AN: Okay, so quick reminder, this is happening on the same day that the last chapter happened on. Enjoy. Also…sorry that it's a short chapter.
Miriam
Miriam was cut out for a lot of things, studying maps, reading in Valyrian, and dealing with Loras's antics, but she was never made to be a lady in waiting. Though Leila certainly never ordered her around, the head maid certainly did, insisting that Miriam wash all the Stark boys' sweaty garments. Since Brandon Stark's fall, she hardly got any time to herself.
Luckily, though, she was able to visit Theon once more and sleep with him again. The second time she slept with him proved to be an uncomfortable experience. She was learning quickly that Theon had his good days and bad days, but when she thought of her family's future social standing, she let him do whatever he wanted with her. Theon was especially proud of his manhood, just as Loras had told her before she left Highgarden.
The second night with Theon he had been especially rough with her and rude. Miriam hated to admit it, but the first time she lay with Theon had actually been a pleasant. Theon, however, had no regard for her the second visit, and she left rather sore.
Miriam's fingers felt numb after so much scrubbing, but she was relieved that the Starks' clothes were finally done. It was funny, because she wasn't even supposed to be a Stark maid, yet that brute of a woman screamed at anyone in her path.
Since Miriam didn't have any more work to do, she felt it necessary to visit Theon again. She prayed that he was in a good mood. He still hadn't given her a straight answer on whether he would accept her proposal.
Brandon Stark had been unconscious for two days, and it was said that the Lady Stark never left his bedside. Leila said that morning that she'd be spending the day with Tyrion. Miriam didn't bother asking what they'd be doing. It seemed to her Leila wanted to spend as much time as she could with the siblings she hardly ever saw. Miriam was very grateful that she had such a close relationship with Margaery and Loras.
"What do you want?" Theon snapped when he opened the door for her. Miriam had rushed, and he hardly seemed to notice she was slightly out of breath. "I'm busy!"
"I came to see if you could use a bit of relief for your stress," Miriam said. "Things have been hectic since the King's arrival."
"If I need anything, I'll send for you. Shouldn't a highborn lady such as yourself know her place as a woman?" Theon growled.
Miriam tried biting her tongue, but she couldn't take it.
"You forget Theon that I am a lady of noble birth and I am going out of my way to see you and pleasure you," she spat. "Show me some respect. House Tyrell is better than you ever could have hoped for!"
She wished she hadn't lost her temper. Theon's face twisted in his rage. He grabbed her by the shoulders, and she feared her would hurt her, but he let her go, but then he proceeded to tell her off for everything she had said.
"I am an Iron Born!" He had shouted in her face. "I demand respect! If you are even considering being my wife, then you will have to learn respect!" It went on and on, and Miriam wondered how she could have possibly thought the first night with him could have been pleasurable. Theon was a horrible twat.
When he had finished telling her off, she swallowed away the pride she'd been raised on and said: "Of course, my lord. I was in the wrong. Would you find it in your heart to forgive my rudeness?"
"I'll…I'll think about it!" Theon said.
She had to put up with him, but what she really needed was to get in his bed. She tried shifting slightly so he could get a better look at the slightly low-cut dress she'd worn for him. She was sure she saw Theon's eyes flicker downward toward the little bit of cleavage there, so she made her move.
She walked inside the room and pressed herself against him. Theon certainly was well muscled. She could feel that even through his thick layers. She tried to take control of the situation, tried to arouse him with her tongue. It worked for a bit; Theon's hands gripped her buttocks hard enough to bruise, and his tongue had just barely found its way into her mouth when suddenly -
"Don't be such a slut!" Theon shouted and shoved her away.
The action caught her off guard. She barely caught herself before falling. He was always horny. She as offering for him to have his way with her, and yet he had refused. Perhaps there was more to Theon than just a sexually starved man.
"Theon," she breathed, regaining herself. She cautiously neared him, but he stepped over to the side.
"You don't know a thing about what a man needs," he cried. Just when she was about to feel guilty, realizing she had made a huge generalization about him just because he was a man, he added: "I'm off to the brothel. Now those are women who respect men!"
