Amara woke early, intent on finding a way to worm her way into the good graces of the royal family. It had been a month since she and her sister had arrived at court, but it felt as though she had only been there a few days. She knew she had made a good first impression but she needed something more if she wanted to be chosen as Rhaegar's wife. She slipped into a comfortable yet pretty short-sleeved crimson gown with a slightly more revealing neckline that she was sure would catch someone's attention. She smiled as she gazed in the mirror while she brushed her long thick blonde hair.
She looked forward to a walk in the gardens in hopes of running into Queen Rhaella or Prince Rhaegar. Amara couldn't help but feel a tinge of pity for the queen, she couldn't imagine being married to a monster that also happened to wear a crown.
But a knock at the door quickly wiped the smile off of her face. Her handmaiden quickly rushed to the door, Amara continued brushing her hair until she heard her handmaiden's soft gasp. She turned to see none other than King Aerys standing at her door. Amara froze as she bowed, the last thing she needed was to anger the man who sat on the Iron Throne, though his temper was unpredictable.
"Your Grace! What do I owe the honor?" Amara asked as she forced a smile on her face, she prayed the king couldn't tell the difference. His yellow teeth were all too apparent when he smiled that sickening smile.
"My dearest Lady Lannister, I thought long and hard about the proposal you made some time ago." Her stomach dropped, believing that the king was talking about her subtle proposal of marriage to the prince. But her stomach dropped even further at the sound of his next words.
"You are a clever young woman, I would hate for your father to squander your talents, and so I've decided to name you to the small council. I've named you Mistress to the Crown, you will handle duties I feel the Hand is incapable of handling." Amara could hardly believe what she had heard. Just to spite her father the king had made her his hand in all but name. She felt weak in her knees it took all she had not to faint right then and there.
"Your Grace is too kind... I only hope to serve the crown to the best of my abilities." The words felt foreign in her mouth. Her father had only entrusted her with power because he was always away at court. But now she was usurping her father and his position, the thought scared her, there was no telling what her father would do when he found out.
"I surely hope so my lady." King Aerys turned his head and motioned for someone. A servant brings forth a stack of papers, no doubt royal decrees and other such paperwork the king had little desire to deal with. But as the young man slipped past her to lay the stack on her desk he hands something to the king. The king smiled as he opened the beautiful oak box, inside was the prettiest necklace Amara had ever seen.
A chain of silver and diamonds linked nine small emeralds surrounded by more diamonds a larger emerald is linked at the middle. It was a beautiful necklace indeed and only when the king asked to place it around her neck did she realize he had intended it for her.
"It once belonged to Queen Rhaenerya Targaryen. A beautiful necklace for a beautiful woman." The king took her hand and kissed it. It took all Amara had not to shudder in disgust at this shadow of a man.
"Your Grace..." Amara stuttered as she tried to think of something to say, but her mind and her mouth were failing her. King Aerys shook his head and gave her a sickening smile in return.
"You can thank me by doing your father's job for him. I need at least one competent person on my small council even if it happens to be a woman." Amara opened her mouth to speak but found herself unable to speak when the king speaks first.
"In honor of this new appointment, I have organized a ball to be held. The prince himself has been asked to escort you." Amara doubted that the king had asked anything of his son. He yells at the servant to get out of his sight sending the man scurrying before leaving himself. Amara stood in place, petrified at the thought of disappointing both her father and the king.
Amara, now pale as milk, turned to see the stack of papers on her desk and sighs. She had much work to do.
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"I see my father has made his offer." Amara looks up to meet Rhaegar's unhappy face. Rhaegar leans in the doorway watching as Amara diligently looked through and signed papers. When his father first announced his intention to create an office for his hand's daughter Rhaegar had protested. He didn't want Amara anywhere near the worms in his father's small council, no one deserved to be trapped as he was. But much to his surprise, Amara seemed to be taking her work in stride. But she was Tywin Lannister's daughter, he supposed he shouldn't be shocked.
"He has... with a bonus included." Her hand reached up to touch the necklace the king had placed the necklace. Rhaegar's eyes burned with anger, his father had done this when he would take mistresses or show favorites. Amara sighed as she brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
"I'm not a fool I know what this means... I would never lower myself to that position." She stands, giving Rhaegar a full view of her slightly more revealing dress. Amara would refuse any advance the king made towards her. But if she could move herself into a more favorable position to be chosen as Rhaegar's wife.
"Are you worried about your father? I can't imagine he's pleased the king is trying to replace him with his daughter." Amara chuckled. Rhaegar made his way towards her, the closeness of the space between the two was making both hearts beat a little bit faster.
