{ forbidden fruit ~ GoT Open

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Anita raised her eyebrows.
"Are you challenging the Queen?"

Her voice was light, teasing, playful.

"Besides." She gave a careless shrug. "I've got to show that I am a mother to the people, right, as well as to you. They can have all the remarks about a broken womb and shattered personality and ruined mind all they want - but I am still a mother - your mother. Not your birth mother - but I try, Briar." She touched the girl's shoulder with her fingertips. "Let me try."

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Briar laid her hand over Anita's and nodded, a little teary eyed, "Yes, m'am, thank you."

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Anita nodded, swallowing back the emotion that threatened to override her. "Alright - what would you like?"

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Briar looked around, her mind reeling with choices, "Well, I would like some fabric for a new dress.."

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"Something colorful, perhaps?" Anita leaned over, pleasantly smiling, grabbing a few fabrics.

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"Purple is my favorite," She smiled shyly and leaned over to examine the fabrics.

Briar usually made her own dresses, since she was always criticized for her shape.

Or lack thereof.

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Anita chose a silk fabric, royal purple in color with silver specks sewn in. "What about this one? It compliments you, your natural beauty."

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She smiled and touched the fabric gently, "It's beautiful."

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Anita looked pleased, like she was happy that she had chosen a fabric on a whim that Briar liked. "Well, then - this one for your present, and an extra for backup?" It was clear she was buying Briar two presents. It was cute.

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Briar wiggled in her saddle, looking coy, "Okay, can I have blue fabric as the other one?"

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"It's not fair for you to hold out on me, Briar." She paused to pay the man the money, collecting both fabrics and tying them loosely around Briar's waist. The Queen smiled. "I need this exceptional taste of yours. That, or you need to be around me more often."

She started towards the fruits. "And, if I get my way - which we both know I will, because how could I possibly be told no? - you will be around me more often. Would that please you?"

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Briar nodded, "Oh, yes! I'd love that. I only ever see the servants on a daily basis. And even they don't talk much with me."

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Anita smiled, picking a few things, putting them in the bag at her hip. "Okay, now where would you like to go?"

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"Can we just ride around for a bit?" Briar smiled, "It's a very pretty day."

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Anita shrugged.

"Certainly. You go first."

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She urged Arget forward and smiled as the horse complied right away. It had been so long since she'd ridden a horse! Being outside was enough to make her excited.

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Anita swung the gelding after her, a steady trot that could easily overtake Arget.

She wouldn't allow Xavier to prove dominant, so she hung back.

"Can we visit the fields? A good race will be beneficial to the horses."

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"Okay!" Briar said, nodding her head in an excited manner, "A race would be so much fun!"

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Anita took the lead as the marketplace gave way to the town, the town to forest. She traveled through the forest, by a path that was very clear-cut and simple, and out onto the plains.

"There. Now I can breathe." She sucked in a huge breath and let it out slowly. "You sure you're up to it?"

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"I have never raced another before," She shrugged, holding onto Arget's reins tight, "But it has always looked fun! I watch them from my room sometimes."