Conversations with the not so dead
Author's Notes: Thanks for all the reviews! As always, it's much apprciated! :)
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.
Brienne of Tarth I
Brienne replaced the the weighted tourney sword in the weapon rack. She was tired and weary, her muscles aching from her training today. Each day, the time she spent training grew more and more, there was nothing else for her to do. The waiting was getting to her, she'd had nothing to do except sit and wait since she'd reached the Rock.
Tyrion was lording over the Westerlands, Jaime was menacing anyone that looked at his brother with disrespect. The other Lannisters were busy helping Tyrion rule- not that she could have helped with that. Bronn was settling in his new position as a Lefford, of all things. And Pod was running around so much every day, she barely saw him any more.
And all she could do was stand around and train.
With a sigh, she turned around and her thoughts came to a complete and sudden halt.
Standing only a few paces away from her, Myrcella Lannister stood looking expectantly up at her. She was flanked by the sisters, Cerenna and Myrielle Lannister. The older sister was standing there with respectful and small smile on her lips. Myrielle on the other hand had gleeful and predatory look on her face as her eyes seemed to asses Brienne like a piece of meat on her plate.
Behind them, the Hound looked bored, he just shrugged when she cast him a questioning look.
Whatever was happening now, Brienne knew an ambush when she saw one...she just didn't know what she was being ambushed for.
"Ladies," Brienne said with a respectful nod.
Myrcella seemed to be leading the ladies today, "Lady Brienne, all finished for the day?" she asked sweetly.
Brienne felt the trap being set. She nodded slowly, "yes, my lady...I was just about to go and clean up-"
Myrcella's smile grew predatory, "Excellent!" She turned and nodded to the Lannister sisters.
The two sisters, now smiling sweetly, came to stand on either side of Brienne. They each entwined an arm with Brienne and started gently pulling her forward, much to her consternation.
"Uh..." She was uncomfortable...and at a loss as what was happening.
Myrcella was walking in front, and slightly to the side of them, "I've had a servant prepare a bath for you...and then, we can get started."
Confusion clouded her mind "A-allright..."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Today was turning into one of the most awkward– admittedly not as awkward as when Jaime had stripped down and joined her in a bath when they were both prisoners of the Boltons. But it was a close second.
Standing with wet hair in Cerenna Lannister's room wearing a luxurious red robe after her bath, Brienne still didn't understand what was happening to her. Or how she'd been maneuvered here.
The Lannister sisters were sitting to the side expectantly, while Myrcella was standing at the foot of Cerenna's bed. The bed was covered with various fabrics, all of very good quality to Brienne's inexperienced eye, this was the Rock and they were Lannisters, she wouldn't expect anything but the best of fabrics.
And to the side, fidgeting uneasily was a seamstress with a tape measure waiting to take her measurements.
"Come on Brienne," coaxed Myrcella patiently, "she won't bite. And you do need a good dress. We've all see the width and breadth of your wardrobe here."
"If you can call two outfits a wardrobe," Myrielle commented with a snicker.
Brienne shifted unhappily at the comment. It was true, her clothing options were limited, "Fine" she stepped forward and spread her arms out as the seamstress started to go about her business. She could put up with this...
Myrcella beamed, "Good. Now let's discuss the fabrics..." she cast a mischievous look at Brienne, "and the frills."
Brienne grimaced and balked, "Frills? I'm not one for frills."
"Every girl has at least one frilly dress," retorted Myrielle joining Myrcella by the bed and looking through the arrayed fabrics.
"I'm not every girl," Brienne disagreed, "I've never had a frilly dress before."
"Even warrior maids need at least one frilly dress," argued Cerenna calmly.
Brienne shook her head, "War is coming."
"Which is all the more reason to get one now," Myrcella retorted without looking up from the fabrics she was pushing around. "Ah, here this will look good on you." She pulled out a deep blue fabric, she turned and looked up at Brienne, "It'll match your eyes."
Myrielle looked between the fabric and Brienne and nodded, "Absolutely. You do have...gorgeous eyes."
Brienne frowned, no one had ever said she'd ever had gorgeous anything.
