Aerys or slaughtered by men too afraid to think rationally.
"The Prince looks very handsome," Lady Falyse remarks quietly to the other Ladies who have gathered in the throne room with their Queen to watch the proceedings of court.
Aerys has not returned and so Tywin Lannister sits on the King's throne, but Ostara isn't looking at Tywin. She's more interested in looking at Rhaegar who stands beside the Iron Throne with Ser Dayne.
He looks like something out of a painting.
High cheekbones, solemn face, hair like spun moonlight.
She understands why one would wax poetic about Rhaegar Targaryen. He is, after all, devilishly handsome and completely unobtainable for the majority of the people in the room.
Ostara doesn't mean to be caught staring but when Rhaegar turns his head just so and somehow manages to catch her eye Ostara finds herself offering her friend a subtle smile and a discreet nod. She curls her fingers into the fabric of her gown, green silk with silver Myrish Lace covering the bodice. It's one of her nicer gowns and also one of her favorites.
Beside, she appears to be the only person wearing this exact shade.
Everyone else in green is dressed in shades of mint and Jade. Lighter colors are in style in the Reach and King's Landing at the moment, it's a trend that's quickly catching among other southern houses. Ostara is the only one wearing a rich forest green. Absentmindedly the young witch smooths down her skirts. It's not that it's really that big of an issue, Ostara just happened to notice it rather suddenly.
That and the eyes that linger on her.
"Not so handsome as Lord Dayne." Lady Laena remarks softly as two men in dirt smeared clothes move to stand before Tywin Lannister.
They're farmers, coming before the Hand of The King to settle a dispute over land.
Tywin Lannister listens to their case with his ever present scowl and eventually decides that the land will be divided between the two men equally. If one wants the land more then the other then he can attempt to buy it if he so chooses. It's a smart decision, one that seems to placate both men. They bow respectfully to Tywin and Rhaegar each before exiting the throne room.
Court is dismissed soon after.
Ostara and the rest of the Ladies wait for Rhaella to rise from the bench where she has been sitting for the past few hours. It's a stupid little bench with a delicately embroidered pillow to cushion the Queen's rear as she listens to the issues of the small folk but holds no true sway over the court's proceedings. Ostara wants to hurl the prettily made bench across the room and scream about how stupid it is to have a fucking Queen seated so low to the ground when her husband is raised so high.
Ostara breathes through her nose and decides to do the rational thing.
No one is going to listen to a girl, not here, but they will listen to her. Ostara will make them listen to her. And she won't scream, she won't rage, she won't throw stupid little tantrums that only work to act against her in the long run.
Sun Tzu did say that the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.
Ostara has no intention of being anyone's pawn.
Slowly turning her attention back to the queen Ostara relaxes her jaw and smiles kindly at the silver haired woman who is now striding past her Ladies, who all gather their skirts and follow close behind with a series of twittering giggles and softly spoken gossip.
Apparently, Lady Myrissa Buckwell was caught sneaking off by Lady Falyse with a young Martin Pyle after court had been dismissed.
Apparently, this is quite inappropriate.
Ostara tries not to roll her eyes too obviously while in the company of her fellow Ladies-in-Waiting but it is a hard thing when their entertainment is found at the expense of someone else. Eventually, Ostara grows tired of it.
"I don't understand," She finds herself saying to the three women tittering about some pore woman's husband, "how it's any of your business if she's married to Lord Buckwell and having intimate relationships elsewhere?"
"Oh, darling girl, you just don't understand." Lady Alysanne comments snobbishly, nose raised just enough that Ostara can see her nose hairs.
"I understand that she's given birth to three children, all legitimate, and that her husband is sleeping with a Flowers... Or am I misinformed?" when Alysanne goes an ugly sort of puce Ostara continues, "Perhaps you should keep your tongue behind your teeth and not besmirch the reputation of others lest you wish the same to happen to you, Lady Alysanne."
"It's different, he is a man." The fishy looking lady in deep blue remarks absently.
"Lady Falyse, when you're married and your husband is sleeping with other women, then you can tell me that it's different because he's a man and you're a woman. But until then? Perhaps keeping your mouth shut will keep the foolish things you say from slipping out."
Beyond the wide eyes and the ugly flushed faces Queen Rhaella's lips quirk into a soft, startled smile.
~X~
Tywin Lannister finds her later that day when Ostara is tucked away in a quiet part of the gardens with one of her books and her familiar.
Rubeus explores the flowering bushes and rolls in rich black soil, Ostara keeps one eye on him at all times to make sure he doesn't wander off but for the most part leaves her familiar to his own devices. She's more interested in reading about what is essentially foreign policy then watching her familiar pluck little mice and vermin from beneath bushes anyway.
And she's so consumed in her own thoughts about trade agreements and the benefits of having Myrish lace imported that she almost completely misses when Tywin Lannister rounds the corner and pulls to a halt as Rubeus whips around to snarl at him.
