King's Landing was truly superb. Massive in size and surrounded by miles of tall walls that "kept the scum out" as Loras had stated. The walls were even taller than she had thought from a distance. This was obvious as they made the slow venture forward to the main gates where they were greeted by members of the City Watch wearing gleaming armor and clocks of vibrant gold.
"It's far more impressive than I ever imagined. Tell me cousin, have you truly enjoyed your time here? Is it everything you dreamed?" Shona gushed. They were striding through the gates when the stench of the city hit her nose. Dung, and the odor of a few thousand unwashed bodies.
"It's not that much bigger than Oldtown or Hightower. It reeks of manure constantly and there are always waves of peasants blocking the streets. It's exactly as I expected." Loras grimaced as they passed a decomposed body lying half in the cobbled streets, "Maybe worse, actually. The day father allows Highgarden to look like this is the day I marry The King."
"Is it always this filthy?" Shona asked with a cough as a wave of stench overtook her senses.
"It's Flea Bottom you're choking on. Makes the whole route to The Red Keep reek of piss and vomit." Loras stated flatly and led the way towards the giant crimson keep situated at the end of the seemingly never ending path atop Aegon's Hill. The path grew wider as they got closer. The towers looming overhead in great splendor. Shona tilted her head back to see the very tops once they got to the base of the keep. Her tower back home was more impressive, she decided as she was helped down from her horse. Her legs were shaky beneath her from hours of hard riding and there was a familiar ache traveling from the back of her calves all the way up her spine to her shoulder blades. She handed Shai off to a smiling towheaded stable boy who led the mare away without a word from Shona who had the urge to follow behind and instruct him on the proper care for such a fine equine. She decided the stable boys were more than capable when Loras handed his own mare off without a single backwards glance, his only instructions being to cool both the horses legs thoroughly. The boy who took his horse refused to make eye contact and departed rather quickly with a high pitched, "Yes, m'lord."
Loras' armor glistened in the late morning light looking like the sky above. Shona could see her own reflection beaming back at her. She looked better than she had imagined, but still too frumpy to consider making the acquaintance of Margaery nor her future husband quite yet. A tall man stood to greet her as she walked into the holdfast with Loras at her side. She knew who he was just by looking at him. He stood before her looking calm and collected, as he always did from the tales she had heard. Tywin Lannister looked every bit as regal as her grandfather had told with whiskers of gold and eyes of green. His smile was more like a grimace than anything as if he imagined himself doing something far more important than greeting Lord Hightower's granddaughter.
"Lady Hightower, we have been expecting you. I trust your venture from Oldtown to King's Landing was pleasant? It seems Loras found you in one piece and kept you that way." Tywin spoke softly, almost kindly, to the young girl before him. She remembered her manners all at once and curtsied low keeping her eyes down to his shiny leather boots, "I had an interesting but enjoyable trip, my Lord Hand. I am grateful for your sending of my cousin for he saved me from a rather terrifying ordeal with raiders. I am in your debt, as well as his, my lord."
"My, you are every bit as charming as your father spoke." Tywin had a legitimate smile on his face now and offered the petite girl an arm which she gladly took a hold of, "This is Maegor's Holdfast where the royal apartments are located. You will find the Queen Regent's chambers located here as well as the King's and many others. You, of course, will meet with them later. We have all been awaiting you, my lady. It has been years since we've had a Hightower in our midst. I do hope you enjoy the Capitol."
They had paused outside of a heavy oak door with golden adornments and vine detailing engraved into the wood, "Normally ladies in waiting do not receive such luxurious chambers," Lord Tywin spoke as he opened the doors to reveal a bed canopied by a rich red velvet drape. The bed was made in the same velvet with touches of gold. Tasseled throw pillows lined the wide bed along the headboard. The tops of the throw were pulled back to reveal golden sheets that practically begged for her to jump upon them, "You are our special guest, however, and shall be taking this chamber next to Queen Margaery. I need to get into the habit of referring to her as queen." Tywin trailed off and stood silent for a moment as Shona took in the room, a expression of delight on her face. Tywin was pleased by her response and ushered in a series of maids, "I will be going now. Hand of the King is a very demanding position, after all."
Shona curtsied again only to be tugged gently upwards by Tywin who looked absolutely amused. His eyes twinkled as he said, "Save your curtsies for court, child. Don't strain your knees on me. The servants will get you bathed and changed so you may greet King Joffrey and the Queen Regent. Good day, Lady Hightower."
Tywin Lannister was gone before she could ever blink. A series of stewards brought her belongings upstairs to her new chambers. Shona learned they had taken Blaze to the kennels, and it was the first orders she gave in the castle to bring him to her room. She wouldn't have Blaze scared out of his mind surrounded by unfamiliar people, sounds, and smells. He bounded into the room dragging a lanky boy behind him who bent at the waist slightly out of breath.
