Slaves dancing for the king

"A dance party?" Lanna asks and Astrid signals her to shush.

"Tam... Lady Tamara said that the Governor of the Private Chambers asked The Lady Chaperone to choose some girls to dance for the king and his family. They will probably choose favorites, but we get to help around and join the feast!" Astrid says, excited. She was in the kitchen earlier preparing to bring breakfast for the princess and she managed to catch a glimpse of the delicious food the cooks were preparing.

"Governor of the Private Chambers?" Lanna asks, amused.

Astrid laughs.

"I know. It sounds made up. I thought Tamara was joking, but they do have that position. It's important too, apparently."

"These people are so pompous. It's insane."

The girls laugh until The Lady Chaperone enters the big room where they all relax. She looks around and seems mad.

"Staying around all day. You understood nothing of what I told you!" She hits the ground with her cane and all the girls rush to form a line and bow their heads.

They've been here for almost two weeks. As such they started to figure out the court rules. Even Astrid, after that talk with Tamara, has started to give this place a chance.

"Tonight we will have a party. I will choose some lucky girls to dance for the king. And if you dance well enough and you catch the attention of the king, you may even become a favorite. This is your chance, girls." Lady Chaperone says and then starts to move from girl to girl, looking at them, asking them to dance or to sing.

When it's Astrid's turn, she tries to spin around, but she trips on her dress and falls down. The Lady Chaperone shakes her head and asks her to go back in line.

Lanna dances beautifully, moving as delicately as a leaf in the soft summer wind.

"What was that?" Lanna asks when The Lady Chaperone moves away from them.

"What was what?" Astrid asks back.

"You faked it."

"I may have resigned the hope of leaving this place, but I will not dance for him." Astrid wishers and Lanna rolls her eyes.

"But he is so handsome!"

It's Astrid's turn to roll her eyes. Ever since they met him in the garden Lanna can't stop praising the king.

Their conversation is interrupted by The Lady Chaperone.

"If I call your names, you go to the bathhouse to prepare. If I don't, you go with the eunuchs to arrange the tables." She clears her voice. "Estra!" A tall, blonde girl jumps happily and starts running to the bathhouse. "Karyn! Alexa! Sofia! Elisa! Esmee! Lanna!"

Astrid looks at Lanna. The girl is all smiles for a second, until she seems to remember something. She looks at Astrid, worried.

"Go!" Astrid gives her an encouraging smile and the girl jumps to run after the others.

She may not hate the king anymore, but she still doesn't like him. And she wishes for Lanna to be happy. And being a favorite would mean Lanna will be safe. And just because the king stopped the slave gifting doesn't make him like a good person. I mean, probably he's acceptable. Yeah, acceptable at best. And Lanna deserves happiness. And, she thinks he is gorgeous so she will be happy. Astrid can't see it though... I mean... his eyes are a very nice shade of blue. And they do seem deep, like their gaze can pierce throughout the heart. And I guess his lips are full and they seem very soft.

Astrid shakes her head.

What was she thinking?

She is certainly going insane. Maybe Lanna's talk really got to her.

Now she only needs to focus on helping Tamara get ready for the party. She likes helping the princess with her preparations. And this time for a big party! The dresses she wears are breathtaking and they get to choose jewelry, tiaras, and shoes. They eat sweets and talk about the different combinations.

But when she gets inside the princess' room, she finds her annoyed.

"Out, everyone! Astrid, sit!" Her tone cold and distant. "I saw you earlier. Surprising that you fell. When we were dancing yesterday you seemed very coordinated."

"It was an accident..." Astrid shutters and Tamara slams the table.

"Don't lie. I hate lying. I told you before, be direct with me. This palace is full of ass kissers, I don't need one in my service."

"I just don't want to dance for him..."

Tamara sighs, calming down.

"I can't blame you for that. And I'm not mad. I told you I won't force you. But The Lady Chaperone choose only Sansa's maids."

"Why is that so bad?" Astrid asks, wondering if Lanna is one of Sansa's maids too.

