Gilded Cage

Broken Bethrothal

Her Servants scurried around the room as they dressed their lady. They helped her into the emerald green gown, and they put on her brown footwear. They style her hair, just how they styled it normally. She looked just like her mother, a striking woman they both were. Her grey eyes had pigmenting around them to make them pop more and her servants made sure she looked beautiful for her soon to be betrothed.

I've always hated travelling, Thought Lady Hightower as she adjusted her travelling cloak. She knew her older brother, Gerold, wanted the best for her but the least he could've done was give her a better carriage, at least she was with her father.

Running a finger down the spine of her book, Laurane opened it. The edge of the world the book said. She hadn't read this book yet, this was a new one. She could hardly sit still in the carriage due to excitment. She was going to get married, to Jamie Lannister of all people.

It would've been an understatement to say she was excited, she was ecstatic. He was around the same age she was, and while he wasn't the beautiful Rhaegar Targaryen, he was still beautiful to her.

The horses sped up and she began reading, letting her thoughts only be occupied on the book.

****

The horses stopped, and Laurane closed her book. They had reached King's Landing, now came the part where she had to actually get to the Red Keep.

Lifting the hem of her dress up, Laurane slowly got out of the carriage. Unfortunately Gerold wasn't there to walk her, but luckily she had some household guard with her to make sure she was kept safe. Hells, she was a member of one of the oldest houses on the reach, she didn't want to die.

***

After what felt like forever, she had finally reached the Red Keep with her father. That stench of the more poorer areas of Kings Landing lingered in her nose. As she climbed the steps, her enthusiasm dwindled more and more. She still had hope, maybe Jamie would be the Knight she had always wanted. Hells, what was she thinking. She was a woman grown, not some child.

Her grey eyes studied the architecture, and gazed upon the gardens. She walked, and walked, until she came upon the throne room.

She opened the doors, and a horrifying sight awaited her. The man she was betrothed to, on his knees reciting the vows of the White Cloaks. She couldn't believe it, her betrothed was being sworn into the Kingsguard. She wanted to protest, but she couldn't. This ceremony wasn't something you just interrupted. Instead, she moved towards the side of the throne room, where the as women of the court resided. She had no choice but to go there. If she wasn't going to marry Jamie, then maybe she'd just have to serve as Queen Rhaella's lady in waiting.

The King, King Aerys, or as some liked to call him King Scab, had a smirk on his face. His hands clasped together, by the seven he was gross just to look at. And the stench. She wasn't exactly close to King Aerys, but it certainly felt like she was beside him.

Jamie's hair was golden, and long. It looked soft to the touch, and by the seven Laurane wanted to feel it. He was a beautiful man, all the Lannisters were good to look at, all but that deformed imp Tyrion. His head of gold matches the emeralds that shone in his eyes. He looked so handsome in that armor the color of ivory. She wished he wasn't in the Kingsguard, but it was too late, she was too late. How could she, she should've left sooner but instead decided to wait. Gods she felt like a stupid girl.

***

Finally, what felt like forever the ceremony had ended. Lord Tywin, the Hand of the King did not look pleased. Clearly he wasn't as he stormed off and quit right on the spot. The ointments used to induct Ser Jamie emanated towards the room and as her gaze lingered on the new inductee of the Kingsgaurd, she saw something. He was looking back at her as he walked away.

As the once heir to Casterly Rock looked at her, the red crept upon her face making her feel warm. She felt like a child, although she wasn't. As Queen Rhaella walked from the side of her husband and Laurane made sure to greet her. She wanted to become her Lady in Waiting, all to stay close to Jamie. If they couldn't be together physically, maybe they could be together as friends

She walked to her brother, and greeted him. He was the reason she was brought here, and once they were greeted he showed her where she was staying in the keep. Maegors holdfast was something she'd never thought she'd see, but thete she was. Fortunately for Laurane, she was set to become Queen Rhaella Lady in waiting, one of multiple.

***

The next morning, Laurane formally met Queen Rhaella. She was kind enough, it sadly confined to Maegors Holdfast. It was horrible, she was the Queen, and she was confined to this place almost like a prison. Luckily, Laurane had free reign of the keep and her first mission was to find Jamie. Luckily she did, in the White Sword Tower. He was with other members of the Kingsguard, her brother, Lord Commander Gerold, among them. She stood outside of the tower, letting their meeting commence and once it did she waved to her older brother, and shot a smile towards Jamie. She walked over to him. She was nervous, why though? She had no reason to, and fortunately she overcame her nerves.

"I'm Laurane Hightower, it's a pleasure to meet you," She stated, her voice confident. She had a pleasant voice, one that looked to fit her. It was soft, yet not shy.

"Jamie Lannister, say, didn't I see you yesterday? I seem to recall looking at someone?"

"That, good Ser, was me. I'm a lady in waiting to the Queen now!" She cheerfully replied, a smile on her face. Before she had noticed, she and Jamie were the only two in the tower, and there they would talk for hours, those hours filled with laughter and joy. When they finished talking, Laurane returned to her Queen, assisting her on whatever matters nesscary.