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Tywin Lannister had loved his wife more than anything, he had never wanted to take another as a bride, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The world was at odds with itself, the Mad King was ruling over the Seven Kingdoms, his eldest son had been knighted so he could no longer be the heir to the Lannister name. Tywin had another son, but Tyrion was the reason he had lost the love of his life, so in Tywin’s eyes, he was the last resort. So he remarried a lady more beautiful than any other, a woman who turned out to be quite fertile.

All it took was that first night for her to become pregnant. Tywin quickly fell for the lady, she was selfless and lovely to be around. He felt bad when he had to leave her side and command his soldiers, but he knew when he returned, he would have a baby and a beautiful wife to come back to. So when he heard the news that he had been blessed with a beautiful baby girl, he was overjoyed, but it didn’t last. With that news, came the unfortunate reality that his second wife was too young to survive the challenges of childbirth.

Astoria Lannister was born in a time of war, to be specific, Robert’s Rebellion. With the war raging on, Tywin knew one thing for certain, he could not trust just anyone to look after his newborn. So he sent for her, the newborn was on death’s door when she arrived, with a nurse and soldiers protecting her. With trying to take King’s Landing for himself, a sick baby was too much to handle at the moment.

He couldn’t send her back to Casterly Rock for multiple reasons. The most prominent being it wasn’t safe. The other reason being that he didn’t trust Cersei to look after his baby girl, she would probably neglect to and end up killing her. And he couldn’t entrust Tyrion with the task, the boy was young and Tywin hadn’t acknowledged that Tyrion was his son. So that left one option, which was the most risky of all but it was the one he ended up choosing. He sent his sick infant daughter to Jaime, in the very castle Tywin would be storming.

That was how Jaime, at five-and-ten, became attached to the girl he called his baby sister. At first he was annoyed and confused and mad at their father for thinking of sending her there. He was a member of the Kingsguard, his duty was to King Aerys, not to a baby. But then he laid eyes on her, a little innocent creature, just like Tyrion had been when he was born, except this was a normal infant. He was thankful to his friend and fellow member of the Kingsguard that had a different shift than him and was willing to look after her when he could not. It was a secret, her being in the Red Keep, if the wrong person were to find out they would be doomed. Jaime adored the girl and she hadn’t been given a name when she arrived in his care, so he chose one for her: Astoria.

She was the reason he was given the title “Kingslayer”, he only had the guts to betray his oath when the Mad King found out about the mysterious baby in the castle. The Mad King thought she was some sort of ploy to usurp him. When Jaime found her, the Mad King was holding her in his arms, staring at Astoria as he muttered the same thing “burn them all.” and Jaime froze, he was on duty, it was his duty to stand guard for the King himself today. He did his best to stay focused and for hours he was able to hold off, the Mad King hadn’t done anything to hurt the lion cub yet. He just kept repeating “burn them all”. But then Jaime thought of Astoria’s beautiful little face and her adorable green eyes and he couldn’t take it anymore, when King Aerys stood up from his throne, Jaime stabbed him.

When Cersei married King Robert, Tywin once again sent his little girl to be raised in the Red Keep, so he wouldn’t have to deal with the reminder of her mother. So he tasks his elder daughter with looking after Astoria, which wasn’t what happened. Cersei hated her, resented her, just as she did Tyrion. So Jaime stepped up and raised his baby sister himself, whenever he wasn’t on duty, he would be with her, except when Cercei called on him. He had to obey her after all, her every whim and every urge. Whenever Jaime was busy, Tyrion would be there for me, even though he was only around seven name days older. Astoria was around four when her nephew, Joffrey, was born. He grew up spoiled and cruel while Astoria (or Story, as Jaime and Tyrion liked to call her), grew up kind and lovable, the first for a lion.

Cersei and Robert had two more children over the years, all looked nothing like their father. Mycrella and Tommen adored their Aunt Story (as they liked to call her) and she loved them more than anything. Cersei focused a lot of time on her eldest, which meant that she didn’t stop Astoria from spending time with the younger two. While the rest of the family went to Winterfell, Astoria was left behind, now four-and-ten and very lonely. She found friends wherever she could, she was too trusting and so many tried to use that against her. Jaime wasn’t always around to tell her who and who not to talk to or trust. One person in particular made sure to only show up whenever Jaime was on duty, knowing he wouldn’t approve. And now that she was alone in the Red Keep, he was always there, charming Astoria every step of the way, spending every free moment with her.