"Enough." Ostara commands, eyes never truly leaving her page for more then a second.
"A strange pet." Tywin remarks as he inches his way closer.
"Better then I dog, I assure you." Ostara replies while slipping a scrap of parchment between the pages she's currently reading.
Rising, Ostara smiles politely and turns to fully address her father's old friend.
He hasn't changed much since the last time Ostara saw him. His hair is still slicked back, he's still wearing the rich maroon doublet, he looks every bit a king as one would expect a king to look. Minus the crown, of course.
"A dog would suit a young Lady of your stature better." Tywin remarks absently, eyes never leaving the shadowcat now lounging in the shade offered by a rose bush.
Deciding to ignore the comment as it wasn't meant as anything more then an observation, a sexist observation but an observation none-the-less, Ostara offers a polite smile to the man standing before her.
"Was there something you wished to discuss, Lord Lannister?"
The man in question allows his eyes to drag over her form. From the perfectly braided hair to the plain black slippers on her feet. Nothing is safe from the inquisition in his gaze. Ostara almost feels like a specimen under a microscope.
"Your father has asked me to look after you while you are in King's Landing."
"I should thank him then," Ostara dips her head, "though I suspect you've more important things to deal with."
Instead of answering Tywin merely raises a yellow-gold eyebrow at her and moves to turn away. The book in her hand feels suddenly heavy, the words she'd read only an hour ago at the forefront of her mind. Ostara almost can't help the question from spilling out of her mouth but she understands that offending Tywin Lannister is the last thing she wishes to do.
"May I ask a personal question, Lord Lannister?"
The man tenses a great deal and his eyes go steely but he offers a sharp nods of permission.
"Why have you not given Castamere new Lordship? I understand that a great deal of the castle is subterranean so it wouldn't be impossible to make it livable again. I'm only asking because I understand that Castamere is rich with silver and gold... I find it strange that as the Lord of a great house you wouldn't capitalize on that wealth."
There is a furrow between Tywin's brows, it makes his look vaguely enraged. Ostara isn't worried though. He can't do anything to her, and even if he tried Ostara could easily stop him.
"Casterly Rock is rich with gold and silver as well, girl, I've no need for Castamere's mines." Tywin retorts and it makes Ostara shake her head.
"You've no use for it now, no, but that isn't to say you won't need it in ten years. No mine is eternally rich."
"And aside from gold what good would Castamere do me?"
"Well for one thing it would allow you to place a member of your own family in another seat of power." Ostara looks the man dead in the eye, because she knows that power is the one thing that drives men like Tywin Lannister. "Ser Kevan perhaps? I hear he's quite devoted to you and to House Lannister as well."
There is a moment of silence before Tywin Lannister's jaw stops ticking and he offers a stiff smile.
"And you think it is as easy as that?"
"Certainly not. Opening up the mines wouldn't be terribly difficult but you'd need to ensure that there weren't any tunnels where water might have been trapped lest the tunnel with gold and silver become inaccessible, any structural damage would need to be taken care of before you could start mining or have anyone living within the halls. Frankly, the amount of coin you would have to put into reopening the mines would be enough to deter lesser men."
She finds it rather amusing that Tywin Lannister, the man who pulled the Lannister name out of the rubble of its own making, seems relatively put out. Perhaps vaguely annoyed. Ostara isn't sure if he's bothered more by her boldness or the fact that he's even having this conversation with her. Probably both.
Either way, Ostara makes sure to tread very carefully.
Whatever's coming for them, whatever it is that's lurking in the dark, Ostara is going to need friends. And who better to befriend then Tywin Lannister? Not only is he the head of one of the richest houses in the entirety of Westeros but he's incredibly intelligent as well. It's very possible that she'll be needing his eye for strategy in the future.
All the same, she thinks the mines of Castamere should be reopened. Preferably sooner then later.
"Think about it," Ostara phrases it more as a question then a command, "I think that it could be beneficial to reopen the mines. The payback alone would more then cover the coin you'd have to spend if Castamere truly is as rich with gold and silver as some would claim... If you'll excuse me, Lord Tywin, I believe I've lingered in the gardens a bit too long."
The man standing across from her raises an eyebrow but bows his head slightly before pivoting on his heel and walking away.
Ostara watches him go for a moment before tapping her palm against her skirt to catch Rubeus' attention so that she can leave without questioning if her familiar has decided to tag along behind her. Rubeus typically doesn't stray but Ostara doesn't trust half of the people in King's Landing well enough to leave her shadowcat to wander on his own.
~X~
Viserys is a bright eyed little boy with pale skin and silver hair curling softly around his little ears. He gurgles happily when he sees Rhaella, wiggling fiercely and reaching for his mother despite the nurse maid's firm hold. Rhaella takes him, dismisses the woman, and places sweet kisses onto the boy's round cheeks as the woman strides out of the nursery.
