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Fem!Reader is Margaery's younger sister.

Set in Season 2.

(Y/N) comes to King's Landing with the other Tyrells for the Battle of the Blackwater. She has no ulterior motives like Margaery, and Cersei soon falls in love with her.

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"Ser Loras Tyrell", Joffrey called with a wave of his hand, and my brother stepped forward. He knelt gracefully before the young king.

"Your House has come to our aid. The whole realm is in your debt, none more so than I. If your family would ask anything of me, ask it, and it shall be yours."

"Your Grace", Loras said. "My sister Margaery, her husband was taken from us before-" He swallowed, and I knew why. Margaery may have been Renly's wife, but it was my brother who had been in love with him. Of course, nobody could know about that. In that regard, we were the same - I, too, preferred the kind of lovers I should rather not be seen in public with.

"She remains innocent", Loras continued. "I would ask you to find it in your heart to do us the great honor of joining our Houses." My sister beside me looked down at the floor coyly, every bit the perfect bride. I almost laughed. In truth, she was far more forward and clever than this boy would ever be - which was exactly why we needed him to agree.

It had been our grandmother's plan. After Renly's death, we had faced a bit of a dilemma: we had openly declared for a usurper, but that usurper was gone, making us a vulnerable enemy of the crown. There was only one way out - making sure the crown was indebted to us and therefore forced to forget this slight. With Margaery as Joffrey's wife, we would be close to the throne and ensure our family's safety.

"Is this what you want, Lady Margaery?", Joffrey asked.

My sister approached him. Time for her great act. "With all my heart, Your Grace. I have come to love you from afar. Tales of your courage and wisdom have never been far from my ears, and those tales have taken root deep inside of me."

Joffrey considered his words carefully. "I, too, have heard tales of your beauty and grace, but- the tales do not do you justice, my lady." Margaery smiled. "It would be an honor to return your love. But I am promised to another. A king must keep his word." 

And therein lay the issue. We had to somehow convince him to end his current betrothal in favor of my sister. But how? I hoped my siblings had a plan, because I certainly did not. I had never had a gift for scheming. I wasn't good at manipulating people like my sister, couldn't charm them with my talents like my brother, didn't have my grandmother's political mind. I had been graced with the Tyrell looks, but I didn't know how to use them to my advantage. Maybe I could have learned, but- I didn't want to. It felt wrong. Sometimes I thought there was more of my soft-hearted father in me than I wanted to admit.

The woman next to Joffrey spoke up, and I properly looked at her for the first time. She had to be his mother, the resemblance was impossible to miss - though she was far more beautiful. "Your Grace", she said, "in the judgment of your Small Council, it would be neither proper nor wise for you to wed the daughter of a man beheaded for treason. A girl whose brother is in open rebellion against the throne as we speak! For the good of the realm, your councillors beg you to set Sansa Stark aside." Well, that solved that problem. It seemed we didn't have to do anything at all.

Murmuring arose in the room at her words, and Joffrey let it happen for a few moments before rising from the throne, addressing his mother. "I would like to heed your wishes and the wishes of my people, but I took a holy vow."

"Your Grace", the grandmaester spoke up in a hoarse voice, "the gods do indeed hold betrothals solemn. But your father, blessed be his memory, made this pact before the Starks revealed their falseness. I have consulted with the High Septon and he assures me that their crimes against the realm free you from any promise you have made to them in the sight of the gods."

Joffrey took a deep breath and nodded. "The gods are good. I am free to heed my heart. Ser Loras, I will gladly wed your sweet sister." Loras stood and scattered cheers arose. "You will be my queen, and I will love you from this day until my last day."

The hall erupted in applause. My siblings were smiling at Joffrey gratefully, but my eyes were on the queen. There was something intriguing about her...

👑

Margaery, Loras and I had been waiting for some time in the grand, embellished dining room. Cersei and Joffrey had invited us over for dinner, but hadn't shown up yet themselves.

Cersei had made quite an effort to spend time with me since our first meeting. My sister was always complaining about her, and my brother didn't see her much at all, but with me, she went out of her way to make friendly conversation. She tried to talk to me often, took me aside in the hallway or at a gathering, invited me to eat with her like today, and when we spoke, she was always sweet and kind, she complimented me and touched my arm or shoulder in conversation as if we were old friends. 

I didn't know why. Margaery was the one who was supposed to be of interest of her, being her son's betrothed and all. What did she see in me? My sister was convinced that it was just an attempt to gain inside information, the two of them were always in unspoken quarrel, after all, but I wanted to believe it was otherwise, that her affection was genuine. 