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The first time she met her first real friend, Astoria was attending a party. She had been one-and-ten at the time, wearing a simple red dress. She had caught the eyes of everyone in attendance and Jaime wasn’t there to help her so she had to deal with many lords coming up to her and questioning her. It was quite overwhelming for the girl, especially after Tyrion had gotten wasted and left early.

When she was finally able to get away from the party, Astoria hurried through the halls of the Red Keep. She wanted to get back to her chambers as quickly as possible, not wanting to be approached by any more lords. As she turned a sharp corner, she walked straight into a lord. She felt panicked for multiple reasons. The most important being reputation. She quickly curtsied and apologized profusely to the lord who simply smiled in amusement.

The lord chuckled as she finished, a grin on his face, “It really is not a big deal, my lady. But I am curious, why are you in such a hurry? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I was just retiring to my chambers for the night.” The girl stated simply, not thinking it needed more explanation. But the lord was still studying her curiously, obviously he was not satisfied with her answer. She sighed, her whole body seemed to deflate as she did, “The party was overwhelming me.”

The lord cocked an eyebrow at her confession, “Is the party that bad? I was about to make my appearance but maybe it is best to stay away.” Astoria shook her head furiously, a blush coating her cheeks in embarrassment.

“It was only overwhelming for me because lords kept approaching me. They kept making me feel uncomfortable, my lord.”

“Ah. I see. I understand completely, my lady. Some lords can be quite pushy and forward with their intentions.” The girl nodded, a stressed look on her face just from thinking about it. The lord grinned, “I don’t think I caught your name.”

She curtsied once more, “My apologies, my lord. I should have introduced myself earlier.” The lord watched as her body language changed, she stood straight and clasped her hands in front of her. “My name is Astoria Lannister.” The lord feigned surprise.

“A Lannister? How intriguing.” He grinned and bowed his hand to the lion cub, “Petyr Baelish, at your service. I am the new Master of Coin.” He looked more confident as he spoke his title, he was proud of it, and the way Astoria looked at him with respect only heightened that pride.

“Congratulations my lord. That is quite a feat.” Petyr’s smile widened, he had hooked the lion cub. He had kept a conversation with her longer than any lord at the party had.

“Thank you, Lady Astoria. It was a pleasure to meet you, I look forward to our next encounter.” Lord Baelish bowed his head once more. He would end their conversation here, he didn’t want to seem too eager. He didn’t want to scare off the lion cub like all the other lords had, they were too pushy, as he had said earlier. But Petyr knew he had all the time in the world to get Lady Astoria in his clutches.

He bided his time, getting to know Astoria little by little, befriending her over time through small “accidental” encounters. He was smart enough to know Jaime Lannister would never approve of Petyr befriending his baby sister so he made sure to only encounter her whenever Jaime was on duty.

He waited until the girl was comfortable enough around him to start planning little things. For instance, every once in a while he would have a meal with her. He kept this up for three years, slowly breaking down her walls and becoming close friends with her.

And then Jon Arryn died. Or was poisoned, if you ask Petyr. The man had been acting off in his last few days alive, but nobody commented on it. Anyways, with the Hand of the King dead, Robert had to choose another to fill the role. So King Robert planned a visit to Winterfell. It would take roughly a month to get there, they would probably stay a few days to a week, and then around another month to get home.

The best part was, that Cersei didn’t allow Astoria to go with. She said it was a “family” trip and Cersei only thought of Astoria as a pest and not her half-sister. So while the rest of her family and many guards headed to Winterfell, Astoria was left alone in the Red Keep. Now, Petyr had free access to her whenever he wanted to spend time with the girl. Jaime wasn’t there to get in his way. Nobody could tell him that he couldn’t spend time with her, so he used that to his advantage. She was four-and-ten, it was about time Petyr started actually courting the Lannister girl.

He would bring her little gifts, like flowers or jewelry. He would compliment her constantly, telling her how beautiful she was and how much he enjoyed her company. He would also invite her to dine with him, always making sure to sit close to her and touch her hand whenever he got the chance.

Astoria walked through the gardens of the Red Keep, accompanied by none other than Petyr. She was talking his ear off about a book she had read, one Tyrion had given her. She was rambling and Petyr was there to listen, to weave his way further into her heart.