"Gods, he's stronger than I had expected. G'day M'lady."
In a slew of maids came Twyla and her other chosen handmaidens from Hightower. Joining them were several from the capitol chosen especially for her by the Queen Regent Cersei herself. Shona was delighted and introduced herself and instructed the girls to refer to her in private casually as Shona instead of Lady Hightower or even the simplified 'm'lady' she heard so often.
"I am simply Shona and nothing more when we are here alone. I want to be friends with each and every one of you." She had suggested to the gaggle of girls who smiled back sweetly and went in a circle introducing themselves. Cerylia. Reah. Yvienne. Nolene. Ayla. It would take her awhile to put names to faces for there were too many. The girls took the liberty of helping her into her bath and washing the dirt from her hair. Once she was clean and dressed appropriately she was greeted in the halls by a steward who would be escorting her to the throne room where King Joffrey and his mother would be waiting to see her.
The throne room was a lot bigger than she imagined. Dreary, dark,and cold as ice. She was chilled in her simple lilac gown of silk as a lot of skin was showing from beautiful cutouts in the back as well as the plunging neckline in front. Her hair was down in loose natural waves and curls braided at the sides and twisted into an elaborate rose in the back. She approached the throne a little afraid for she truly did not know what to expect. She had not heard much about the young king besides the gossip of him being a bastard. Shona scarcely believed it for Cersei, the queen regent, was a truly poised and elegant lady. She seemed to have been devoted to her late husband and previous king. Shona hadn't believed the rumors enough to spread the lies but her hand maidens and ladies in waiting at Hightower had been ruthless with their gossip.
Standing beside the Iron Throne was Cersei and to her left were several members of the Kingsguard sporting their signature white cloaks. Slouched in the throne was a blonde haired boy certainly no older than she with a crown tugged low onto his brow and a smirking smile on his lips as he talked candidly to the guard beside him. His eyes flickered toward down the long walkway where she was approaching. She lowered herself in a curtsy and kept her eyes low in respect as she greeted him with a sweet sounding, "Your Grace, it is an honor to be here in King's Landing before you. I have heard many stories of our gallant king from Lady Margaery. You truly are a hero in my eyes, Your Grace."
"Such sweet words. You may rise, my lady. I can see the resemblance between you and your sweet cousin. Tell me, was your ride here pleasant?" Joffrey spoke with an inflated ego from her previous statement of him being her hero. Shona was always taught that flattery was the best form of respect. She would rather make a good impression flattering the king then make a bad one. She opened her lips to respond to the question when the doors at the end of the throne room were flung open noisily making the guards stand at attention with hands on the swords at their sides. The man who strode down the walkway was half her size which led Shona to the assumption that he was the queen's other brother. The one they called The Imp. The brother her handmaiden Lalla had claimed dressed as a jester to please the court and queen. He was dressed normally in breeches and a deep red tunic with the Lannister lion embroidered on the breast in vivid gold thread. As he crept closer she was more aware of his features. Tyrion Lannister was not a handsome man in the slightest. He shared no similarities in looks with his siblings besides his tousled golden hair. He approached her right side and she curtsied to him as well raising and looking down into mismatched eyes, one black as night and one green like the pines of the north. Such unique eyes filled with curiosity and sadness.
"My lord." she greeted the new arrival with the same polite courtesy she had given the king himself. Tyrion looked surprised for a moment before giving her a nod and a smile. He approached the throne and the king, "My beloved nephew! You had requested me?"
"I had commanded you," Joffrey sneered in correction, "to be here to greet our guest an hour ago. Just where have you been and why did you disobey clear orders?"
"It's such a busy world for a dwarf. I can scarcely keep up with what day it is much less a summons. If my head were not attached to my shoulders I'm afraid I'd lose the damn thing. It's an awfully ugly head but I'm much too fond of it to lose it."
"You're saying you were busy? Busy doing what, you little monster?" Joffrey snorted in humor. Shona was wide eyed at the exchange between king and uncle. Neither seemed fond of each other despite being family.
"I do believe we are forgetting our guest." Cersei gracefully inserted herself into the conversation with a wide forced grin, "We are so very thrilled to have you here, my sweet. If there is anything you desire in your stay with us please do make it known. We want you as comfortable as possible here in our keep. Now, I am afraid we have to duck out unexpectedly. Small council business and such. I shall see you for supper!"
They all descended from the dais save a blank faced Tyrion whom was shouldered aside by his nephew. The king did not pass her a backwards glance as he passed. Shona bit her lip and made her move to follow them out and was stopped by a hand to her elbow, "I am sorry for my family. They can be rather rude when it comes to anyone not of the Lannister name. I am Tyrion, as I'm sure you already know. Might I escort you back to your chambers, my lady?"
She smiled brightly for the first time since she had arrived in King's Landing and replied with, "I would be delighted, my lord, and please call me Shona."