"...I suppose the gods had to give you something to compensate for the rest of you," Myrielle continued idly with a small laugh.
Brienne's face burned at Myrielle laugh.
She stepped up to her and towered over her, glared down. Myrielle's laughter trailed off nervously as she started to squirm under the glare.
"I've never hit another woman before...but I can start," an exasperated Brienne stated menacingly.
Myrielle squeaked nervously.
"My sister is a crass, blunt idiot at times, but she's not mean spirited...and she didn't really mean anything by it," Cerenna cut in, coming to her sister's defense in the nick of time, "her tongue just has the dumb habit of messing up."
Brienne looked to the older sister, then turned back to glare venomously at Myrielle.
"Yes! What Cerenna said!" Myrielle blurted out apologetically, "Some times-"
"-most times," interrupted Cerenna in a long suffering tone.
"-most times, I let my myself get carried away, I'm sorry! I truly didn't mean anything by it," Myrielle continued not missing a beat, in her most submissive and contrite tone.
Brienne looked at the intimidated girl and after a moment relented. It wouldn't do to get into a fight with someone like Myrielle...and truth be told the girl did seem earnest in her apology.
"Apology accepted." Brienne stated reluctantly.
An awkward silence descended on the women.
"You do know that in some places, your warrior physique and proficiency would be most welcome," Cerenna added after a moment, changing the subject and breaking the silence.
"Where?" Brienne asked curiously.
"In the city of Bayasabhad, far in the east, there are a number of large female warriors there," Cerenna explained simply, "Of course, you'd actually be considered average sized by their standards..."
Brienne looked at Cerenna in surprise, "Truly?!"
Cerenna nodded and then cocked her head, "And you'd need to pierce your nipples with an iron ring to fit in there."
Brienne flushed red at the comment, raising a hand to rub at a breast, "That seems...unnecessary."
Cerenna shrugged nonchalantly, a thoughtful look on her face, "I don't understand it either, that's just their traditions."
"How far east is this Bay-bayash...uh whatever it's name is?" Myrielle asked lightly, happy at the change of subject.
"It's very close to Yi Ti," Cerenna stated.
Brienne blinked, that was very far away.
"Yeah...I don't see any of us going there any time soon," Myrcella said after a moment of silence with aplomb.
The seamstress cleared her throat nervously, gestured towards Brienne, wanting to finish her work. Brienne nodded and then stepped away from Myrielle, letting the woman finish her work.
Silence descended on the women as the seamstress went about her work efficiently. She finished and looked to Myrcella for direction.
"You can go, I'll have the fabrics sent to you when we've finished picking everything out," she commanded with a kind smile.
The woman nodded and quickly left, leaving them alone.
Myrcella walked to the elaborate dresser with a large mirror, she pulled out the chair there and patted the chair, "Come sit."
Reluctantly, Brienne obeyed and sat. Even sitting, she was well above Myrcella's eye level.
The girl was looked at her with narrowed eyes, "Did you hack off your hair with a knife? It's very rough. And very short."
Brienne squirmed unhappily, "Yes, it's easier to keep under my helmet that way."
Myrcella snorted, "Have you seen my father's hair?" she asked pointedly with exasperation.
Brienne squired again, but didn't answer.
"His hair is much longer...," added Myrielle nodding.
"That's not an excuse or a good reason," Cerenna chimed in.
Brienne fumed at the wall she ran into. She was outnumbered in this...it rankled that they were right as well. Jaime's hair was much longer than hers...and did look better. Though he was prettier than most women as well...so there was that as well.
"You're going to let your hair grow out- No more cutting it!" commanded Myrcella fiercely.
"Fine," Brienne admitted reluctantly.
"Good enough for now," she admitted warily, with a sharp look, "Now for painting your face..."
It was in that moment that Brienne realised that there was no getting out or away from whatever they had planned for her without doing some drastic. Which she wasn't willing to do.
Letting go of the last of her trepidation, she resigned herself to her fate, and gave in to the Lannister ladies' demands, "Fine, as you wish."
Author's notes: Hope you all enjoyed this. A little bonding between the ladies:) Stay tuned for the finished product! ;) As always don't forget to review! :D