Chapter Text
Scrubbing the pans had always been the better part of the morning. A good few paces away from the noisy gossiping wenches, the shed provided a relief from the summer heat, it was almost peaceful. Peace, however, was not a familiar word in king's landing. It was on these days that you could appreciate the glory of the Red Keep, if only one could overlook the blood that seeped through the walls.
Not much distinguished today from yesterday, it was this fact that had rendered some relief to Raine. A simplicity to life that only the poorest could afford.
When she first entered the Keep as a chambermaid several moons ago, she had done so out of desperation. 2 meals, a bed and a couple of dragons to spare. It was enough to convince her to clean after these nobles who strutted the Keep.
"Are you about done now?!", a commanding voice barked . The owner of the voice is a plump middle aged woman. Hira, Raine recognised, She'd been in the keep since before Raine was even born.
"Just a few more left. Give me a min-","hurry up will you!", The woman said as she left the shed.
Washing the remaining pans and chalices until they gleamed, Raine haphazardly stacked them in their shelves and wiped her hands on her skirts.
"Oh good you're done, the queen is furious, that old Lita, you know, knocked down a full decanter of wine…" the plump woman rambled, her gray eyes bright with apprehension. "Full of arbor Gold, that too….she plans to have her whipped…poor Lita, hasn't been the same since she lost her son to the riots " she continued.
Raine was at a loss for words. It didn't matter anyways , It wasn't the first time a lowly worker would be whipped in the streets and it probably wouldn't be the last. Her words wouldn't mean much either way.
Keep your head down and stay out of trouble, do what you're told and speak when you're spoken to. These were the words Lori, the old steward had told her when she first came here. Needless to say she more or less toed the line. She never had to interact with any of the royals that she served up until this point. If she was lucky enough, this would how it would be.
"What would you have me do? Should I fetch Marla to clean up the mess, she usually deals with the queen's quarters doesn't she?" Raine asked in a soft voice. "No..no. You do it. Marla has been assigned to princess myrcella's chambers" Agnes, the cook explained as she skinned a rabbit.
"Grab the rags and a bucket now, and get going" Hira snapped. Thrusting a few graying rags and a rusty old bucket in her hands.
Over the past couple years while she had been employed at the red keep Raine rarely had any reason to visit this side of the Keep. She had been more than fine with the arrangement. Sweating away in the kitchens sounded way better than to be at the constant whims of the royals.
The queen's chambers were located in the upper floors of one of the keep's many towers. She was sure that they all had names of their own, all castles did after all, but she hardly cared to know them.
Panting slightly, Raine finally reached the queen's chambers. Two huge armored men were stationed outside her door. King's guard, she noted. Raine had never seen one up close. Eyeing the men apprehensively she raised her hand to knock on the grand door. 3 knocks. That was the proper way wasn't it?
"Enter", a woman's voice commanded. Pushing the grand wooden doors open was quite a task for Raine. Her eyes not missing the ugly engravings on the gold plated handle.
Cersei Lannister was as beautiful as she was famed to be. Golden hair and bright green eyes. Every inch a queen, from head to toe, even in her anger. She reminded Raine of the stories her mother used to tell her when she was a child.
Scurrying past the enraged queen, Raine began to soak up the mess with one of the rags. The dais was a mess needless to say. Red wine splattered across the floor and walls. The crystal decanter, however, was fortunately unharmed or it would be much worse than lashes for poor old Lita.
Soaking up most of the mess, Raine began to scrub the floors with clean water, making sure to do a good enough job. The queen's eyes were watching her. Raine didn't dare to look at her. She tried her best to keep her back to the queen as she worked, a weak attempt to brush off her scrutiny.
The queen eyed the diminutive maid. A small, slight girl with not much flesh on bones. Her back turned to her as bony hands scrubbed the marble clean. Her short Auburn hair piled on her head, a yellowing frayed cloth tied around her head. The decanter was placed safely on the wooden chest. The last of its contents rendered the crystal a tinge of pink. What a waste, a criminal waste. She thought as she paced her chambers. She promised to make that old hag pay for her carelessness. The rattle of steel distracted her from her vengeful thoughts. The little maid was done, floors gleaming once again. Her head down as she hurried passed her. Feet almost fumbling as she made her way out.
Closing the door, Raine breathed a sigh of relief as she hurried back to the kitchens. She spent the rest of her day wiping down the many shelves that lined the walls, helping the cooks with supper and collecting firewood.
After meager meal of leftover stew and some stale bread, Raine found herself in the servants quarters. Her makeshift straw mattress a good distance away from the other's. She leaned outside the window feeling the chilly wind of the night. Winter is coming. It probably was, as each passing moon turned cooler and cooler. A good reprieve from the the heat of the summer. Raine herself was born during the middle of last winter, almost twenty years ago. She remembered the fascination she felt as she tried to catch the snowflakes before they touched the ground. Snowfall was a rare event in the riverlands,even during winters, she recalls her mother saying . It seemed like a lifetime ago. Raine didn't like thinking about the family she had left behind in the Riverlands. She tried to push those thoughts away,to think of something else.
Sleep won over eventually. After a long time she dreamt of falling snow and barbed words.