"I've been waiting for him to sweep in and scold me for rising above my place." She makes her way around the desk and smiles at Rhaegar. Rhaegar averted his gaze away from the not-so-subtle display of her breasts.
"You're a strong woman my lady, any father would be proud." Amara frowns at his formal use of her title.
"Please, call me Amara I insist. After all, I suppose we'll be seeing more of each other." Rhaegar smiled. Amara was a very charming woman, if his dream was a glimpse into what the gods had planned for him then surely anything he did with her couldn't be wrong. But he was a prince and heir to the Iron Throne as much as he disliked it, he had to be careful. He couldn't ruin the eldest daughter of the richest lord in the seven kingdoms.
"Amara I-" He stopped mid-sentence and took a step back much to Amara's dismay.
"I should go... I do not feel it is appropriate that I'm here. I will be back to escort you to the ball tonight." Rhaegar bowed his headed and with the turn of his heel, he was gone.
Amara stood looking at the spot where the prince had been standing and sneered. She had been so close but yet so far. She glanced back at the papers on her desk, knowing that there was still plenty of work to be done.
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"I hardly find this fair Amara," Cersei whines into the mirror as Amara twists her hair into the court fashions she loved so much. The sisters did not get along often but Cersei saw her elder sister much like her mother.
"You find most things unfair sister, it is one of the times we must simply grin and bear it." Amara brushes her sister's hair and smiled as she remembered all the times their mother had done this for her.
"But why should he marry that dornish bitch?!" Cersei huffed.
"Cersei! Watch your tongue! It is only gossip there is no certainty the Rhaegar will wed Princess Elia, but if he does we must show our respect." Amara scolds her, though she couldn't help but agree. But as Aerys had said before her family were mere servants to the crown, and Elia was a princess in her own right.
"Alliances shift but we must show our respect until things shift in our favor. Mother always said patience was a virtue." Amara smiled as she tucked the last few pins in place. Her sister stood up and smiled as she twirled in her gown made of cloth of gold. She was pleased how it fell off her shoulders and fell at her cleavage in a v-shape. Cersei was intent on catching the eyes of many men tonight.
She turned to her sister being with pride and thanked her for her efforts before sauntering from the room. Amara tossed the brush aside and sunk down into a cushioned chair. Amara loved her sister dearly but when she had barged into her chambers, Amara couldn't tell her no.
Amara closed her eyes and released a tired sigh. She smiled and finally was able to motion for her handmaiden to help her get ready. Amara had ordered a new gown made quickly for the occasion. A deep green satin ball gown that fell off her shoulders, the top part of her sleeves puffed out and stopped at her elbow where the sleeve became skin tight and came to a point at the back of her hand. Decorated with emeralds and small glittering diamonds paired well with the necklace that King Aerys had given her. Golden curls and pale skin with bright green eyes made sure Amara Lannister would be a prize to be won.
"You look beautiful my lady." Amara's handmaiden complimented her as she stood.
"Thank you, Alyanne. Let us hope Prince Rhaegar agrees." As the words left her mouth a knock came at the door. Amara took a deep breath and smoothed out the skirt of her dress. Panic flooded her system as Alyanne went to the door and bowed once it opened.
Rhaegar's eyes widen as Amara smiled, the green of her dress only made the gold of her hair shine brighter.
And for once in his life, Rhaegar was speechless by the beauty of a woman. Even Elia's sun-kissed skin and dark hair paled in comparison to Amara's pale skin and golden curls. The beauty of both Lannister women was well-known throughout the courts of Westeros. His father might have even considered one of the girls a potential bride before his paranoia took the best of his mind. Many knew Lady Amara and Lady Cersei's father held most of the power at court, many who were not on the side of the king were on the side of the prince. Though that was of little comfort to Prince Rhaegar.
She smiled and dropped to a curtsy. The dress showed off the breasts any woman would be jealous of. Rhaegar offered her his hand which she graciously accepted. The servants in the hall stopped to stare in awe of the pair. The silver-haired prince and the golden-haired lady seemed as though they were figures in a dream.
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Hushed whispers fell over the crowd in the throne room of the Red Keep as the eyes of many fell upon the faces of Rhaegar Targaryen and Amara Lannister. King Aerys Targaryen and Queen Rhaella looked upon the pair and smiled. Queen Rhaella thought the pair looked every inch a king and queen, she failed to see her husband clearly thought the same.