Miriam blinked, and she could just envision her grandmother's face if she heard this stupid boy. So much for thinking there was more to Theon. He shoved by her, and she did nothing to stop him.
"Theon, are you going to leave your door open?" She asked his back.
He glared at her and slammed the door shut before stomping away. She stood there for a moment at a loss of what to do. She had assumed Theon would want to spend some time with her. Even before, though he'd treated her poorly, he was still eager to have sex. She was getting antsy for an answer to her proposal. She tore her eyes from his door and left, making sure not to catch the eyes of anyone that would give her more chores.
On her way back to Leila's room, she was halted by Lydia Stark.
"It's been a while," Lydia said. "Where have you been?"
"Doing chores," Miriam answered the Stark. She pulled her dress up so that Lydia wouldn't notice the dress she wore. It wasn't reasonable for her to be wearing something like that in the cold; in Highgarden it wouldn't have drawn any attention.
Lydia raised her eyebrows at the sight of Miriam adjusting her dress. "You look quite done up to be doing chores. Who were you visiting?"
"A boy," Miriam said, shrugging, deciding to be only partially honest. Her grandmother had told her once that the best way to get someone to believe you was to make sure you said something at least partially true. "Are you going to report me to your lord father?" She has no idea I have a lord father too.
"I don't care what you do or don't do in the bedroom. That's private," Lydia said with a shrug. Her views were more liberated than Miriam had expected. "We can be honest with one another. I've hired you to keep an eye out for me, and I don't treat people I hire like scum. I'm not a Lannister." When Miriam said nothing immediately, Lydia said: "Walk with me."
She felt she had no choice if she wanted to keep her cover, so they walked together.
"Any news of Leila Lannister?" Lydia asked. Her eyes bore straight into Miriam's, but she held her ground. Even if she was a maid, she wouldn't be intimidated by the likes of Lydia Stark.
"I haven't seen her much today," Miriam answered shortly. That was the truth. Leila had left early to spend time with Tyrion.
"How does she treat you?" Lydia wondered.
"She treats me quite well. I've been serving House Lannister for many years now. Leila and I grew up together –" Miriam was cut off by Lydia's raised eyebrow.
"You call her Leila," she said, grinning. "You're close with her. Are you friends?"
Miriam felt foolish for her slip up. Would Margaery have made such an obvious mistake?
"Like I've said, I've been serving them for a while. Lady Leila is my mistress, but she's also been kind to me. She insists I call her Leila…" Miriam tried remedying her words.
"Truly? I've heard Lannisters are a bunch of arrogant cocks. I assumed she'd be no different. How can a Lannister be friends with someone that can do nothing for them? Or is it that you can do something for her?" Lydia snickered.
"Leila's different than the others," Miriam said.
"Gods, then they must all really be insufferable cunts," Lydia said with a half-smile.
"She's spoken about you," Miriam said suddenly. "She wants to know why you hate her. She wants to know why she can never be good enough for you. Is it just because she's engaged to your brother?"
Lydia halted and glared at Miriam. Miriam noticed the direwolf at her heels.
"Why don't I like her? I don't like her because she feels she's entitled to everything! She's never suffered a single thing in her life! She's always been babied by Tywin Lannister!" Lydia snapped.
"It's not her fault she's been born into power," Miriam responded. "You've been born into power as well. Lord Eddard Stark's eldest daughter…I hardly think you have room to talk."
Lydia looked her up and down.
"You don't act like a mere serving girl," she breathed.
"Leila has taught me to say what I want," Miriam said quickly.
"Has she? What a stupid girl. If Tywin Lannister wasn't her daddy, she'd just be some slut in a brothel. She'd be bedded every night and when the men grew bored of her and her arrogance, they'd slit her throat and kill her," said Lydia offhandedly. "You may speak your mind around me, but be careful with that tongue. The world is dark."
I know more about the world than you, Stark, Miriam thought bitterly.
"Apologies, my lady," Miriam said carefully. "I've been treated very well by the Lannisters. Leila has been nothing but kind to me. I don't tell you this because I'm afraid of her; I say it because I respect her. Before assuming she's an arrogant cunt or whatever you think Lannisters are, why don't you get to know her first?"
