ＰＥＯＰＬＥ Aʀᴇɴ'ᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ＳＯＬＤ (Heartz)

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leim stood in the great hall by his father's side. The hall had been lavishly decorated, in honor of the noble house that was visiting that day. Standing there, with the rest of his family, was the last place Leim wanted to be. This much was evidence from the curl of his lip. He'd heard quite a bit about this house; 'Brax' they were called. He also knew they weren't in the best standing with the Lannisters. Important or not, he planned to ditch this little gathering as soon as he could. His father had tried to use the lord's daughter to coax him into attending, speaking of her beauty, but Leim cared little for women. He was seventeen, but love or even lust wasn't often on his mind.

The doors to the hall opened and a steward stepped in. He announced the House Brax: a man, his wife, and their daughter, Pippa. Despite his self-proclaimed disinterest, he leaned to the side a bit to get a better look at the daughter.

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Lord and Lady Brax were quick to show their respect by bowing; Pippa needed a little pinch from her mother to follow suit. The young woman was as beautiful as the rumors had described. She had sorrel brown hair, strips of amber weaved throughout the glossy strands. It fell loose along her shoulders and back, her bangs braided and pinned back to keep it from straying into her face. Her eyes were like a doe's gentle and round, and the color of coffee. She gazed around the hall, her expression somewhat sour and inattentive. She looked as though she wished to be anywhere else.

"Thank you for having us today, Lord Lannister," Lord Brax spoke as he rose, his gaze on the head of the Casterly Rock.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leim's lips twitched into a faint smile. She looked as irritated to be here as he was. He ignored the pleasantries between his parents and Lord and Lady Brax. He tapped his finger on the handle of the dagger he wore hidden under his clothing. He was no knight, and his father would probably hang him if he knew, but Leim liked to be armed. A man like him should always have a weapon.

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Pippa's gaze lingered on Leim for a moment, but she didn't look for long. She took a deep breath and released it in a sigh, her doe eyes flitting to the guards at the doors. Her father was blabbering some nonsense about being happy to strengthen the alliance between their Houses. All drabble, in her opinion. Pippa didn't care one way or another if the Lannisters 'liked' her and her family. It only mattered because her father needed other Houses to help him in case of attack.

But she stood quiet and still, as was expected of her. Better this than listen to her mother give her grief later. She knew that her father's intent was to set her up in marriage with the Lannister son- Leim, his name was. Pippa didn't want to get married. Not to someone she didn't know, anyways. The thought made her grit her teeth and she glanced at Leim again. At least he wasn't hideous.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leim met her eyes and flashed a cocky smile. He had no idea about the marriage plans, and it hadn't come up in conversation yet. He just thought she was watching him because he was good-looking. While not interested in a romantic relationship, the idea of someone appraising him please him.

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Pippa didn't smile or even give him a flirty look like she normally would have. She arched an eyebrow and tilted her head, as though confused by his reaction to her. She would have thought he wouldn't like an arranged marriage either. Most people didn't.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I'm sure Leim will be just as pleased," Lord Lannister said. Leim snapped to attention when he heard his name. He hadn't caught the rest of the conversation, so he didn't know what he should be pleased about.

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Pippa scoffed under her breath and earned a pinch from her mother. She pressed her pretty pink lips together and glared at the floor.

"Pippa as well," Lord Brax smiled wide, "She's been eligible for some time now, just hasn't had any luck finding a suitable gentleman."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

It took Leim a moment to pick up on the meaning of that. Without bothering to think about his father's ire, he said, "What? No, no way. I'm not getting married!"

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Pippa's lips curled into a little smirk and she kept her face turned so he couldn't see.

Lord Brax blinked in surprise, "Ah, uh, you sound surprised by this. Did you not discuss it with your parents?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Of course not!" Leim said. He felt like he was on the verge of exploding. "I'm not getting married. Especially not to her." He shot a sneer in Pippa direction.

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"It's not like I'd ever choose to get married to you either!" Pippa shot back, her head whipping around so she could glare at him.

"Now, now," Lady Brax tried to remedy the situation, "It is not so bad for you two. It could be much worse."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"How could it be worse?" Leim demanded. "Just the fact that you're arranging my marriage is bad enough." He turned to his father, his face livid. To hell with manners. "How could you do this to me?"

"Watch yourself, young man," Lord Lannister said tightly. "This is not the time."

"Since you didn't warn me, this is the time."

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Lady Brax put a hand on her daughter's lower back, "Maybe we should wait in another room?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I think that would be a good idea," Leim said. His lip curled up as he glanced at them.

"Leim!" his mother said. "That's enough."

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Pippa rolled her dark doe-eyes and pointed at him, "Oh please, save your woe-is-me attitude for the taverns and drunkards. You might as well grin and bear it because life isn't fair, not even for a little Lannister like you."

"Pippa, enough," Her father's voice was sharp.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leim stepped forward, his hand going to his concealed dagger. "Watch your tongue, you wench," he snarled. "Do you know who you're talking to?"

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"Yes, my husband-to-be, apparently," Pippa sneered at him, her flat shoes clicking softly as she stepped toward him. Her 5'5, curvy frame didn't exactly look intimidating, but her doe-eyes had gone from sweet to fierce in just a few seconds.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"You might be a noble, but I'm a Lannister," Leim said. "Don't think for a second you're anything compared to me."

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"Pippa, you will stop this nonsense right this minute," Lady Brax took her daughter by the arm and jerked her back. Her fingers might have left bruises if she held her any tighter, "You will apologize right now, you ungrateful child."

Pippa glared at Leim, the muscles in her arm tensed. She clamped her mouth shut and jutted her chin forward stubbornly.