Chapter 4
King's Landing, 2 years earlier
"What is she doing with him?" Cersei huffed.
She and Jaime were standing in the balcony, looking at their little sister who was walking in the garden with Varys.
"I would imagine that she is looking for a way to escape," Jaime replied. "He is probably boring the poor girl to death."
"He wants something from her," Cersei stated. "Probably hopes that she babbles something important."
"I don't think…"
"Come on, Jaime," Cersei snorted. "We both know she is not exactly smart."
"She's a child."
"She's 15, she could be married already. I don't understand why father haven't started to find her a husband."
Jaime glanced at Cersei disapprovingly.
"I think she's too young. Surely you recall how little you enjoyed getting married."
"That's different; I wasn't as…simple as her. Besides, I think father will be relieved when she doesn't follow him around anymore."
Jaime picked up the hint of annoyance in Cersei's voice and understood what the problem was. Their father was giving too much attention to their little sister. Jaime had to admit that he had wondered about that himself. Their father had never been warm or loving and he wasn't like that with Serafina either, but he did spent a lot of time with her and often took her with him when he traveled.
"Well," Jaime stated. "I better go and save her from the Spider."
As he approached Serafina and Varys, he noticed that she didn't seem bored at all; they were in the middle of a conversation.
"Ser Jaime," Varys greeted him politely.
"Taking a little afternoon walk?" Jaime stated.
Varys smiled, his smile had always annoyed Jaime. Well, pretty much everything about Varys annoyed him; Jaime didn't trust Master of Whisperers at all. Unfortunately the Spider was a necessary evil.
"I had the pleasure to keep Lady Serafina company," Varys replied. "Your sister is a delightful young lady."
"Yes, she is," Jaime huffed. "Would you excuse us, I need to talk to her."
"Of course." Varys paused and bowed briefly at Serafina. "Thank you for the walk, my lady."
"The pleasure was mine," Serafina replied.
"You're welcome," Jaime said after Varys had left.
Serafina seemed confused.
"What?"
"I doubt that you really enjoyed spending time with Varys."
"I did actually."
Jaime stared at her disbelievingly.
"You can't be serious."
"Why not? He is an intelligent man."
"He's a vulture," Jaime snorted. "I hope you don't think that you can trust him."
Serafina smiled.
"I'm not that stupid, brother. I simply enjoy talking with him. I wouldn't mind marrying a man like him."
Jaime's eyes widened before he burst into laughter.
"Oh my dear sister, you do know that he's a eunuch?"
"Yes, I know. I meant a man as smart as him."
"And as bald and as sturdy as him?" Jaime teased.
Serafina shrugged.
"Those things wouldn't bother me if the man would have the right kind of personality."
"Really? What kind of personality should he have?" Jaime asked curiously.
"Well… I would prefer something else than a violent drunkard."
Jaime frowned.
"Surely you know that father wouldn't give you to a man like that."
"He would if it would benefit our family enough," Serafina replied dryly.
That was true. Jaime leaned towards his sister and put his hand on her shoulder.
"If any man ever lays a hand on you, I promise I will make him pay."
Serafina smiled.
"Thank you, brother, but you don't have to worry. I can take care of myself."
Serafina sat at the table with the King of the North. She was hungry, but she couldn't concentrate on the food. She needed to concentrate on giving him the right kind of impression. Her eating shouldn't look too fancy, but still graceful enough. It was a small detail, but she had learned the importance of details. Her survival could depend on those. Hopefully she had read him right so far.
She didn't think that he was a rapist, but she couldn't be absolutely sure. What she knew for sure was that many of his men wouldn't hesitate to rape her if they would have a chance. She needed to do everything she could for not giving them that chance. She needed to make their king like her enough for wanting to protect her. That wouldn't be easy, but not impossible either.
Reading people was something she was very good at and that skill had served her well so far. When she had been a child, she had understood what her father wanted her to be and she had tried her hardest to fulfill all his expectations. Calm, rational, obedient. She had never complained or threw temper tantrums; instead she had shown interest toward everything her father had taught her.
He had appreciated her efforts so much that eventually he had even asked her opinion about some things and expressed that he didn't find her company unpleasant. She had managed to earn some kind of affection from him, he appreciated intelligence. Her sister however thought that she was stupid and that was exactly what she wanted her to think. Stupid meant harmless and she certainly didn't want to draw Cersei's attention. Serafina had noticed how nasty her sister could be.
Jaime she liked, but he was too blind to see Cersei's faults. Or maybe they just didn't bother him. She had nothing against Tyrion, but they weren't very close, mostly because of their father. Tywin had made it cleat that he didn't want Serafina to spend time with Tyrion, so she hadn't. In the end it was her father who decided about her future, so she needed to stay on his good side.
Sometimes it all felt like an endless game she was forced to play. She really couldn't be just herself with anyone. Right now she needed to figure out who Robb Stark wanted her to be. A helpless little lady? A shy maiden? A simple noble girl? Most men didn't appreciate a smart woman, but she didn't think that he would like too stupid woman either. Certainly not an arrogant princess, he was from the North.
He seemed like a dominant man and he hated her family, so she guessed that he wanted her to be somewhat submissive. Maybe he wanted to see fear and tears. Maybe he wanted to hurt her. If that was the case, then she would just have to deal with it. She needed to fight for her survival harder than ever before.