Lydia sighed. "I'm trying, but forgive me; she's hard to approach. That's why I have you. So why does she want to know me better?"
"She wants to know you because she figures you're going to be sisters. She cares about your opinions of her," said Miriam.
"As she should…but it's not for certain we'll be sisters. My father hasn't sent a raven to Lord Lannister," Lydia said.
"That's true, but wouldn't it be in his best interest to do so?" Miriam asked.
"We don't need the Lannisters," said Lydia. "They need us."
"The world does need the Lannisters. They've helped many rulers sit upon the Iron Throne…" Miriam trailed off, and Lydia smirked. If she continued with examples, Lydia might pick up that she had received a formal education, tipping her off that she wasn't who she was pretending to be.
"Come, Miriam. Let's halt our talk of Lannisters," Lydia said, and Miriam mentally sighed. "You say Leila treats you well, but I will show you a really good time. Anything you want, I will give it to you. What would you like to eat? Have you ever had pigeon pie or steak cooked in red wine?"
Miriam had had both these things, but as she was posing as a mere maid, she responded humbly with: "No, I haven't."
"Then we shall feast. Then I will get you a new dress. You will only serve Leila Lannister and I, no one else," said Lydia.
She treats her inferiors with respect. That's something you don't see in a lady every day, Miriam thought. She smiled at Lydia and bowed her head, thanking her.
Lydia Stark did in fact treat her to a wonderful meal. It was wonderful for even highborn standards. Miriam didn't have to pretend to enjoy it. Then she fitted her with a new gown and chatted with her about life in the North. They spoke a little about her brother lying in bed and when he'd open his eyes. Miriam prayed she wasn't betraying Leila's trust, but after Lydia stopped hounding her on details about Leila's private life, she began to enjoy the Stark girl's company. Perhaps she'd been wrong about her. It was too bad she and Leila couldn't see eye to eye.
"I care about my brothers and sisters a lot," Lydia whispered. The sun was beginning to set. Lydia had drunk some wine and had offered Miriam some too, but she only drank a little. Lydia was getting more talkative. "I want Robb to be happy. I'll never forgive that Lannister slut if she hurts him in any way."
"Leila cares for Robb. She doesn't want to hurt him," Miriam said, wishing Lydia would leave the topic alone. Political marriages and arrangements were just a part of being highborn. "You should have a little more faith in her."
"People have to earn trust. I don't just trust anyone," Lydia said and took another swallow of her wine. How much tolerance did she have? She was more talkative, but she certainly wasn't drunk, and she had already drunk three glasses.
"Do you trust me?" Miriam asked
"I'm learning to trust you."
"Well, I trust Leila. That should spark some trust in you."
"We'll see."
When Miriam finally left Lydia, her opinions on her changed. The girl had some charisma…you just had to get to know her to experience it. She wasn't like the other Starks. Miriam sighed, wishing she'd stayed more guarded. She thought about returning to Leila's room or if she should try with Theon again. Theon had already had a whore that day, plus he had outright refused her company. It had been several hours, so he was probably ready for another woman, but would he want it?
He was a man. Yes, he would.
Miriam once again climbed the steps to Theon's room and knocked. The door opened, and Theon looked her up and down.
"Forgive me, my lord," she said. "I couldn't stay away."
Hopefully he'd forgotten their previous conversation. When Theon opened his mouth, she had to hide a grin. He held the same expression he had when they had slept with one another the first two times. He wanted her.
"I don't blame you," he said tightly. "How could you? Come in. I'm a good person. If we fuck, will you be happy?"
"Very," Miriam lied and stepped inside.
A fire was ablaze in the corner of the room to keep them warm. Theon was naked in seconds and ripped Miriam's clothes off like paper. He pushed her on top of the bed, their legs twisting in the fur covers until they dropped to the floor. His kisses were rough but passionate, and Miriam reminisced about their first night together. In the back of her mind she thought about what new tricks she'd try on him, but she learned they weren't needed.
Theon Greyjoy was very much in charge of the moment.
She smiled sweetly at him to show her dedication, and then he thrusted deep inside her.