Lord Tywin Lannister saw his daughter stand next to the prince and saw her mother in every inch of her figure. Aerys had been all too happy to inform Tywin that he had named Amara to the Small Council. It wasn't entirely unexpected, Aerys had been eager to usurp the power he had held for years, but he had expected his replacement to be his eldest daughter. A beautiful and talented young woman as the entire court staring at her as if she were already a queen. At that moment she felt no fear, but instead, she felt as if she were on top of the world.
The two descended the stairs together and with eyes still glued to their persons, they bowed before the Iron Throne. Aerys smiled, his sickening yellow teeth gave Amara's stomach an unsettling feeling. Amara couldn't help but glance at the crowd, so many faces she didn't recognize.
"Play some damn music! This isn't a bloody funeral!" Rhaegar glares at his father in silent resentment as the musicians scramble to play a song that wasn't familiar to him. He glanced down to find Amara had grabbed his hand for a dance.
"I feel it would be rude not to dance." Her small smile is enough to draw his attention away from his father. He led Amara through the crowd, he laid a hand on her waist and slowly led her into the dance. Others soon joined and Rhaegar's mind was once again thrust back into his dream. A lion and a dragon had done a dance, Rhaegar was in high doubt that it was as simple as a dance at a ball. But as he looked into Amara's bright green eyes he wondered if his dream could truly be that simple.
"May I ask what's on your mind? You seem so far away." Rhaegar sighed as he shook off his thoughts.
"My apologies, my mind seems to be elsewhere lately." The pair chuckled as Rhaegar twirled her around the floor.
"I completely understand, a prince must have much on his mind. If only you had someone to confide in." Amara joked. She could only imagine the pressure he must have on his shoulders. Amara could recall vividly the details of her father's letters when he wrote to her of Lord Darklen's betrayal.
"Yes and I suppose you see yourself as that person, my lady?" Rhaegar retorted. In truth, he found Amara very amusing. When he conversed with Elia she went along with whatever he said. But Amara had whit and a mind to match, she was a puzzle and a challenge to Rhaegar.
"I believe I told you to call me Amara... my prince." Amara couldn't help but laugh, two could play at that game. Rhaegar spun them around once more but was stopped suddenly by a hand on his shoulder. Amara's smile disappeared when they turned to see Elia Martell smiling. Amara pauses before she bowed and vanished into the crowd without giving Rhaegar much chance to protest.
Amara swiftly hid behind a large pillar, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She would refuse to admit such a thing ever bothered her, but all those people staring at her made her heart pound in her chest. But being a Lannister meant never showing weakness, 'a lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of the sheep.' It was a saying drilled into her since she was a young child. What was she getting into? So badly she had wanted to win the heart of the prince but she didn't know what it would cost her.
"Odd thing for a pretty lady to be so far from the party being held in her honor." Amara's head whipped in the direction of the voice. Robert Baratheon smiled at her, an act that was much easier to stomach than that of King Aerys.
"Forgive me, Robert not all of us are such crowd-pleasers." Amara gave a relaxed sigh of relief. Their fathers had grown up together, at one point a betrothal between Amara and Robert had been discussed and was in the beginning stages. But Lord Baratheon and his wife passed away before any more could be said on the matter.
Her old friend made his way to her, Amara did her best to regain her mask of composure. The two glanced over the balcony and watched the ball continued on below them. The dancing was being led by none other than the prince himself, with Elia Martell.
"Are you sure you want a man like that? Those Targaryen's are unpredictable." Robert's deep voice was some comfort as jealousy bubbled inside of her. Elia looked so happy dancing with a man she was so sure she would marry. Amara had always been so sure of what she wanted; so sure about following her father's lead. Whoever Rhaegar chose, it would leave the other heartbroken.
"It's what my father wants Robert, we both know that." She tore her eyes away from the seemingly happy couple. Robert scoffed, the young lord of the Storm Lands had been a rebel for as long as he could remember.
"Yes, we both know what the honorable Lord Tywin Lannister cares for nothing but power." Robert gasped dramatically as if to feign surprise. Amara laughed and gave the young lord a playful shove. The laughter died down and Amara's eyes began to drift back to the dancing. But Robert took her hand in his and began to lead her to the floor.
"Allow me to show that prince of yours how a real man dances." Before Amara has the ability to protest, Robert sweeps her out onto the floor as another song begins. Robert's strong arms made her more at ease when she realized she was once again under the watchful eyes of the court. The young lord of Storm's End was a cheeky one for sure, Amara and her mother had made a few visits to Storm's End while the twins were still young.
