Conversations with the not so dead
Author's Notes: A little more Lannisters and a look at life in Casterly Rock; before the maester conspiracy you all enjoy this! Don't forget to review! :D
Rating: M; it's Game of Thrones, anything less is not Game of thrones :D
Summary: Companion piece to my other fic, the Raven's Plan. A series of conversations from minor characters perspectives.
Myrcella Lannister I
Things had gotten better as time went on, people had started treating her better, more like the age she had been before her death. There were still a number that were still surprised when she opened her mouth and spoke like a proper young lady, but those incidents had gone down and were mostly limited to those people that were only visiting Casterly Rock.
The downsides these days was that the truth of her birth was well and truly known now. Tommen's sullenness was the same even as he followed behind Uncle Kevin everywhere, like a small duckling following its mother. Thankfully, people were far too afraid of father to do anything but whisper very, very softly behind their backs.
Even with all the changes, Jaime Lannister was still Jaime Lannister. The Lion of Lannister and still the best sword in the Seven Kingdoms. Few in Casterly Rock and the Westerlands had the audacity to anger him.
She didn't deceive herself that there wouldn't be others in the other Kingdoms that would dare to anger him, but all things considered she was probably never leaving the Westerlands ever again.
It pained her that any betrothal between her and Trystane was politically impossible now. She was just a legitimized Lannister bastard now and not a Princess, but considering the alternative she could live with that...no matter how much she missed him. She tried not to think about how she'd eventually just be married off to some landed knight sworn to Casterly Rock. At best maybe the heir of some Westerlands House that wanted closer ties with the Lannisters. That was going to be her fate.
Assuming that the Others didn't kill them all...
But that wasn't something she liked to think about, and right now, it was completely irrelevant to the situation at hand.
With the recognition of her true age, she'd found herself drown to and lumped with Cerenna and Myrielle, her Uncle Stafford's daughters. They were always nice to her, though Myrielle had a low, tactless and crass wit that was shocking for a such a highborn lady. The older Cerenna was more composed, though she seemed to share uncle Tyrion's love and passion for books and a dry amusing wit. The contrast between the sisters was exaggerated at times but she found that enjoyed their company.
As usual, today she found herself with them and Aunts Genna, Dorna and Myranda. Aunt Dorna was a small and very humble woman. A surprising thing for a Lannister, even if she was only one by marriage. She was a perfect match for Uncle Kevan. Aunt Myranda was not humble at all. A Lefford by birth and Lannister by marriage, Uncle Stafford's wife was well aware of the lofty positions of both those Houses. Yet another perfect match for the oafish, though kind Stafford.
They were now all sitting and sewing as befit Highborn ladies of House Lannister. It was wasn't exactly outright boring, but Aunt Genna always dominated these sewing circles, when she wasn't overseeing some facet of the management of Casterly Rock for Uncle Tyrion.
Or was crossing mental swords with Myrcella's imprisoned Grandfather.
Myrcella hadn't had the courage to try and see the imprisoned Lord since she'd arrived at Casterly Rock. She didn't actually know what she would say to him or how he'd treat her. Before he'd been civil...and surprisingly kind with her, if always aloof and intimidating as befit the Lord of Casterly Rock and his towering reputation.
And now...she was the legitimized bastard daughter of his golden son.
Yeah...not something she was going to approach unless she had to. She had no idea how he would react to that truth.
She shook her head and pushed those thoughts away. Myrielle had utter yet another off colour joke and Aunt Genna shooting her yet another reproving glance.
"Really Myrielle, I raised you better than this. Must you continue speaking such...low japes, it's unbecoming of a lady of your high standing," Aunt Myranda scolded her younger daughter.
Myrielle just smiled sweetly and blinked her eyes innocently at her mother, "As you wish mother," she retorted sweetly, "Perhaps we should speak about cousin Jaime...and Lady Brienne?"
Myrcella frowned, what about them?
Aunt Genna frowned and gave Myrielle an unreadable look even as Cerenna starting giving her sister a number of pointed and alarmed looks.
"What about them?" Aunt Genna demanded sharply.
Myrielle smiled widely, "Haven't you heard the rumors?"
"Which rumors?" Aunt Myranda questioned as even Aunt Dorna shot a curious look at Myrielle now.
Myrielle's smile turned even sweeter and Myrcella sensed yet another one of her tactless remarks about to be thrown out.
"Why the one about cousin Jaime...kissing Lady Brienne," she said with complete aplomb.
The silence that greeted the rumor made Myrcella realise that father had been keeping his friendship with Brienne a closely guarded secret. Myrcella decided that it was best that she focus on her sewing...and not on the conversation.
"That...beast of a woman and Jaime?!" Aunt Myranda uttered, completely horrified at the idea.
"Beast is right! I saw her knock the Hound on his ass in the training yard!" Myrielle crowed, amused by her mother's consternation.
If anything Aunt Myranda looked even more appalled now.
"Lady Brienne is a kind and formidable woman," cut in Cerenna, shooting her sister and mother disapproving looks.
"She's taller than Jaime...and broader as well!" decried Myranda in disgust, "She's not a fitting woman for man of Jaime's stature and birth...even if Tyrion is Lord of the Rock now."
"She is her father's only heir. She will inherit the island of Tarth," Cerenna retorted pointedly, "Cousin Jaime is more of second son now. This would be a good match..."
Cerenna wasn't wrong, the few times she'd seen them together, father had seemed...well, different. Lighter somehow.
"Myrcella." Aunt Genna voice stuck like lightening, cutting Cerenna off.
Myrcella looked up and found Aunt Genna staring at her intently, Genna's face was blank and unreadable.
"Yes, aunt?" she asked innocently.
"Lady Brienne. And your father." Genna repeated in a deadpan. "Is there something to this rumor?"
The silence in the room was suddenly very heavy and oppressive. Myrcella straightened her back and faced her great aunt unflinching. "I saw them kissing in the hallway. And Father called her his friend."
Myranda sniffed disdainfully as Myrielle looked gleeful at having the rumor confirmed. Genna looked thoughtful and then huffed, "It seems I need to have a talk with Jaime." She gave the other ladies long looks, "this is enough gossip for today. There are better things for you all to be doing," she gave Myrielle a hard reproachful look that cowed her. The girl squirmed in her chair and looked away from Genna's hard eyes.
The other ladies turned quietly back to their sewing, but aunt Genna's eyes lingered on Myrcella. She met that gaze without flinching and after a moment, her aunt's eyes seemed to soften with what seemed like...approval? Aunt Genna then turned back to her own sewing.
Silence was paramount as Myrcella turned back to her own sewing trying to decipher the look that had been in her aunt's eyes. And figure out what Aunt Genna was going to be saying to father.
Maybe I should do something for father and Brienne? Father will probably be mad after whatever Aunt Genna was going to say to him...possibly more annoyed than anything else, all things considered.
So what can I do for him and Brienne?
Author's Notes: So what can Myrcella do for them? ;) Anyway, been planning this small arc centering around Myrcella and Brienne a while now, more Myrcella POVs are coming. And for those wondering, I'll get back to the main story soon enough, I won't be focusing only on this arc. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this! And don't forget to review! :D