He smiled as she spoke, pretending to be interested in her words, but in reality, he was admiring the way her golden hair shone in the sunlight. He was enchanted by her enthusiasm and how adorable she looked when she was excited about something.

"That sounds fascinating, my dear. I must say, you have quite the love for books." He stopped walking and turned to face her, his eyes meeting hers. He took her hand in his, gently squeezing it. "I don't think I've ever seen you this happy before. It's refreshing to see you so lively."

Astoria laughed, “Cersei and Joffrey aren’t here to condescend or torment me whenever I seem a little happy.”

Petyr chuckled along with her, but his smile faded slightly at the mention of Cersei and Joffrey. He couldn't stand the thought of them treating her poorly, it infuriated him. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Good. I don't like seeing you unhappy, and I certainly don't like the idea of anyone else making you unhappy either."

When her family returned to the Red Keep, they brought four people with them. Robert had chosen a new hand of the king, Eddard Stark. And with him, came three of his four daughters, Sansa, Arya, and Maisie. Arya and Maisie were twins. He watched from a balcony as Astoria greeted her family with open arms, a wide smile on her face. Jaime spun his baby sister around which made her laugh. Tyrion handed her a few books he had found and thought she would like. Her niece Myrcella hugged her.

Astoria ignored the snide comments from her sister and eldest nephew as she knelt down to embrace her younger nephew, Tommen.

Tommen, the youngest of the royal children, ran to Astoria and threw his arms around her neck. He was always close to his aunt, finding comfort in her warmth and kindness. Petyr watched as Astoria lifted Tommen up into her arms, carrying him like a little boy. He couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at the sight, wishing he could hold her like that too. Astoria placed him down after Cersei made a comment about coddling.

Immediately after standing back up, King Robert wrapped an arm around her shoulder, wanting to introduce his favorite Lannister to the Starks that were there. Robert, who was already a bit drunk, pulled Astoria close to him, his hand gripping her shoulder tightly. He began to walk her over to Eddard and the girls. "Ned! This is my beautiful good sister, Astoria Lannister. The jewel of Casterly Rock."

Eddard Stark turned to look at Astoria, his eyes widening slightly at her beauty. He bowed his head respectfully.

"It's an honor to meet you, my lady." He looked at the girls, and they all gave her polite smiles.

Sansa's smile was the brightest, already taken by Astoria's looks. The two other girls, Arya and Maisie stood side by side. Arya was sizing Astoria up, not trusting her right away. She was more cautious than Sansa and a little skeptical of any Lannister. Meanwhile, Maisie couldn't stop staring at Astoria, completely captivated by her beauty. She nudged Arya and whispered something in her ear, making Arya roll her eyes.

Astoria smiled and curtsied, “My lord, my ladies.” Robert chuckled.

"Ah, so polite! You're going to make the Starks here blush, Astoria." Ned chuckled as well, shaking his head. He introduced the girls.

"This is Sansa, Arya, and Maisie."

“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you three.” Astoria smiled giddily, hopefully this was her chance at making more friends. Sansa stepped forward first, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"The pleasure is ours, Lady Astoria. You're even more beautiful in person." Maisie nodded in agreement, still in awe of her. Arya stayed back, crossing her arms over her chest.

Astoria was about to say more when her elder brother wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“Come on Story, let’s go catch up before the feast.” Astoria looked up at Jaime, her smile faltering slightly as she saw his expression. He looked a bit irritated. She nodded and said goodbye to the Starks before walking away with Jaime.

Jaime guided his baby sister away. He didn’t want anyone getting any ideas. Which meant he didn’t want Ned trying to get Astoria betrothed to his son Robb. The boy was fine but Jaime didn’t want his sister in the North.

He sat down on a bench in the garden and pulled her down next to him, it was away from prying eyes and ears. "Stay away from the Starks. Especially that Ned Stark. I don't trust him."

“Jaime.” The girl whined in exasperation, “You never let me have any friends.” He raised an eyebrow at her whine, a smirk playing on his lips.

"I let you have friends, just not Stark friends. You know how I feel about them. And besides, you don't need any friends. You have me and Tyrion." Astoria frowned. The only friends she actually had were the ones she kept a secret, like Petyr. Jaime noticed her frown and he sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I know you're lonely sometimes, but you're too pure for those northern bastards. They're rough and unrefined. You deserve better." She sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder, ignoring the armor. He wrapped an arm around her, holding her close to him. He rested his chin on her head, looking out at the garden.

