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Fem!Reader is an assassin from Myr.

Set before season 1.

(Y/N) comes to King's Landing of her own accord, but as a renowned assassin, it's hard to convince anyone who hears her name that she is in fact not on a mission. So when she grows close with Cersei Lannister, the court fears for the queen's safety and wants to get rid of the foreign lover...

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I strode down the hallways of the Red Keep, scanning my surroundings with methodical habit. Even when I was not on the job, I could not help it. Memorizing the layout of every building I entered was as much second nature to me as reading the people I met like open books. A good assassin knew how to find their target without ever having seen them, after all.

But today I was not an assassin. Today, I dropped the role of the Reaver and was simply (Y/N). Because as good as I was at my work, and as profitable as it was, I was tired. Risking my life day after day to take out people for anyone rich enough to afford my services, it wore on the soul. I had taken their money for many years, killed without question, infiltrated most noteworthy courts on the eastern continent at one point or another. But there was only so much gold one could need, and only so many lives one could take before their own soul started dying. 

I had tried to convince myself I was an agent of justice, that my victims were monsters, but I knew that wasn't the truth. Some of them had been good people, innocent people. And it was time to stop. The gods knew I had coin enough to live in luxury for the rest of my days.

So I had sailed across the Narrow Sea to start a new life. I had been to Westeros once before, many years ago. My target had been a Braavosi slaver who frequently sold Westerosi children to the Free Cities. The man's ship was never seen again in any port after my visit.

This time was different. I was here as a guest, on my own terms. I had a different appreciation for the architecture, the food, the culture... I was here to stay.

The dress felt alien on my body. I wasn't used to such traditional clothes. In fact, I hadn't even owned a dress before. But if I wanted to start fresh, I needed to fit in. When I had heard about the ball being held in the Red Keep, I had known that this was the perfect opportunity to make some first connections. So here I was, in a rose-colored tulle gown that dragged uncomfortably heavy behind me. I felt ridiculous.

An archway opened up into the courtyard, and I shielded my eyes against the bright sunlight. The venue was filled with lords and ladies in brightly colored tunics and dresses, all chattering loudly over the music playing from somewhere.

A servant approached me, offering me a glass of wine. I took it with a grateful nod and looked out over the sea of people.

It was hard to miss where the royal family sat. There was a considerable hole in the crowd, and an even more considerable increase in guards in the area. 

I decided to avoid the royals for now and start a conversation elsewhere. Over by the fountain, there was a man standing by himself. I strolled over to him.

"Good afternoon, my lord", I said, stepping up next to him and looking ahead at the water.

The man turned to me in surprise. "Good afternoon to you too, my lady. I don't believe we've met...?"

"No, we haven't. I just arrived in the city this week. But I'm looking forward to making some acquaintances here, starting with yours." I smiled up at him.

"Likewise", the man smiled back, then extended his hand. "My name is Petyr Baelish."

I shook his hand. "(Y/N) (L/N)."

I thought something momentarily shifted in Lord Baelish's face at my words, but it was gone again so quick that I figured I had imagined it. "Pleased to meet you, Lady (L/N)", he said. "Judging by your accent, I would guess you are from Myr. What brings you to King's Landing?"

"I wanted a fresh start", I replied truthfully. "I've never lived at a court like this, and want to experience a proper lady's life." This part was less true. I had lived at many courts, but only ever long enough to get close to my targets and eliminate them. After that, I disappeared. I didn't have to worry about people coming after me - I worked in disguise. No one ever knew it was the Reaver who had struck in their midst until it was too late.

Lord Baelish chuckled. "I cannot say I've heard many ladies say that. Most of them complain about wanting the same exciting lives as their brothers and fathers."

"Not me", I shrugged. If only he knew what kind of life I had lived... "I suppose I'm a boring lady."

"On the contrary", Baelish assured me. "I believe you are a very interesting woman." He looked around the courtyard, seeming to be searching for someone. "Forgive me, I have to go. But we must talk again some time. You have a room in the castle, I expect?"

I nodded. "I do. It was nice to meet you, Lord Baelish. I don't want to keep you any longer if you have got somewhere to be. I will see you around." With another smile, I left to find a new conversation partner. So far, so good.

After wandering the courtyard for a bit, I saw a group of ladies talking at a table in a corner and decided to try with them.

"Mind if I join you?", I asked politely.

