Bridgit Hightower - 21, portrayed by Phoebe Dynevor.

Madelyn Penrose - 17, portrayed by Olivia Popica.

Chapter 6

Elena

Light stretched its golden arms across King's Landing, reminding Elena that she was home. She was in the princess's room, braiding her hair with a warm smile to her face, concentrating on her work. Myrcella had such beautiful golden curls, and it matched her heart.

"Are you glad you're back home?"

"Yes. I missed it. The snow in Winterfell was pretty, but I like the weather more here." Elena stopped when she heard Myrcella say, "I wish you were with me more. I hardly saw you. Tommen even kept coming to my room to ask if you were there."

Elena adored her youngest cousins dearly. They were more like a brother and a sister to her than anything. She always looked out for them and took care of them whenever their mother tended to her two eldest sons or to perform her duties as queen.

She placed her chin on Myrcella's head and smiled when she met her cousin's eyes in the mirror. "Tell you what. Why don't I smuggle some lemon cakes from the kitchen and bring them here for you?"

"Mother says I shouldn't eat too much or I might get fat like father."

"Well, I think...you look beautiful no matter what anyone says."

"Not as pretty as you."

Elena smiled at the gesture, but she shook her head and sat down next to her. "Oh no." Myrcella gave her a small smile when Elena reached and took her hand. "I wish I was pretty as you, little cub."

"Don't leave me."

"What makes you think I'll leave you?"

"You'll marry soon, and you'll have children with him and forget all about us."

"No, of course not." When her cousin looked down, she took her chin to make her look at her again and placed a reassuring hand on her cheek. "I would never ever forget you." Elena wrapped her pinky finger around Myrcella's and leaned in to kiss it. "I promise."

Seeing Myrcella smiling face made Elena smile. She wanted to do everything she could to make her happy by keeping her word. It's what mattered to Myrcella and to Tommen, and Elena knew it. Most of the times she kept her promises like when Tommen asked her to be with him at night in his room, so she did. She played with Ser Pounce with him, tucked him into bed, told him a story when she was young, and sang him a lullaby. However, there were times when she delivered false promises like promising to stay with Tommen and Myrcella forever when they were much younger. Elena knew long ago that she could not stay with them forever. Nevertheless, she still promised them that to appease them, but it seemed that Myrcella knew that once Elena marries, she will leave King's Landing. As for Tommen, he never once mentioned it, even though he is old enough to know better. He probably does not want to mention it, because it would remind him that his dear cousin would leave him eventually.

"Is it alright for me to have lemon cakes now?"

Elena smirked at her cousin and nodded. "Of course you can."

Myrcella watched her cousin leave the room to fetch her the pastries against the Queen's judgement. As much as she respected her aunt, she couldn't help but notice the deceitful angelic voice every time she spoke with those calm, calculating eyes following her with such disdain. Her suspicions were either because she was her uncle's ward, the brother whom she despised, or because Tommen and Myrcella often asked for her in front of their mother, almost as if they preferred Elena over the Queen, or perhaps it was both.

As she headed into the kitchens, steam rose to the ceiling. A cook ran past Elena and she smirked seeing them in a frenzy. Elena tilted her head to see two women. One of them had her hair up, and it was red as poppies. Her apron soiled itself by flour, but she didn't seem to care as she pressed her sleek hands against the dough on the counter, kneading it. She was a cook. It was her job, and she was one of Elena's good friends, Bridgit Hightower. The other woman sat on a stool, eating an apple. Her hair bounced in waves in the light creeping above them, flaunting the slate, blue outer rings underneath her lids. It was Elena's other friend, Madelyn Penrose, but only the ones who were close to her called her Mady.

"Mady, shouldn't you be with the other tailors?"

They both turned to see their friend with a smirk on her face, so they smiled at her as Mady nearly exclaimed, "Elena!" She then showed the apple to her. "The King's tailor excused me to catch a break so that when I get back, I can start working on the gowns for the masque."

Mady was an exquisite tailor. She knew exactly what to do with that needle and thread since she was eight with her embroidery lessons back in the Stormlands. Her father sent her to King's Landing to serve Princess Myrcella as her handmaiden when she was fourteen. Then one day when Myrcella tore her dress, Mady seamed the stitches back together with the Queen watching with a careful eye and offered her the position to be a seamstress to which Mady agreed to. In time, Maddy soon became a tailor, creating her own clothes. She even made gowns for the princess herself for King Niklas's coronation.