Because I had come to enjoy these conversations, and I enjoyed Cersei. I didn't want to believe our fast-budding friendship was just a ruse.

The doors opened, and Joffrey entered, followed by his mother. All three of us dropped into a curtsy. "Your Grace."

"Please, sit, sit", Joffrey said, gesturing to the chairs. "I do apologize, my lady. Small council meetings. At what point does it become treason to waste the king's time?"

Margaery chuckled. She had him wrapped around her finger already. He was never this polite around anyone else.

Cersei walked right past the table to pour herself a glass of wine.

"That's a lovely gown, my lady", Joffrey remarked.

"As is yours", Cersei said more quietly to me, leaning in over my shoulder as she took a seat at the head of the table. 

I smiled at her appreciatively and sat down in the chair closest to hers.

"(Y/N), isn't the queen's gown magnificent?", Margaery asked. "The fabric, the embroidery, the metalwork, I've never seen anything like it."

"It's gorgeous", I agreed.

"You might find a bit of armor quite useful once you become queen, perhaps before", Cersei replied. "Joffrey tells me you stopped your carriage in Flea Bottom on your way back from the sept this morning."

"Yes. I paid a visit to an orphanage the High Septon told me about."

"Margaery does a great deal of work with the poor back in Highgarden", Loras added.

Margaery smiled at Joffrey. "The lowest among us are no different from the highest, if you give them a chance and an open heart."

"An open heart is what you'll get in Flea Bottom if you're not careful, my dear", Cersei said. "Not long ago, we were attacked by a mob there. We had a full complement of guards, it didn't stop them. The king barely escaped with his life."

"My mother's always had a penchant for drama", Joffrey deflected. I saw Cersei roll her eyes, but clearly she did not want to contradict her son outright. "Facts become less and less important to her as she grows older. Our lives were never truly in danger." 

She snapped to attention at that, and I could understand why. If he weren't the king, she would never have tolerated such blatant insult. "You're right, of course", she said politely, but there was nothing warm or kind in her eyes. "You are your father's son. We can't all have the king's bravery."

Joffrey looked away, visibly annoyed but out of retorts, and an awkward silence stretched between us all. I started eating the roasted boar on my plate, if just so I did not have to look at anyone.

"Hunger turns men into beasts", Margaery finally said. "I'm glad House Tyrell has been able to help in this regard. They tell me a hundred wagons arrive daily now from the Reach - wheat, barley, apples, we've had a blessed harvest, and of course it's our duty to assist the capital in time of need."

Joffrey nodded. "Well, as Ser Loras said, Margaery has done this sort of, uh... charitable work before. I'm sure she knows what she's doing." Margaery gave him a saccharine smile.

"I'm sure she does", Cersei bit out. I decided to engage her in conversation before she decided to stab my sister with the fork she was twisting irritably in her hand. Her glare told me she was certainly capable of it.

"So, Your Grace, how are the wedding plans coming along? Have you decided on the entertainments yet? I am so excited for all the festivities."

She jumped on the distraction almost eagerly. "We have found some good musicians already", she told me. "We're still looking for actors. Joffrey has a very... specific idea in mind. Other than that... I suppose one can't go wrong with acrobats and jugglers. But really, the entertainments are the least of my worries concerning the wedding."

"I can imagine", I said. "There must be so much to plan, especially for a wedding this size. The food alone!"

Cersei nodded. "The cooks will be working day and night to prepare all the meals. Thanks to your family's input, there'll be no shortage of supplies." She smiled at me.

I couldn't help but notice the stark difference in her reaction to this fact toward me as opposed to my sister. "All the planning will be well worth it", I said. "I have no doubt it will be a spectacular affair. So many people... I still haven't decided on what to wear. The seamstress keeps urging me to choose so she can begin working on it, but I truly have no idea." I laughed.

"I think blue suits you well", Cersei mused. "A light blue, perhaps, like your eyes."

It amazed me how attentive she was sometimes. She didn't seem to be this way with anyone else. "I think that is a good idea, Your Grace", I said slowly, picturing the color. "But what cut? It'll be a warm day, I assume, but I don't want it to be too light."

"I like the style you're wearing." Cersei put a hand on my back, where a section of my dress was cut out. Her skin felt warm on mine, comforting in a way. "It accentuates you well. And don't worry about it being too light, I imagine many ladies will opt for less fabric while summer still lasts. It won't be long now until autumn starts to creep up on us, best to enjoy the warmth before that."