"Not at all, take a seat, dear", one of them, an elderly lady with pearls woven into her graying hair, said and scooted closer to the end of her bench to make room for me. "We were just talking about the princess. The king and queen don't seem to have made any plans for her marriage yet. We were wondering what bachelors may be in line for her hand."

"I believe it'll be one of the Stark boys", a blonde lady to my right said. "Robert and Lord Stark have been friends since childhood."

"So have he and Lord Arryn", another objected. "And young Robin is the right age for Myrcella."

"As is Bran", the blonde insisted.

"Have you considered the Martell boy?", the first woman chipped in. "Doran?"

The other two laughed heartily. "A Martell? The queen would never allow it", one of them exclaimed. "You know the Lannisters' history with them." They laughed some more, as if it was the most ridiculous thing they had ever heard.

Suddenly, there was a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see a servant looking at me nervously.

"Excuse me, my lady, but you have been summoned to report to the king immediately."

The king? How did he know who I was? He couldn't, I calmed myself, he couldn't possibly know yet. He just wanted to meet his unknown visitor. "Of course", I said pleasantly and rose to follow him. I excused myself from the table and promised to return so we could continue our conversation.

The servant led me to a dais with two thrones and three smaller chairs. On them sat - unmistakably - King Robert, Queen Cersei and their children. And behind them... Lord Baelish. The man I had told my name to only minutes ago. Nervousness crept up my neck in a hot flush.

"Your Grace", I said and curtsied. "You called for me?"

"I did", Robert said in a steady, cold voice. "Would you mind telling me who you are?"

I swallowed and prayed he wouldn't recognize my name, but I had no real hope. I could have lied, of course, but if I wanted to live here and leave my life in the shadows behind, I couldn't do so under a guise. Whatever happened now, I would face it as myself.

"(Y/N) (L/N), Your Grace", I muttered.

He breathed deeply. "So I was told. I hope for your sake that it's a simple misunderstanding, or a bad joke."

I closed my eyes in defeat. "It's not, Your Grace."

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't have you executed where you stand."

My eyes snapped back open. "I have not broken any Westerosi laws, Your Grace. I've never killed a man nor woman from your country. I'd understand if you wanted me exiled, but death? Forgive me, Your Grace, but I see no reason for that."

"You dare question my judgment, murderer?", the king growled. "I could have you killed for that alone. How many lives have been taken by your hand?"

"No more than by the hands of the noble knights here, I'm sure", I returned calmly.

"Don't be smug with me. Knights kill in battle, or because a man needs to pay for his crimes. You kill for money. For greed."

"I believe you call it a sellsword here."

King Robert's face reddened. "Enough. You've had your fun. Now you will pay for it. Lady (L/N), I senten-" He would have continued, had his wife not started chuckling beside him.

"She has a point, Your Grace", she smirked. "What makes her different from the sellswords you hired in war?"

The king turned to Cersei, fuming at her interruption. "She's assassinated kings. And queens. Seven hells, she has killed more royals than we've even had in a century!

"You killed Rhaegar", the queen countered, still amused. "My brother killed the Mad King, and you raised him to your Kingsguard for it. My father's men killed the Targaryen children. If the murder of just any royal is punishable by death now, this castle might look a little empty soon."

"The Targaryens deserved to die", Robert hissed.

"And did you know the kings she's killed? Who says they weren't like Aerys? She might have done the world a service, for all we know."

"Why are you defending her?", Robert asked, his voice a low growl. "This woman is a soulless murderer."

Cersei studied me, then looked back at Robert. "I seem to have a taste for them."

He sat there gaping, his face twisting with anger as if he was about to lash out, then seemed to think better of it and stood up so rashly his throne toppled and clattered to the floor behind him. He gave his wife another hate-filled look, then stormed off.

Cersei stared after him calmly, one corner of her lip tugging slightly upward. Once he was gone, her eyes returned to me.

I cleared my throat. "Thank you, Your Grace. I believe you just saved my life."

She smiled. "I like your courage. It may have been incredibly foolish, but still, you stood up to him. You've got spirit, and it's been far too long since we had anyone like that around."

"Does that mean I can stay?", I asked.

"Do you want to? Make no mistake, Robert will not forget this. He'll make your life a living hell."

I thought about it, but not for long. "There's nowhere else for me to go. I left Essos for good. If I run again so quickly, where will I end up?"

The queen shrugged, still waiting for a clear answer.

I took a deep breath. "I want to stay, Your Grace."

