Warrior

2

Maeriana sat in a chair facing the door of her temporary quarters while her step-mother stood behind her and her younger half sister, Myrcella, sat on the bed playing with a doll, "Mummy how long will we stay here?" Myrcella inquired, looking up from her doll, "As long as your father has business with Lord Stark, my love. Why?" Cersei replied frowning, "I miss home, I hate the cold." Myrcella confessed with a soft whiny tone, prompting her half-sister to roll her eyes at her, "I happen to love the cold, it's so different from home. Snow covering everything while back in Kings Landing green grass does." Maeriana countered.

Cersei smiles at her two daughters and before she can say something her husband enters the black haired girl's quarters booming "Ned and I have reached an agreement, we will unite our houses." all three women frown at his words and Cersei halts her movements and inquires as she places her hands on Maeriana's shoulder "What do you mean my love?"

"We shall join the Stark House and the Baratheon House in matrimony, through Robb and Maeriana and through Joffrey and Sansa." Robert Baratheon states looking at his children and wife, "My love may we talk outside?" Cersei inquired, slight anger cloaking her words, "Anything related to the union of the houses should be said in front of the future bride." Robert commented, "Maeriana is but a child my love, as is Joffrey!" Cersei countered her husband, Robert however ignored her and beckoned his eldest daughter to him. 

Maeriana hesitated but once her step mother nodded at her she stood, her slightly extravagant, nearly finished hairstyle barely hanging onto her, her bare feet slapping against the cold stone, as they had done so many times before, as she walked in front of her father, "Your mother's told me you've bled already. And that means that you are ready to become a bride, who who best to become bride of if not of Robb Stark." He father started before placing a chubby finger under her chin and forcing her to look at him.

"Worry not child, I wouldn't give your hand away to just anyone." Robert added before walking back out of the room, "Myrcella go to your quarters, I'll be there shortly." Cersei said before rushing to her step-daughter and pulling her into her arms as the pale tone of the black haired girl's face seemed to become quite a few shades lighter, becoming as white as snow. Myrcella did as she was told and slipped from her sister's bed, rushing out of the room and heading towards her own, allowing the blonde woman to continue holding a frozen Maeriana.

"I will talk to your father, change his mind about giving you away..." Cersei told her step-daughter as she led her back to the bed, sitting them both down, "I do not mind being given away, mother. I just want to be given away to someone I care for and I do not care for Robb that way." Maeriana whispered to Cersei, this alarmed the matriarch who peered down at the black haired beauty, "Then who do you care for?" the blonde mother inquired, "No one you or father would ever allow me to court or marry." Maeriana replied, standing up and walking towards the fire that burned in front of her bed in the fire place.

"Tell me little bird." Cersei insisted, "It matters not mother..." Maeriana countered, rubbing her neck, Cersei understood that Maeriana wasn't going to break, she never did, a quality that she inherited from her biological mother, Isilde Bolton. "Very well, how about we get you dressed for the ball and I shall talk to your father tomorrow?" Cersei inquired, this earned a silent nod from the raven haired beauty, who sat back down on the chair to have her hairstyle finished.