Bridgit's situation was entirely different. Her father banished her after she was caught with one of his soldiers when she was fifteen, so she came to King's Landing for a better life. She then found a secret passageway to the kitchens to smuggle some food by dressing as one of the cooks. Most of the cooks were not even aware how she strolled inside until one day one of the cooks ordered for her to help her with a soup, so she followed his instructions and remained there ever since. Elena still never believed that no one questioned Bridgit's sudden appearance in the kitchen, but it was how Bridgit told it. There must have been more to the story, because it sounded too unbelievable for it to be true, but Elena decided to not press on it because she though there was a reason why.

"How was the North?" Bridgit asked with her thick accent.

"It was fine."

"Any man catch your eye yet?"

Elena smirked hearing her friend's tone. Bridgit often teased her friends, but she meant no harm by her words. Elena always viewed her two friends like her elder sisters. They told each other everything whatever came to mind. Usually it was gossip floating around the Red Keep, other times it was Bridgit talking about her experience with a man she laid with the night before while Mady's face flushed and tried to change the subject.

"You and men, Bridgit. That's all you ever think about." Mady complained.

"I have a right to know, and I'm sure you would like to hear it too." Elena hopped on a table and smirked upon hearing her friends argue already. "Now, tell us, Elena."

She never even thought about it, because there wasn't really anyone who interested her. The only man she talked to was Lord Stark's son, the heir to Winterfell. At first glance, he seemed to be a brooding northerner like the rest of the men there. She will admit he was handsome and kind on their first encounter, but that's about it. She didn't know him well enough, and she had no reason to. She was a bastard and a handmaiden in the Red Keep. There was no doubt in her mind that he would marry a fine noblewoman fit for the north to rule by his side.

However, when their hands were connected after feeling his direwolf's fur, she couldn't help but notice his eyes. They were calm yet there was desire. At that moment, Elena knew what Robb Stark wanted. She was thankful that her cousin, the King, came forward before she gave her name to him. She didn't want to lead him on to anything when they would both soon be betrothed to another someday, and if there was one thing Elena swore to herself was that she would never give up her maidenhead to any man except for her husband. She refused to be anyone's mistress.

"No, there was no one."

"Well, isn't that a surprise. A Lannister born noblewoman can't find a man?"

"A bastard, Bridgit. Not a noblewoman."

"But you still carry Lannister blood." Mady said. "You're as good as any Lannister."

"I appreciate your kind words, Mady, but almost my entire family sees me as a disgrace for being illegitimate. And I'm sure the noble whom my uncle will probably arrange to marry me will think of it too."

Bridgit shook her head in disbelief. "You think so lowly of yourself."

Elena never cared what people thought of her. She couldn't help herself if she spoke the truth. "No. I'm just being realistic. How many nobles or noblewomen do you think laugh behind my back every time I pass them?"

"We didn't mean any offense, Elena." Mady said.

"I know you didn't."

Her friends meant well and were simply looking out for Elena, but there were times when she thought that they didn't understand Elena's situation, because they were noble women and legitimate. It didn't matter if Elena married a young, handsome lord simply because she had Lannister blood running through her veins. She will always be known as the Kingslayer's bastard to all, a joke of the Lannister name.

"Oh," Elena jumped off the table. "Do you mind making some lemon cakes, Bridgit. It's for the princess."

"I heard the princess wasn't allowed to anymore by the Queen." Bridgit said with a sly smirk.

"Yes, that's why what she doesn't know won't hurt her."

"You always look out for the princess and the youngest prince too." Mady said.

"Well, they're very dear to me."

Bridgit rolled her eyes as she dug her fingers inside the dough on the counter and flipped it to knead it. "You need to start looking after yourself."

"I do."

"Sure you do, but I don't doubt you take care of others more than yourself."

"My family comes first, and they always will."

"Don't forget your words, Elena. Almost your entire family sees you as a disgrace. Do you think most of them would look out for your interest?"

Elena didn't have to answer, because they all knew. She probably knew the ones who would carry on with their lives if she was dead. That's why she was thankful to have her uncle, Tommen, and Myrcella. They were part of the joy that warmed her heart. That's why Elena swore she would do anything for them.

