Hello my lovelies! I deeply apologise for the long delay in continuing this story, but I'm sure all of us were quite busy over Christmas and New Year's. I hope you all had a wonderful time and seven blessings in the new year!

Anyways, here is my newest chapter - it's a little short, but it introduces another key player. And trust me, I won't wait another month til the next one comes out ;)

Cersei entered the throne room with her head held high, taking long and elegant strides towards her place next to the Iron Throne. Her son was not far behind, and a crowd had already gathered to watch today's court. She smirked with satisfaction as she glimpsed around. Before Stannis' attack, this hall had been almost empty, but now it had started to fill up again. All the lords that were careful about where there allegiance lied, had come back now to kiss her feet. Like mice in a church, she thought.

Joffrey entered just after her, followed by Ser Meryn and Sansa Stark. Something was different about the wolf girl, she looked a little happier than she did the last few weeks. Cersei frowned. She might have to investigate, since an improvement in the girl's disposition was not in her favour. After the king had taken a seat, a herald stepped forth and announced the first subjects to pay tribute.

"The Lady Margaery of House Tyrell, and her sister, Lady Samaya," he announced and the doors opened to reveal the two girls. Margaery was all smiles and elegant movements, but her sister looked tense and stern. The other Tyrell girl had arrived some days prior, but Cersei had held off the official welcome by King Joffrey as long as she could. She did not want them to get too comfortable, especially since Margaery thought she could do as she liked here already.

Jaime Lannister's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword as the two girls came closer. He openly stared at the dark-haired beauty that seemed so familiar to him, but now, in a colourful silk gown, her hair tied up in a fancy way, his initial distrust faded. He must have imagined it. She just looked like any other Tyrell he had seen, except that her hair was a shade darker than her siblings'.

"Your Grace, I would like to present my sister, who has finally arrived after a long journey," Margaery said loudly as they reached the steps of the Iron Throne and curtsied for the King. Joffrey's hand was tapping on the throne impatiently, but he had a mischievous grin on his face. His eyes wandered from Samaya's face to her cleavage, and he liked what he saw. Maybe after he was done with Margaery, he could bed her sister, too.

"Welcome, Lady Samaya, I hope you find everything to your liking here in our beautiful city?" he asked her. For the first time since she entered, a smile graced her face, and she gave a short bow.

"Very much so, your Grace. King's Landing is a marvellous place, and I am honoured by the luxurious chambers you have assigned me to," she thanked him with an easy tone in her voice. The King liked that, she seemed tame enough.

"Oh please, I would only want the best of things for my betrothed's sister. I hope we can get to know each other better at the feast tonight. I will be holding it in honour of my future wife's family," Joffrey announced to everyone's great surprise. Cersei's mouth twitched. This was new. She had to find a way to keep his impulses in check, the Crown could not afford expensive feasts every other day.

"Your Grace is so very kind, our deepest gratitude," Margaery answered in that throaty voice of hers and the two sisters bowed deeply before moving to the side. Cersei kept her eye on the older girl, there was something about her behaviour she did not like. She seemed too tense for her. After all, her family had just saved the crown from annihilation by Stannis Baratheon, but Samaya seemed to be on guard as much as Cersei herself.

Court continued for a while, and matters big and small were brought before the king. He seemed to be in a particularly good mood, and even pardoned the two thieves that a baker brought for justice. After a long, long time, the people scattered and filed out the great throne room.

Samaya was still holding on to her sister's elbow, when a hand caught her shoulder.

"Excuse me, Lady Samaya?" a soft voice spoke and she turned around, losing grip on her sister, who walked on with the crowd. A big, colourful man stood there, dressed in fine silk, smelling of sweet-scented perfume, and with a shiny bald head. He gave her a knowing smirk, and Samaya knew at once that she was dealing with Varys, the Eunuch.

"Lord Varys, what a pleasure to make your acquaintance," she said in a steady voice and curtsied. Together, they moved out of the way of the crowd and started walking away from the masses.

"No need to call me Lord, my Lady," he finally answered and she smiled.

"I find it hard not to, especially since you most certainly dress like one," Sam replied and he chuckled.

"That might be true, but we both know appearances can trick people," he answered in a hushed voice and led her down an even quieter passageway. She knew she had to be silent, so they walked for a little while without uttering a single word. It grew darker and darker, until Varys picked a torch from the wall and they were engulfed in black.

Finally, deep beneath the belly of the Red Keep, in a place where the only sound was the drops of perspiration drizzling from the wet ceiling, he stopped. He looked at her for a short moment before falling to his knees on the dirty ground.

"I have waited many moons for this day. It is a great pleasure to finally meet and serve you, my Queen," the Eunuch said and Samaya could hear the tremble in his voice. Slowly, she bent down and lifted him up by the elbows. She pressed her hand against his cheek where a single tear had blossomed from the corner of his eye.

"Me too, my dear Varys, but I am afraid you are mistaking me for someone I have no intention of ever becoming. I do not wish to be Queen, I do not want this crown," she said quietly. The eunuch swallowed hard before regaining his composure.

"Forgive me, but I do not quite understand. You are a direct descendant of the Targaryen line…," he wanted to explain, but she cut him off.

"A bastard, Varys, nothing more. And as far as I know, my half-sister is still alive and well across the Narrow Sea somewhere. We live in a time of chaos, yes, but that does not mean I have the intention of bringing order to this realm. I did not ask for fame or glory, all I want is to live a quiet and content life," she said with vehemence in her voice. The man straightened his shoulders and looked at her hard.

"Many men think they can dictate how their life is supposed to be, but it's always these men that end up the fools in the end, out-played by fate," he told her stiffly.

"But I am no man. I am no Targaryen. I am just Samaya Tyrell, the Maid of Highgarden," Sam declared, turning to walk away from the man. She took a couple steps before she could hear him talk quietly, almost in a whisper.

"The Gods will not care about that, my Queen."

DUN DUN DUUUUUUN... thoughts? Please leave a review if you enjoyed it! xx