The Last Stag • Game of Thrones

30.

Chapter Thirty.
The Choice

Renfri had made her choice.

There was no more waiting to be had, no more praying for salvation. Not with the news she had just received of her official betrothal to Euron Greyjoy.

Her hands shook with rage as her fingers passed over the dried ink on the parchment. 

The Crown is happy to announce the betrothal of Princess Renfri Baratheon to Lord Euron Greyjoy of the Iron Isles, the marriage to occur once Queen Cersei Lannister has eradicated the threats to the throne.

Nobody had even come to tell her. She had found out from a flier slipped to her by a servant. 

She had spent too much time in King's Landing already. With Tommen gone, she served no purpose in the South, not anymore. After the last two weeks of pacing her room, only being allowed out once to stroll the gardens with Jaime. 

But Jaime was leaving for Highgarden in three days time, and Renfri would not be staying at the Keep alone with her mother. She had everything she needed. The servants dress to sneak out of the castle, where she'd take refuge in the poorhouse on the outskirts of town until Jaime's forces passed through. She'd steal a horse and ride in the midsts of merchants that would inevitably follow until they hit the Kingsroad, where she'd depart for the North. For Winterfell.

This was the last time Renfri would ever see her mother.

She slipped out of the night shift that she had been wearing for days, pulling the black rayon dress from her wardrobe. The material fit snuggly around the curves of her figure, emphasizing the swell of her stomach.

She did not want to hide anymore.

Renfri crossed to the door, easing it open. The guards turned to her, standing at attention.

"Please let the Queen know that I request her presence in my chambers." Renfri's words oozed confidence. "Let my mother know that her only child wishes to see her."

"At once, your grace."

One guard departed from the group, off to fetch her mother.

Renfri closed the door, beginning to pace the room, her hands resting on her bump. She bit anxiously at her lower lip, mind busy with thought. 

The door creaked open. Renfri looked up.

Her mother slipped in, dressed in a black armored dress that fit her flat torso snuggly. She closed the door behind her, carting a jug of wine in her hands. 

"You summon me now, dearest?" Cersei mused, stepping further into the room. "How convenient. I was just on my way to visit with you."

Renfri felt at ease suddenly. She glanced over her shoulder, the moon smiling down at her.

"Fitting. Do you know what today is, mother?" Renfri asked, looking back to Cersei.

Cersei said nothing, crossing to the wine tray and pouring her brew into two mugs. She handed one to Renfri, taking the other for herself. 

Renfri accepted the wine. 

"Today marks the anniversary." Renfri mused, watching her mother as she sunk down into the sitting couch. "Of my father's passing."

"Do you miss him?" Cersei swished the wine in the cup, looking down into the dark brew. 

"Always." Renfri smiled, looking back to the window. "But he's with me. He's the blue in the night sky."