There was little work to do when your mistress was at a meeting with the man she had been betrothed to. You had only recently been brought into her employ, but you needn't have been in the room with her for mere minutes to know she wasn't fond of the arranged marriage. She had little choice though, her older brother had made all the arrangements and if her betrothed met her and was still happy to marry her, then she would be wed. You didn't agree with the arrangement marriage, or the concept of it at all but as a woman, a handmaiden at that, meant you had no choice or valid opinion of it. If anything, being betrothed to a man of status was a better fate than your own, you were not to be wed, simply there to serve your mistress and nothing more.

Not long after having been there alone in her chambers, Daenerys returned, a foul expression on her face, an expression you had become familiar with due to her frequent meetings with her brother and discussions of her betrothal. You rose from your seat to greet your mistress as she slammed the door behind her.

"Milady," you said, softly bowing slightly.

Daenerys gave you a soft smile, calming herself and coming across as a calmer and friendlier version of the woman who had entered the room. She was kind hearted and deserved better than the treatment that her brother gave her but nevertheless, you were glad you could do your best to serve her and keep a smile on her face.

"How'd the introduction go?" You asked her, following her over to her bed where she sat on the end of it, slumping her head into her hands.

"It depends on your perspective," she frowned.

"From your perspective milady?" You questioned.

She paused, looking up at you with her bright eyes, tears beginning to fill within them.

"Terribly," she sighed.

"I'm assuming that from the perspective of Milord it is the opposite," you offered.

She nodded her head. "He is completely thrilled. Viserys is one step closer to claiming the iron throne. My happiness and fate are no longer regarded by him."

Although she was to be a woman of status, a Queen, you couldn't help but feel sympathetic towards her. Even if she'd never have to work a day in her life, you would hate to have the fate she did, to marry a stranger, unlikely to hold love within it and to be there to have his children with little more to it. Of course, she could fall in love with him and they could be terribly happy, however the uncertainty of it all would drive you crazy and you weren't doubting that fact with her.

"It will be okay milady," you smiled softly. "You may fall in love with him, you may thank your brother one day, life may not be as terrible as you believe it shall."

A weak smile curled onto her lips.

"How do you keep such a bright outlook?" She questioned.

"Hope, milady. It is the only thing we can control. There's little in this world that we can control without interference."

~*~

Written by Charlotte.