Sansa

Sansa and Septa Mordane were practicing their embroidery. Her direwolf, Lady, sat by her side patiently. Robb was with Jory, aiding their father's men to bring their belongings to their rooms. Arya was supposed to be here but chose to be in her room instead. She was still mad about that butcher's boy. Sansa will admit that she was scared to see her brother and her sweet king like that, so she looked away, unable to watch the sight. Seeing all that blood was too much for her.

Her head turned to the side upon hearing the clanking of armor. Even Lady's head perked up to see who it was. Sansa smiled to see her beloved King Niklas strolling through the residential area for the Starks. His robe was stitched perfectly together and lined with golden thread. The golden crown on his head commanded authority, reminding everyone who he was. The two guards behind him were from the Kingsguard, fulfilling their duty to protect their King.

"Your Grace." Septa Mordane greeted him with a curtsy.

"I hope my servants have given the most generous hospitality since your arrival."

His smile was kind, which made Sansa even more nervous, because all she wanted to do was to impress him. Thankfully, her Septa knew what to say. "They have, Your Grace. My lady and I thank you for your warm welcome."

When he turned to her, Sansa couldn't help but look at the floor. She did her best not to fiddle her fingers, a habit she did when she was nervous. She then felt fingers taking her chin gently to raise her head up so that she was directly gazing at her King.

"No need to be afraid, my lady. You have no reason to look down." She smiled warmly hearing his gentle voice. He then turned to Septa Mordane and to his guardsmen. "Leave us for a moment if you would." The guards bowed and Septa Mordane curtsied as she followed them out of the room.

When he turned his attention to Lady his eyes nearly widened and the corners of his mouth grew as he approached her. Lady immediately stood from her spot and watched the King. Sansa observed how her King was unafraid of her as he stroked her fur. Lady took a liking to him by licking his fingers. King Niklas chuckled and continued to pet her.

"I heard direwolves were strong beasts that can tear into any wild animal. I can't say that for this one, can I?"

Sansa approached her King and stood next to him, saying, "Her name's Lady. My father found her and a litter of other pups to raise as our own."

"Lady?" The King mused himself. "A fitting name for one so proper." He stopped petting her and turned to Sansa, taking her hand and slowly striding over to the balcony with the sun casting itself on them, shining on his beautiful blonde hair and green eyes. "I would just like to apologize for my manner in the Kingsroad. It must have been awful for you...to see me that way."

Sansa gave him a reassuring smile and kind words, "You are King. It was your duty to protect your brother. Just as my brother would have done anything to protect his."

His eyes peaked in interest. "Robb Stark, you mean?" He then chuckled. "Yes, he certainly would, wouldn't he? But sometimes it's not everything. Family can be a convenient lie at times. I've always sought out to seek the truth. That's what really matters. If my brother harmed your sister anyway back then, I would have had him take that butcher's boy's place."

Sansa's smile vanished in an instant upon hearing her King. She certainly did not want to anger him anyway, but she needed to ask, "You would torture your brother, Prince Joffrey?"

"Depends on the situation. After your sister's direwolf attacked him, I thought how he'd bear those ugly scars. If he hadn't learned his lesson then, then he is a fool as he always will be."

Hearing him speak of his own brother sounded similar to Sansa and Arya's relationship. They held many differences and often argued over the littlest things. Sansa still couldn't believe she was related her. They certainly don't act like sisters, but Sansa would never want her sister to get hurt despite their differences. She don't know though if she would say the same for Arya after experiencing all of the infernal pranks that Arya does towards her sister.

"But enough of my brother. I have a gift for you." Her eyes nearly sparkled when he dug in his pocket and held out a golden lion carved into a pendant. "Turn around." When she did, he put it around her neck and secured it on. "I had it made as soon as we came back. As soon as I saw your face during that terrible incident, I had to do something. Do you like it?"

Sansa admired it and looked at her King with a soft smile. "Yes, Your Grace. It looks just like the one the Queen and the princess wear."

"That's because there are only two like it in the world. Well, three now, now that you have one." He placed a gentle hand on her cheek, saying, "And there is no need to call me Your Grace anymore. You are to be my Queen. You must look the part and act on it. Hold your head high and call me Niklas."

"Niklas."

"Good."

Niklas leaned in and planted his lips on her. They were soft and supple to the touch as they moved in sync. He was her King, and she will marry him and give him beautiful princes and princesses.

Here's the next chapter everyone. Looks like we have two new characters, and I hope you like them as the story goes, because I'm planning for something big. I also know not much really happened in this chapter, but I promise that it will get better as I keep updating. Stay tuned for more chapters heading your way.