I smiled, not wanting the contact to end. "I'll tell the seamstress first thing next morning. She'll be overjoyed to finally get an answer."

Sadly, she pulled her hand away again, although she laughed. "Well, you are cutting it a little close. Have you at least arranged for jewelry already?"

"Somewhat", I replied elusively. "I have a golden necklace I'd like to wear. But now that I know what color my dress will be, I think I will get something blue, too."

"I'm sure you'll find something", Cersei said. "You have no shortage of gold, after all." Her eyes flicked over to Margaery, making her features tighten ever so slightly.

"If you don't mind me asking, Your Grace", I asked quietly, so the others could not hear, "what is it between you and my sister? I know she'll be queen once she marries King Joffrey, but you are still the queen mother. She won't replace you."

Cersei sighed in a sympathetic manner. "Do you know what I like about you, (Y/N)? You're so innocent. A delicate little rose. You say what you mean, with no hidden intentions. You're not a schemer. Your sister, though..." She dropped her voice even lower. "You may be innocent, but you're no fool. You see how she manipulates my son. She will sway him away from me given the chance, turn him against me."

"I-" I realized she was most likely right. This was what Margaery was good at, after all - seducing men to bend them to her will without them ever realizing it. But I had gotten the feeling so far that her feud with Cersei was more reaction than offense. Then again, if Cersei's suspicion was true, my sister didn't have to do anything to her personally at all... "I suppose you're right", I admitted with downcast eyes. 

She laid her hand on my forearm. "You try to see the best in your family. That's not a bad thing. Sometimes, we need an outsider to open our eyes to ugly truths."

"If this is the truth, maybe I don't want to see it", I muttered. "Does everything have to be about some grander plot? Do we have to live our whole lives looking for ghosts behind every corner? Where's the ever so praised honor in that?"

"Not everything", Cersei said. "What does either of us have to gain from the other, after all? And yet here we are."

I smiled at her. Her hand was still on my arm, and she seemed to have no intention of removing it. I put my own on top. "I appreciate that. I enjoy our time together very much, regardless of what our families are up to."

"As do I." She ran her other hand through the ends of my hair affectionately.  "You are such a sweetheart. Not at all like... well." I was grateful that she didn't take another jab at my sister out loud, even if it was just because said sister was sitting next to me, and seeming increasingly interested in our conversation.

"Thank you for the dinner, Your Grace", she chimed in. "The hour grows quite late. I'm afraid we have to go." She turned to Joffrey with a big smile. "We will see each other tomorrow, yes?"

Joffrey nodded readily. "Of course, my lady. Shall I see you back to your room?"

"That won't be necessary", Margaery beamed. "Surely you are tired yourself, after all those meetings." She rose, with Loras following suit.

I reluctantly separated from Cersei's touch and stood, too. 

The queen inclined her head to me with a small smile as if to say that we, too, would see each other again soon.

Outside, Margaery reeled on me. "What are you doing?", she asked, sounding equal parts concerned and incredulous. "I told you how devious she is, and here you are" - she grasped for the right words - "fooling around with her!" She took my hands in hers. "She is not our friend, (Y/N), no matter what she might tell you. I will always be a threat to her, and she will stop at nothing to reclaim her son from me."

I pulled free of her grasp. "And what does that have to do with me?", I asked. "I'm not you. I'm not the one marrying her son. Why should the problem she has with you extend to me? Why shouldn't I be allowed to be her friend?" I was being cruel, I knew that. But I wanted no part of this feud, and I would not let either of them pull me into it.

Margaery shook her head. "I can't believe you. You would side with her over your own family? Why?"

"I side with no one!", I exclaimed, exasperated. "Leave me out of this. I didn't ask to be involved in all these schemes and mind games. That's just not me."

With another disappointed shake of her head, Margaery stalked off. Loras hesitated for a moment, then followed her with an apologetic glance in my direction.

👑

I was walking down the hallway to my room a week later when suddenly, someone called after me. I turned to see Cersei, striding up to me with something hidden in her hand.

"I was hoping to find you here", she smiled. "I brought you something."

A present? Surprised, I looked at her. "What is it?"

"Turn around", she instructed.

I did as she said, and felt her hand softly brushing my hair away from my neck. She put something cold around it, closing it at the back. I looked down to find a beautiful gold and topaz necklace hanging there, fashioned in the shape of small rose buds on vines. The blue stones were the perfect match for the dress I had commissioned.

