Rhaena had not felt so secure in the Red Keep ever before in her life. She wore a brand new dress of pale silk which draped lightly against her body, one of the latest in the Southern fashions though still modest as the silk was ordered and then cut according to Septa Mordane's specifications and she would never allow any girl under her care to walk about inappropriately dressed as she noted some young ladies seemed to be doing in these parts. It had made Rhaena laugh and kiss the Septa's cheek when the dresses and other gifts had been carried inside one after the other by servants, thanking the old crone sincerely and promising that she would always dress sensibly to show her gratitude for all the Septa had done for her. The older woman had grown red in the cheeks and pressed her thin lips together whilst drawing herself up, flustered by the charm of the young girl before her which had made Sansa giggle. She and Arya were more than happy to help Rhaena uncover all her new gifts, which not only included new dresses, but new shoes, smallclothes, furnishings, books, perfumes, soaps, oils, ribbons, brushes, combs, broaches, necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. There was everything that a young lady could wish for, though Rhaena could not help tease the Septa as she lifted up a simple yet beautiful necklace which held a sapphire pendent. "Why, Septa Mordane, I had no idea you had such an eye for treasures such as these. I am shocked! I would have thought you would wish to discourage vanity in us little ladies." She smiled as Sansa admired a set of emeralds against her neck.
"Every young lady of noble birth will have jewels and decorations of their own and although I disapprove of such displays of vanity, Lord Stark was quite clear in his instructions. You were to have everything befitting the needs and wants of a young lady." Septa Mordane informed curtly before snapping her fingers and chastising Arya for fiddling with one of the hand mirrors, fearing she would break it. Rhaena smiled as she put down the necklace and began to look through the collection of other items which had been presented to her. There were squares of silk and cotton for embroidery, pencils and paints to practice painting and even one or two instruments to attempt her hand at music, though Rhaena did not imagine she had any talent for the flute or the lyre. "Come now, the sooner we put this room to right the sooner we may begin our day." Under the strict guidance of Septa Mordane, who had a very good idea about the proper place for everything down to the very last shoelace, Rhaena's room which had beforehand been covered in objects and new items was tidied and straightened, Sansa being of much greater help than Arya who simply wanted to jump from the table to the bed and back again. She was scolded repeatedly by the Septa.
The next few days were the most glorious days Rhaena could ever remember enjoying. It was not quite the same as Winterfell, but it was far better than before. She took lessons with Sansa and Arya as she had never done before, learning how to embroider artistically and the proper manners befitting a lady, though Septa Mordane made a point to note that Rhaena already had very pleasing manners and was quite charming enough as she was having been raised at court. "You have done very well to teach yourself, child, but now you may leave the rest to me. Attend to your thread." She would say before continuing her lesson in the different stitches one could use to create patterns in handkerchiefs and such. Already Rhaena intended to utilise these new skills to make gifts for those she owed great debt of thanks to, hoping that they would only be the beginning of the long repayment she intended to make for their protection, tutoring and kindness. She worked hard and was a quick study, managing to already create simple patterns and designs.
She continued even after lessons ended, often sitting in her room in the cool evenings where she would thread and stitch at her own leisure until one such evening, a knock came at her door. It rapped three times, paused, then came twice more. Knowing exactly who that knock belonged to, Rhaena rose to her feet and opened the door to find Lord Varys himself standing there. "My dear, you look even lovelier than last I saw you. The North has clearly done wonders for you." He greeted flatteringly which always made Rhaena smile because she could never quite tell whether or not Varys was speaking the truth. She liked to think that he was.
"Lord Varys, it is good to see you again. Would you like to come in?" Stating that he would, Rhaena invited him inside, trusting that he had ensured that no one had followed him here or would see him go in, and had placed his own little spies to keep watch so that they could converse in private. "It has been some time, Lord Varys. I wish you could have come with us; I think you would find the North quite interesting."
"Sadly, my dear, I do not think so. I am rather sensitive to the cold you see." He told her but there was a softness in his eyes that Rhaena had come to recognise since she was young. Varys was one of the other few people who had always been gentle and sympathetic towards her. Unknown to others, Rhaena was one of his little spies who often reported to him the things which she overheard from those around her for she was often unseen even when in plain sight. For this Varys did his best to look after her, though he admitted only to himself that he was rather fond of the girl. How could one not be when he had watched her grow from an infant child to the girl she was today and looked forward to seeing how much further she may yet grow. "I will tell you right away that this is not just a social call, my dear. I have come to bring you some news."
"And what is the price of this news?" Rhaena questioned, knowing exactly what the information would centre around. Her siblings. It was the only information she was ever interested in and Varys the only person she dared trust to get it. Petyr Baelish had his own spies, of course, but he was a man with ambition and a dangerous one at that. Rhaena had quickly learned not to trust him when she had foolishly told him that she planned a gran escape when she was but five years old to escape and sail across the ocean to become a pirate queen. A silly little fantasy of course, but next she knew, Rhaena had been whipped and confined to her room under constant guard for an entire month. She never trusted the man again. Varys had greater integrity and seemed genuine enough if you yourself where genuine with him. Rhaena had nothing of value, was of no use as a pawn, had no power, no money and no influence. She was utterly useless, but that simply meant that she could make herself useful in other ways. It was an agreement that she and Varys had struck many years ago, and since she continued to hold her end of the bargain, Varys kept his and had never once betrayed her trust. In truth, he never intended to, but Rhaena did not need to know this.
