A/N - This chapter is based on the song 'Satisfied' from Hamilton, which I watched on Disney+ for the first time last week. I've been listening to this song on repeat for what seems like forever. I had to switch a few of the details from the song to make it work, but I hope you enjoy it.
King's Landing seemed happy for the first time in years, the wine flowing freely and the men flirting their way through the Great Hall. You sister was marrying the love of her life and becoming Queen, and she was practically beaming as she watched the crowd bustling around. So, why was it that you were so miserable?
You forced a smile onto your lips as you approached the top table, giving a short curtsey as you felt Cersei and her new husband turn to look at you.
"Congratulations on your union, Your Grace," you started, feeling as your cheeks burned with blush under his gaze. "Cersei," you began again, finally turning your attention to your younger sister. "You look so beautiful; marriage seems to suit you wonderfully."
"You're sweet," she started, her smile so perfect on her lips as she leant in to press a kiss to your cheek.
You smiled back, attempting to make it convincing as you gave a short nod. "I ought to circle the room, make sure everything's going smoothly-"
Cersei's hand reached out, gripping your fingers and pulling you closer to her. "You need to give a speech," she exclaimed softly. "It's tradition," she added.
Your eyes widened for a moment. How on earth could you have forgotten something as simple as the maid of honours speech? You gave a short nod, lifting your cup and taking the fork from its place in front of your sister. The noise of metal clinking was enough to bring silence to the room, and then everyone was watching you.
"Lady Y/N of House Lannister; The Maid of Honour," a voice you knew as belonging to one of the Stark boys started, ringing through the room. You gave him a small smile.
"A toast to the Groom, our King. And to his new Queen; my little sister. Your union had brought hope to to our Kingdom, and I hope it brings you the happiness you both deserve," you paused for a moment, raising your cup into the air. "May you always be satisfied." You brought the cup to your lips, drinking deeply.
You could still feel his eyes watching you as the crowd cheered for their new monarchs.
Gods, you felt sick. How had you ever let it get this far?
The first time you had met Robert Baratheon your world had been at war. The rebellion had never come so far South before, and in a moment of brash uncertainty, your father had quickly switched allegiances. And as if to prove his loyalty he had invited the rebels into your home to celebrate their most recent victory.
The soldiers had practically been falling over themselves for even a moment of the time of the women that had littered the room; your father's doing. By eight your feet were already aching from being swept around the dance floor by man after man, and you had taken to leaning against the wall watching as the other girls were wooed. Not that you minded. There wasn't a single man who had asked you to dance who had tempted you further than one song, three lousy minutes of spinning on the spot with some drunken man you had no intention of ever seeing again.
"Hi." You practically flinched as the voice entered your mind, drawing your attention to the giant of a man standing beside you.
For a moment, your mind reeled. This wasn't just some man, this was a statue-esque picture of perfection with eyes like the richest chocolate and a smile that left your a little breathless. "Hi," you uttered, feeling utterly useless as you attempted to remember your teachings.
"I'm Robert Baratheon," he started again, offering you another soft smile and holding out his hand for you to shake. "Do you have a name?"
You nodded, a small chuckle escaping through your parted lips. "Y/N," you murmured, placing your hand in his and allowing yourself to smile properly for the first time that night.
"Tywin's daughter?" You nodded again, your smile fading slightly as you tore your gaze away from him and glanced back at the dance floor. "You strike me as a woman who has never been satisified," he uttered, and suddenly you were staring at him with wide eyes.
"I think you forget yourself, My Lord," you started, raising an eyebrow in his direction. "And I have no idea what you're talking about."
A small snort of laughter escaped him as he watched you carefully. "You're like me; I'm never satisfied."
"Is that right?" you murmured, your tongue running over your teeth as you glanced up at him again.
"I have never been satisfied."
You paused for a moment, swallowing around the lump in your throat. "Is that why you're rebelling against the crown?"
"There are a lot of things that start a rebellion," he told you, a small smirk playing on his lips.
It was then that you had noticed Cersei watching you from the other side of the room, her face painted with a mixture of fear and excitement.
"If you'll excuse me," you started, clearing your throat slightly. "I could use a drink."
Cersei was practically vibrating with nervous energy as you approached her, placing a hand on her elbow to steer her towards the entrance to the kitchens and out of your new friends eyesight. "Who is he?"
"Robert Baratheon," you started, a smile pulling at your lips as she grinned up at you.
"He's beautiful." She was right, he was one of the most beautiful creatures you had ever seen. "I want him," she started again, squinting as your smile faded slightly.
You took a second to consider. Robert was a perfect physical specimen, but the Baratheon's had been borrowing money left, right, and centre for years now. And with Jaime in the King's Guard and with Tyrion's disability, it fell to you, as the eldest Lannister daughter to marry rich and bring money back into your house. You took a deep breath, and then you were marching away from your little sister, leaving her in a stunned silent.
She fell into step behind you a moment later, only stopping when she saw you begin to approach Robert on the other side of the Great Hall of your home.
"Come with me," you started, your voice as firm as you could make it sound when you were just about ready for it to break.
Robert's brow furrowed as you turned on our heel. "Where are you taking me?"
"I'm going to change your life," you uttered, hearing a small chuckle leaving him.
"Then by all means, lead the way, My Lady."
You forced a smile onto your lips as you stopped in front of Cersei, watching as her eyes widened slightly, flitting between you and the man she had yet to properly meet.
"Cersei Lannister," she started, her voice as sweet as sugar as she held her hand out to him. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Lannister?" he uttered, his eyes shifting to you for just a moment.
"My sister," you answered quickly, your smile fading the second his eyes returned to Cersei.
She was smiling that perfect smile of hers, and suddenly you realised that he had been right. You would never be satisfied with you life, and you would only ever have yourself to blame.
"Thank you for all of your service," she started again, and you watched as Robert smiled down at her.
He gave a short nod. "If it takes fighting a war for us to meet, it will all have been worth it."
You swallowed around the lump in your throat, attempting to hold back the choked sound that wanted to escape you. "I'll leave you too it," you murmured, quickly putting as much distance between you and them that you could manage.
Not long after, you had retired to your chambers, no longer in the mood to celebrate with the other soldiers.
In all honesty, you knew that you could still change your own fate. You could tell Cersei that you were in love with this man you had known for all of five minutes and she would have let you have him without putting up a fight. She would tell you that she didn't mind and that she was fine, and she would be lying. No. There was no way you could break your own sister's heart like that.
You glanced up at the head table, placing the fork back down in front of your sister and offering her a small smile. "I'm almost certain Tyrion will be getting himself into all sorts of trouble by now, and I promised Father I would keep an eye on him," you started, taking Cersei's hand in yours, your mouth opening as though you wanted to say something, and then closing again as you turned your gaze to her new husband. "Welcome to our family, Your Grace. Enjoy the rest of your evening."
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