While his mother peppers his face with kissed Ostara allows herself to look around the nursery. It's very extravagant. Golds and creams with murals of dragons painted along the wall and handcrafted furniture that looks far too expensive then it has any right to be. Ostara thinks that the windows might be a bit low but there's no way for a small babe to accidentally climb out before he or she is too old to even be staying in the nursery anymore.
The only reason she's even in the nursery to begin with is because the Queen had summoned her personally not half an hour ago. None of the other Ladies have been summoned and so Ostara thinks that either the Queen wishes to show off her son, which is possible, or she has ulterior motives.
"Viserys, love, you have a guest." Rhaella coos as she turns little Viserys to face Ostara.
There is a moment where they stare at one another before the little boy presses back against Rhaella, eyes wide and perhaps a bit scared. Ostara offers the boy a smile but refuses to discomfort him by reaching out to stroke his silvery hair.
"This is Lady Ostara Baratheon, she is my Lady-in-Waiting." Rhaella tells Viserys.
It seems like there's more she wants to say.
Ostara suspects it has to do with a possible betrothal or a hope for one.
But instead of ruining Rhaella's joy by telling her that a betrothal isn't likely to happen Ostara simply says, "He is very sweet."
Rhaella positively beams, "Yes. I do hope he grows to be like his brother... Rhaegar is very sweet as well. A bit quiet perhaps, solemn, but a sweet boy."
Ostara isn't going to comment on the fact that Rhaella has just attempted to endear her son to Ostara, or at least endear the idea of him. Ostara already knows what Rhaegar is like.
He's quiet but not shy, he enjoys singing and playing instruments as opposed to playing war, he prefers legends over histories, and he's humorous. It's a dry kind of humor but Ostara's found amusement in some of the letters he's written to her over the years.
Ostara smiles kindly and remarks, rather boldly, "Perhaps with the right influences he will."
"Come, we'll take tea." Rhaella says, moving her babe so that she can hold him more securely as she makes her way out of the nursery.
Rubeus trots behind, blue eyes trained on the little boy in the Queen's arms. He makes a noise, something between a purr and a delighted rumble and lopes back to Ostara's side. He misses Renly, sweet Renly who used to clamber up to lay on Rubeus' side whenever the shadowcat dared to stretch out across the ground, who would squeal delightedly when Rubeus would pick him up by the back of his clothes and carry him about.
It had always terrified their mother, seeing Rubeus carrying her youngest around like that, but the shadowcat had never hurt Renly. And besides, he'd only started it when Renly'd gotten old enough to toddle around and potentially harm himself.
Without thought Ostara curls her fingers through the fur growing at the nape of Rubeus' neck and allows him to guide her along after the Queen.
~X~
"Lady Ostara."
The greeting startles her, causes her shoulders to tense and her fingers to curl into a tight fist. It takes her a moment to realize it's Rhaegar, standing in the corridor in rich velvet the color of roses.
Ostara offers a polite smile, "Your Highness, you startled me."
"I apologize," her friend says as he steps closer, "it was not my intention."
"Of course it wasn't. I'm sure you've got much better things to do then linger in corridors and frighten young women."
She ignores Ser Dayne who stands smirking in the shadows mere feet behind Rhaegar.
"Are you off to the Rookery?" Rhaegar asks, diverting the conversation from possibly inappropriate topics.
"Yes, I've written a letter to Stannis and I wish to see it off personally." Ostara says as she fingers the seal keeping the letter safe from prying eyes.
A personal sigil that Ostara designed herself. It had taken a while to get the runes correct but eventually Ostara had designed something that not only looked aesthetically pleasing with it's antlers and flowers, but ensured the privacy of her letters as well. It's a shame that she hadn't been able to finish it sooner but what is, is.
"May I escort you?" Rhaegar asks.
"If it please you."
With a charming smile Rhaegar offers her his arm and Ostara takes it, allowing Rhaegar to guide her through the long corridors of the Red Keep with Arthur Dayne trailing silently behind them to act as a personal guard. He stays far enough away to give them some privacy but close enough to intervene should anything unfortunate happen.
Ostara's thankful for it.
It gives her a chance to inquire after Rhaegar's father.
"How is your father, Rhaegar? I've not heard anything about his injuries." Ostara murmurs.
Rhaegar's smile is a bit thin as he replies with a soft, "Maester Pycelle thinks he should be well enough to return to court in a few weeks. His injuries are healing well but he's quite thin. The Maester thinks it best to keep him away from court until he's regained his strength."
"I'm glad to hear that your father's doing well Rhaegar, truly."
"Thank you Ostara, it's very kind of you."
Smiling, Ostara curls her fingers just a bit tighter around Rhaegar's arm but doesn't say anything else. Rhaegar's smile is less tense now and Ostara doesn't comment on it, instead she opts to travel the rest of the way to the rookery in companionable silence. And after she has sent off her letter Rhaegar escorts her back to her chambers where he leaves her with another one of his gentle smiles and a chaste kiss pressed upon her knuckles.