"Anything you have to offer, my dear. Say…any little crumbs of news from the North I should perhaps know about?" Sighing softly, Rhaena made herself comfortable on her chair as she faced Varys then related to him all that she had experienced, noting the kindness of the Starks, the behaviour of the king and queen, as well as the events of Bran falling from the tower and the business with Joffrey and the direwolf. She watched Varys's expression carefully and noted how he never once showed any surprise which meant this was all information he knew already. "Alas, a pity about the boy. We must all pray for his recovery."
"I do so. Every moment. However, Lord Varys, I can see that none of my information is of any value to you as you know it already, so I have not been able to pay you for the information that you have. Is there anything else I can do to buy it from you? I have a little means, now. I can pay you with something from my jewellery box." Rhaena offered hopefully but Varys merely smiled to her kindly and waved his hand to her.
"No need my dear though your offer is most gracious. Indeed, I have heard all these whispers before, however since I have not given you a proper gift to welcome you home, I shall offer my information instead. Is this agreeable to you, my dear?" Instantly Rhaena nodded her head and eagerly leaned forwards in order to listen, Varys pausing to clear his throat before beginning. "It concerns your sister, Daenerys. It appears that she has been given in matrimony to a Dothraki warlord by name of Khal Drogo, in exchange for a portion of his army with the promise that they will be given to your brother Viserys to take back the Iron Thone. By now she has already been married." The news stunned Rhaena so effectively that she did not even react to the information, staring at Varys in utter dumbfounded shock. "My dear?"
"Is this…are you certain?" Barely able to whisper, Varys gave Rhaena a sympathetic look as he nodded his head.
"Indeed. My sources are not mistaken." Of course, Rhaena should know better than to question Lord Varys's sources, they were always extremely reliable. Her stomach twisted and Rhaena felt that she might expel the contents of her stomach she felt so sickened. Her sister. Sold to a wild heathen man for the sake of an army. Their brother must have been mad to treat Daenerys in such a way, treating her as nothing more than livestock. Rhaena retched, struggling to keep her composure. "Oh my dear, you have become quite pale. I apologise, I could not think of any gentler way to deliver this news, but I knew you would wish to know." Understanding Varys's intentions Rhaena nodded her head as she leaned over slightly and attempted to steady herself. Varys suggested that she get some fresh air, delicately lifting her by her arm to bring her to the balcony where a cool and refreshing breeze enveloped her and did help to settle her stomach. "I truly am sorry, my dear."
"Feel sorry for my sister. She is the one who will now have to face a savage for a husband every night. Oh gods…please watch over her and protect her." Rhaena bit down against her lip and closed her eyes, wishing that she had more power. A means to rescue her sister from her situation. It was strange. She had never met her, but simply knowing that out there beyond the sea was a sister she had never known, more than that her twin sister, Rhaena felt an instinctive desire to protect her. She could not even imagine what Daenerys must be feeling right of this moment and the kinds of horrors she must be enduring. It would sour any thought for marriage just thinking of her sister in the hands of a warlord who, according to her limited knowledge, idolised horses in all manner of their life, including the art of procreation. Feeling a tentative hand rise to her shoulder, Rhaena looked at Varys. "Thank you for telling me, my lord. I truly appreciate your kindness." A thought came to her mind, and she looked back to her desk where several folded handkerchiefs rested. She strode forwards purposefully and shifted through them, searching for the best one then picked it out and presented it to Varys. "A gift for you."
"For me? How kind of you my dear." Varys accepted the gift with surprise and turned it over in order to look at the pattern. It was very simple but rather exquisitely done, not something you would expect for a novice. "I had heard that you were beginning lessons in embroidery and the finer arts. I must say this is quite remarkable." Varys complimented and enjoyed Rhaena's pleased smile as he traced the finger over the little bouquet of flowers in the corner. "I shall treasure it always."
"At least until I am able to make you a better one. I shall do my best to practice." Rhaena responded lightly but did not expect Varys to keep such a silly little thing. She fully expected he would put it away somewhere and completely forget about it. Not that she minded. It was the act itself which held the meaning. Walking with him to the door, Varys paused a moment in order to place his hand kindly upon Rhaena's arm.
"Do not worry too greatly for your sister, my dear. If she is half as charming and beautiful as you are, then I expect Khal Drogo will be halfway in love with her already and treat her well. Even savages know to treat the woman they love with kindness." This Rhaena was certain to be a lie, but she appreciated it all the same. "Goodnight my dear. Welcome back." It was the only sincere welcome Rhaena expected to receive so she smiled to Varys and bade him goodnight as he left, pulling up the hood of his cloak in order to disappear. Closing and securing the door, Rhaena returned to her chair where she sat for a long while afterwards staring at nothing, thinking of her estranged sister. Marriage. For the first time Rheana was glad that she was never expected to marry, nor ever likely to if Robert had his way. She could not imagine the humiliation of being forced to open oneself to that of a husband that had been forced upon you and surrender your dignity which was his right to take for himself and defile you as he willed. It seemed barbaric and Rhaena swore that she would never give up her maidenhead to any man she deemed unworthy of her. Especially not for a prospective husband selected for her. She would sooner cast herself into the sea and let the waves ravage her instead then give herself over to a stranger.