"I just want to protect you, Astoria. You're my little sister, and I don't want to see you get hurt."

“You can’t protect me forever!”

He chuckled, a hint of annoyance in his tone, "Watch me. I'll always be there to protect you, no matter how old you get."

“No, you won’t be. Because someday, probably soon, father will marry me off to someone and I will be gone.” Jaime tensed up at the mention of her being married off. He had been avoiding thinking about it, but he knew it was inevitable. He gripped her shoulder tighter, his jaw clenched.

"Don't talk like that. Father hasn't even started looking for suitors yet."

“How do you know he just hasn’t told you that he started looking?” He paused, considering her question. It was true that their father could be secretive about things like that.

"I'll just have to make sure he doesn't find a suitable match for you. All people care about is raising their status and you are a Lannister, Story.” She sighed, knowing all of it already. She is a Lannister and all people want is to use her because she’s the top of the food chain.

“I know, Jaime. I’ve heard it all before.” Upon hearing her tone, Jaime looked down sadly. He wished that he could make this better for her, that someone out there wouldn’t want her for her name or her looks but for who she is.

“I’m sorry, Story.” Jaime pressed a kiss to the top of her head, “Honestly, I’d prefer if you never married. You could just stay here with me forever.”

Astoria laughed, knowing that would never be the case.

And sure enough, a few days later, two letters arrived at the Red Keep. One for Petyr Baelish and the other for Cersei Lannister. But both letters had the seal of house Lannister.

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And sure enough, a few days later, two letters arrived at the Red Keep. One for Petyr Baelish and the other for Cersei Lannister. But both letters had the seal of house Lannister.

Astoria was fourteen, she was of age to marry, so Petyr had sent a letter to her father recently. He had reached out to the Old Lion himself, asking for Astoria to be betrothed to him.

Petyr was confident that Tywin would agree to the betrothal. He had many reasons why he should, and Petyr was more than willing to give him all of them. He wanted Astoria as his wife, he wanted to marry into the Lannister family, and he was prepared to do whatever it took to make it happen.

When the response from Tywin and a letter for Cersei arrived, Petyr received his letter shortly before Queen Cersei due to having his little birds watch the gates. He tore through it eagerly and read the contents:

Dear Lord Baelish,  

I trust this message finds you well. If I am being honest, upon receiving the letter I only read it to get a laugh. However, I must commend you on your eloquent presentation of the mutually beneficial alliance you envision between our houses.  

Your understanding of the political landscape is, as I suspected, keen and insightful. You and I share a common interest in power and influence, and I agree that a betrothal between my Astoria and yourself would indeed solidify our standing in the realm. The information you receive will, without doubt, strengthen our position against potential adversaries.  

Therefore, it is with calculated approval that I accept your proposal for marriage. I concur that such an alliance would not only deter threats to our power but also send a clear signal to our rivals regarding the unity of our aspirations. It is time we secured a partnership that facilitates our ambitions and secures the legacy of both our houses.  

Let us discuss the particulars at your earliest convenience. I wish to ensure that all terms align with our interests and expectations to further solidify this advantageous union.  

Yours truly,

Tywin Lannister

He continues reading the letter, a sly smile spreading across his face. So Tywin had accepted his proposal after all. Petyr couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction and triumph. He knew that he had won, that he would soon be betrothed to Astoria, and that she would be his. He set the letter down and leaned back in his chair, a plan forming in his mind on how to approach this with me.

Cersei, on the other hand, had been having a conversation with Jaime when she got the letter. She was already annoyed that they had been interrupted when the servant handed her the letter from Tywin.

In any other case, she would have thrown it to the side and opened it later but she saw the Lannister sigil and Tywin rarely sent letters, only when it was important. So she opened it and started reading, her eyes widening as she went on. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

She couldn’t help but commend Lord Baelish on his ambition. And despite knowing he was a manipulative man, she didn’t like Astoria much, so she didn’t care that her sister was being screwed over. However, Jaime was sitting on her bed and he did care. Upon seeing the strange look on his twin’s face Jaime stood up.

“What does he want now?” Jaime questioned as he tried to peek at the letter. She held the letter close to her chest, she knew exactly how Jaime would react.

"Father wants to betroth Astoria to Petyr Baelish." Jaime's eyes widened in disbelief and anger. He snatched the letter from her hand, reading it himself.