"This is beautiful", I said in awe, turning back to her, "thank you, Your Grace. What did I do to deserve such a precious gift?"

"Oh, I saw it in my dresser and remembered you were looking for something like this", Cersei said off-handedly. I didn't believe her. This was clearly custom-made.

"Thank you", I said again from the bottom of my heart. "It really is perfect."

She smiled. "I'm glad you like it. It looks lovely on you."

I fingered the necklace delicately. "I can't wait to see it together with the dress. It'll be done in a few days."

"I'll see it on you at the wedding", Cersei said. "I'm sorry, but I have to be on my way now -  I just wanted to give this to you really quickly." She kissed my cheek, and I forgot to breathe for a second. "So much to do. I will see you around."

She left, and I stood in the hallway stunned by what had just happened. For her to make such an expensive present to me... the way she made me feel when she touched me, and seemed to know exactly what she was doing, too... I smiled to myself as I understood.

👑

The day of Joffrey and Margaery's wedding indeed proved to be warm and sunny. I was glad of the flowy fabric of my gown. Open at either side of my waist, it allowed the mild sea breeze to kiss my skin, while all immodest parts were covered. Had my sister been the one to wear it, Cersei probably would have still called her a whore. 

But as it was, she came up beside me, her hand coming to rest on the other side of my bare waist, and told me I looked beautiful. "The dress turned out wonderful." She looked at my neck, where the rose necklace hung, and smiled.

I smiled back at her, then looked at the buffet in front of us. "How did they make all this in such a short time?", I wondered. "For all the meals to stay fresh until the feast, there must have been dozens of cooks on the task."

"There were", Cersei confirmed. "From all over the Seven Kingdoms, too - and some from outside them, even, so we could have some variety. Here", she picked up what looked like a cluster of thin apple slices rolled in honey and some kind of crushed nuts and spices, "have you ever had one of these?"

I shook my head. "What is it?"

"I'm not sure", Cersei shrugged, "but I know it's a Dornish delicacy. Try it." She held the treat up to my face, and I looked at her uncertainly for a moment before being sure she meant for me to eat it from her hand. Her fingers brushed my lips as I took the food from her, making my skin tingle.

The treat tasted sweet and fruity, but Cersei's flavor was the sweeter delight to me.

She licked the remaining honey from her fingers, then led me to the next table, her hand never leaving my side. "Would you like some wine?"

I politely declined. "Not yet. I'm sure I'll have enough once the actual feast starts, I'd like to maintain a clear head for as long as possible."

"Your loss", Cersei said lightheartedly and poured herself a glass. We started wandering around the garden, drawing some curious looks from the people we passed. I didn't care. Let them think what they wanted. Who would dare to question the queen mother, after all?

"(Y/N), Lady Cersei."

We both turned to see my grandmother approaching us, and Cersei's hold on me tightened.

"I see you two have become fast friends", Olenna remarked, with a knowing look to me that revealed she was well aware it went deeper than that, and did not approve. "Might as well, now that we're all family. I have to say, my gold was well spent on all this - it's a beautiful celebration, only right for a royal wedding."

Cersei was grinding her teeth again at the implied insult of House Tyrell carrying the costs for the feast, but her words remained polite. "Of course. What better time to be lavish? This is an event that will shape the future of Westeros."

"That it will", Olenna agreed, and I misliked her tone. It sounded like she knew something more than the rest of us. But surely, if she was planning something, she would have told my siblings and me, right? This was Margaery's own wedding, after all. I decided to push my doubts away and just enjoy the festivities. 

"The first course will be served soon", Cersei said with a forced smile. "We had best return to the table."

Olenna nodded and went ahead, while Cersei and I followed with some distance.

"I don't want to go back yet", I said quietly, looking around at the basically deserted grove we were in.

"Then let's stay a little longer." Cersei smiled down at me, and I thought I saw her eyes flicking briefly to my lips and back.

I leaned up and kissed her jaw, a gesture that could have looked like a merely formal kiss on the cheek from further away, but was of undeniably romantic nature between us.

She clasped my chin between her thumb and forefinger and tilted my face further toward hers, making our lips meet.

We stayed in the kiss for what felt like several minutes before we parted for breath.

I didn't care if anyone had seen. I only cared about Cersei, holding me, kissing me, looking at me with love in her eyes. That was all I needed.