While her mother had still been alive and a young maiden still at court as a companion to the now Queen Rhaella; her mother had looked to betrothed her sister to Oberyn Martell. She had even heard her parents speaking of a betrothal between her and Robert Baratheon. Amara couldn't help but smile as she and Robert glided around the dance floor. She may have thought him an arrogant and immature swine, having already fathered a daughter on some girl in the Vale. Robert Baratheon had some redeeming qualities to him, he surely knew how to cheer up the slightly disheartened young Lannister woman.
She glances over to where Rhaegar is laughing at something Elia has just told him. Amara wasn't disheartened easily, but as she watches Elia's smile grow brightly her stomach develops a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. Perhaps King Aerys may have been right, after all, Elia was a princess in her own right. Amara was a Lady aiming too high because of the ambitions of her father, the gods could never look kindly upon such a thing.
"Thank you, Robert... But I believe I'm going to retire for the evening" Robert's face falls as Amara slows to a halt. She pats his shoulder as a sign of reassurance, she smiles once more before taking her skirt in her hands and slipping through the crowd unaware that Robert's eyes weren't the only ones following her retreating figure.
The night was cool and light against her skin as she stood in the archway of the gardens. The gardens at Casterly Rock had always been her favorite place when she was upset. But even as she gazed up into the night sky she longed to see her blood roses again, her mother had always loved those roses. It was the one thing Amara could still touch that reminded her of the mother that she had lost. Lysander had always teased her that she was more Tyrell than Lannister. Amara followed the path until it brought her to the place where she had first met Prince Rhaegar, Amara can't help but allow a small smile to grace her lips as she recalls the encounter. She was the daughter of one of the most powerful lords in the Seven Kingdoms and yet she couldn't help but feel as though she were as powerless as the small folk. 'A Lion does not concern themself with the opinions of a sheep.' a saying she had heard all too often after the passing of her mother, her father refused to look weak.
"I was told I might find you out here My Lady." Amara turns startled at the sudden interruption to find Elia Martell standing and watching her.
"My apologies Princess, I didn't hear you approach," Amara replied as her eyes fell to the floor. She curtsied to the girl who was only a year her senior, the princess of Dorne was certainly a beautiful woman. However, no one would sing songs or fight to win her hand.
"Please, there is no need for such formalities now that we are away from prying eyes." Amara eyes the princess with suspicion. She wouldn't have followed Amara into the gardens if she didn't want something from her.
Amara matches Elia's smile with one of her own. "Of course, I assume you would like to speak with me about the prince?" Amara was not one for subtly when she felt as though she would not like the outcome of whatever was going to be said. Elia nods curtly, the two women were an equal match when it came to having a will of iron.
"They were not wrong when they said you were every bit your father's daughter." Amara smiles coyly, they were not wrong, but they were not entirely right either. The Dornish princess moves closer to her golden-haired rival, Amara moves to sit on the cold stone bench.
"I do not wish to skirt around delicate matters. What is it about the prince you wish to speak with me about?" Elia sits down beside her, Amara's eyes turn to glance at her. She was growing impatient with Elia's tactics, but perhaps that is what she was counting on.
"Prince Rhaegar seems to have grown rather fond of you as of late." She states rather plainly. Amara takes a pause to carefully consider her words before she chooses to respond.
"So it would seem. But it would seem the prince is rather taken with his betrothal to you."
"Not for much longer I believe. I believe I saw Lord Tywin speaking with the king whilst you were dancing with Lord Robert." It was Elia's turn to inspect Amara's facial expressions, to her surprise the young lioness did not give much away. If she had seen such a thing as a surprise she refused to let her emotions give it away to a woman she hardly knew.
"My father is the Hand of the King, it would make sense he would have the king's ear," Amara replies cooly.
"We both know your father has not had the king's ear for quite some time now. Unlike the king, Prince Rhaegar is not unwilling to listen to what a Lannister has to say."
The two women turn their heads and face each other as if trying to solve what the other might be hiding. "Who the prince listens to and what they say is none of my concern." Amara stands and smooths her skirts. Elia opens her mouth to make further comment but Amara begins to walk away from her.
Amara turns to glance one last time at the Dornish princess, this time she gives her a genuine smile. "Thank you for your company Princess Elia, I would be honored if you and one or two of your companions would join me and my ladies for tea tomorrow."
Amara leaves before allowing Elia to give a response. But the Dornish princess couldn't help but smile, perhaps she might yet find a way to enjoy herself at court.
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Amara Lannister smiles as her ladies strip her out of her gown. The Gods had their ways of bringing people together, the more she could bring to her side, the more of an opportunity would be allowed to present itself...
WRITTEN: December 28, 2017
EDITED: August 3, 2021