"Then you shall. For your sake, I hope you'll stay out of Robert's way, but I have to admit it would entertain me greatly to see you butt heads with him again." She chuckled. "Be on your way now."

I turned to leave, but she called after me. 

"Wait! Just one more thing: tell me true, why are you here? I can't imagine you'd tell us your true name if you planned to kill someone, but then, you never know. So why'd you come?"

"To find peace", I simply said.

👑

The ball was still going on in the courtyard when I looked out of my window later that day, the revelers bathed in crimson sunlight.

There was a knock on my door, and I straightened in surprise. Who could want to visit me at this time?

"Come in", I called out carefully. Was I going to be arrested after all?

My surprise grew even greater when Cersei entered, changed from her ballgown into a simpler golden dress, matching her hair.

"Your Grace." I curtsied, but curiosity made me look up again quickly. "What is it?"

"I wanted to talk to you some more in private", she said. "You have an interesting story."

She took a seat on the foot of my bed and gestured for me to sit beside her.

"Everyone of notice who isn't a halfwit knows who you are, by reputation alone", the queen continued. "'The Reaver'. You are said to be the best, able to get straight into the heart of any household without anyone being the wiser. A quick, ruthless killer, long gone before the victim's body is cold. I have to say, you're not who I pictured. You're so... ladylike. Unremarkable."

"Why, thank you", I said sarcastically.

"I didn't mean it like that", Cersei smiled. "You fit right in with all the noble ladies, as if you'd been wearing pretty dresses and attendings dances all your life. But you haven't, have you? You may have done so on occasion on the job, yes, but you're not used to it. I doubt you're even truly highborn."

"I am", I protested. "My father was Lord Craghas (L/N) of Myr. My parents both died when I was young, and there was no one left from our family to take over after them, so I may not have grown up in a castle like these ladies, but I am every bit as highborn as them."

"Interesting", Cersei commented. "If you did not live in your family's castle, where did you stay instead?"

"Here and there", I replied. "The streets, mostly. At first, anyways. The money I had taken from home soon ran out, and I knew I had to steal to survive. So I learned to steal. Not always gold, but rather other valuable things that I would sell for more. Eventually, others asked me to steal certain things for them, and they'd pay me. Then one day, someone asked me for the first time to kill someone. The pay was even better than for stealing. So I learned to kill. And became gods-damned good at it."

Cersei was watching me with fascination in her eyes. "Quite a story indeed. And now? You have, what, retired?"

I nodded. "I suppose you could call it that. My work has brought me more money than I could ever spend. I don't need any more. I'm done with killing."

"My husband's council seems to think otherwise", Cersei said. "They've chided me extensively for allowing you to walk free. They think you're here to kill Robert - or me."

"And what do you think?", I asked.

She looked at me. "I believe you", she said finally. "It wouldn't make sense, you not hiding who you are, appearing in such a glamorous fashion-"

"Glamorous?" I quirked an eyebrow.

She appeared flustered suddenly, looking down at her hands. "Well, you looked beautiful this afternoon. Surely someone who doesn't want to be noticed wouldn't make such a show of themselves."

I grinned. "Compliment received. You're right, though - for what my word is worth - I was just there to have a good time, nothing more."

"And you chose to talk to Littlefinger of all people for that?", Cersei asked, amused.

"I didn't know who he was", I shrugged defensively. "He was alone, I saw an opportunity and took it."

"As did he", Cersei laughed. "A raven was lost on that man, with how quickly he can make word travel. Half the city will know who you are by now."

I burst out in laughter too at her comparison. "Fine company I picked. I far prefer yours."

She met my eyes. "Me too", she said, sounding all of a sudden more solemn. "I did not decide to save you on a whim, nor just to annoy Robert. I see something in you." She was quiet for a moment. "A potential for a friend. Or..."

"Or?", I asked, when she did not continue.

She stood up suddenly, walking back to the door without explanation. With her hand on the knob, she paused and looked over her shoulder at me. "Or something more", she said quietly, then opened the door.

"Wait!" I jumped up and she stilled. "Stay."

She turned back to me slowly.

"Stay", I said again. "Please."

Carefully, Cersei closed the door again.

"I would very much like to explore that potential", I breathed.

A slow, warm grin spread on Cersei's face, and she crossed the distance between us, wrapping her hands around the sides of my arms gingerly.

"Here's to finding peace", I whispered and kissed her gently.

"And to remarkable ladies", she replied.