"Sansa only chooses weak-minded girls that she can groom into being blindly loyal to her. And only to her. And if one of them becomes a favorite they think is thanks to my sister and because they worship the very ground she walks on. Instead of a harem for the king, it's slowly becoming Sansa's place."

"Why does she care so much anyway?"

Tamara looks at Astrid like the girl just grew another head.

"Whoever influences the harem, influences the king, possibly the next king too. Dynasties are built in this place, by the women in it. At the moment, Sansa rules the harem, as the king's oldest female sibling. But that can change if a smart concubine sweeps the king off his feet."

"And Lysa? Isn't she the main favorite? The mother of the heir?"

"Lysa doesn't have nearly as much power as she thinks. The king likes her enough, but he's not in love with her. She knows that, but she is too proud to drop the facade."

"And you?"

Tamara seems taken back and then laughs.

"I just want someone to support my brother like my mother supported my dad. Me and him. We were born just two years apart. Shortly after, our mother died. When my dad found his relief in other women's arms, we only had each other. We tried to get close to Sansa, but her mother hated ours, so she hated us. When Tommen was born, we were already older and we never got to bond with him."

"Nothing for yourself?" Astrid asks, but regrets it, as she is not entitled to know the princess' motives.

"Peace around the court. With so many sides equally influential, or, more non-influential enough, it's a constant war. When my mother was alive everything was peaceful. I want to rebuild that." Tamara answers, looking away, lost in her oldest memories.

"Sorry, I am not the help you imagined."

"If it doesn't come from the heart, it's pointless anyway. And, I like you as a friend. That can be enough." She grabs Astrid's hand and sighs. "But you'll still come and sit with me. If I have to have another boring conversation with my sister I will die!"

The two of them laugh and start getting ready for the party. But despite wanting to, Astrid can't shake the feeling that this place hides more than she can comprehend.

"Come on, try it for me." Tamara says after Astrid looks suspiciously at the red velvet dress that's been thrown onto the bed.

"It's... a lot." Astrid comments, but does put on the dress. Friends or no friends, she won't choose this hill to die on with the princess.

"It's amazing." Tamara proudly says as they both look into the mirror.

Astrid can't deny that the dress is absolutely gorgeous, but she's afraid she is going to attract too much attention.

She blushes thinking that the king may notice her again but shakes this though. With so many beauties there, dressed so much better probably, she will simply blend with the background. A forgotten maid. Like she wants. No? …

The music starts filling the halls and the two women hurry up in the banquette room.

Tables full of all the drinks and food a foolish heart could desire, beautifully women dancing around to the sound of the most divine music, scented candles that give the room a mystique feeling.

How can one belive that all of these are here to hide the most tremendous games for power?

When everyone is seated, a well-dressed man blows a little horn and announces the entrance of the king. Everyone rises and bows their heads as he enters the room.

Astrid can't restrain herself, she takes a small sneak peek at him. He looks just like he looked the first time he saw him. Imposing, with his head held up high and a serious expression on his face.

The girls all around seem to have entered a trance.

Astrid can understand why. His rough beauty has something magnetic about it. Not like those innocent boys with bright eyes that would try to ask her out after Sunday sermon. But something deeper, more dangerously hot, more seductive. Like fire.

Everyone sits down and Astrid grabs a glass of water. Her throat suddenly feels dry.

The party starts and the chosen girls dance around the king, but he doesn't seem to pay too much attention to them. He looks around the room like he is searching for something.

When his eyes finally meet Astrid's, she turns away, her face red.

She takes a deep breath. Probably just a coincidence, she thinks. He was looking around after all. She looks back at him as he eyes the velvet handkerchief in his hand. He smiles for a moment, but bites his cheek and stops. Or did she just imagine that?

"Will he give the handkerchief?" Tamara asks herself and Astrid gets curious.

"What?"

"If she gives the handkerchief to a woman he publicly makes her a favorite. She will go to his room tonight."

Astrid's heart skips a beat. Was he looking after her earlier?

When the dance is over, all the dancers kneel in the middle of the room. Everyone holds their breath. They all saw it.

And when the king throws the little velvet cloth in the air, the whole world stops.

And when it lands on Lanna's shoulder, Astrid's world turns upside down.