“This can't be happening. There's no way Father would allow this." Jaime read the letter over and over in disbelief and Cersei laughed as the news sunk in. This was wonderful. They were gaining an ally that had information on everyone. And Cersei couldn’t care less about Astoria.

Jaime looked at her like she was crazy, not understanding why she was laughing. "This isn't a laughing matter, Cersei. Astoria is being sold off like a cow to a man we barely know!"

She rolled her eyes at him, putting a hand on his arm, "Relax, brother. She'll be fine. It's not like she has any other options. And you know father, he wouldn't do this if it wasn't beneficial to us in some way.” Jaime sighed, knowing she was right. He just hated the thought of Astoria being married to a man like Petyr. A man who would surely try to manipulate her and use her for his own gain.

Jaime’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the ground, his anger growing as he thought about this more and more. He was not just going to let this happen. He knew he couldn’t kill Lord Baelish but he would sure as hell show hostility towards the man.

Cersei watched him, seeing the look in his eyes. She knew he was going to try something stupid. "Jaime, don't do anything rash. You know father will have your head if you interfere."

Jaime ignored his sister as he went to find Lord Baelish, still clutching the letter in his hand. Petyr was in the gardens, speaking to a few lords when he saw Jaime approaching him. He raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension in the air.

"Ah, Ser Jaime. What a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe this visit?" Jaime laughed humorlessly.

“Like you don’t know?” Jaime pushed Petyr up against the wall. Petyr didn't flinch, a smirk on his face as he looked up at Jaime.

"I'm afraid I'm not sure what you mean. Care to enlighten me?" Jaime pressed his arm against Petyr's throat, his grip tight.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about. My sister. You're going to marry her. You don't deserve her." Petyr chuckled, his voice strained slightly from the pressure on his neck.

"And who are you to decide what I deserve, Jaime? You're not the one who made the decision. That was your father.” Jaime's jaw clenched but after a moment he released the man.

"I don't care what our father says. I won't let you ruin her life. You're nothing but a snake, Petyr." Petyr straightened his clothes and smirked again, his confidence unshaken.

"A snake? Perhaps. But I'm a very cunning snake. And your sister will come to realize that I can give her everything that she needs. I can give her power, influence, and security. Things you can't provide as a knight." Jaime clenched his fists at the jab toward his place in society.

"You're going to ruin her. You'll turn her into someone she's not. Someone like you." Jaime growled in frustration, he hated that Petyr was right. He had no way of saving Astoria. But still, he didn't want Petyr to succeed. He would rather see her marry some low-born bastard than have her be with him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ser Jaime.” Littlefinger played innocent, “My only intention is to give your sister a life that she deserves.”

“Like she’d ever want to marry you.” Jaime growls. Petyr's eyes gleamed with amusement at Jaime's comment.

"Ah, you underestimate her, Jaime. She's a smart girl. She knows what's best for her. And what's best for her is to marry me. She will learn to love me in time." Jaime couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was about to punch Petyr when he heard Astoria's voice calling out to him.

"Jaime, there you are. I've been looking everywhere for you." Astoria hurries over to her eldest brother, a bright smile on her face. She was completely unaware of the betrothal. Jaime quickly turned to her, a fake smile plastered on his face. He tried to act normal, not wanting to ruin the moment for her.

"Astoria, sweet sister. I was just having a chat with Lord Baelish here." Astoria curtsied towards Lord Baelish like the lady she was. She smiled up at her secret friend.

Petyr steps forward, a charming smile on his face as he bows his head slightly, "Ah, Astoria. It's a pleasure to see you again. You look absolutely radiant today."

“Thank you, my lord. You’re too kind.” She turns back to her brother, her smile widening. “I heard from one of the servants that Cersei received a letter from father. Gods, I hope he’s going to visit soon.”

Jaime glanced at Littlefinger, a silent warning, he then gave Astoria a strange look after fully comprehending her words. Why would she want him to visit? Jaime’s  response was blunt, “Why?”

“Because he is our father,” Astoria stated simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Besides,” she added with a less confident voice and demeanor, “I barely remember father. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him.”

"I think he just misses his youngest daughter. He worries about you, Astoria." Petyr chuckled, finding it amusing that Astoria didn't know about the betrothal yet.

Jaime couldn’t believe what he was hearing, how could Petyr just stand there and lie to her face like that. Astoria smiles at his words, her voice soft and uncertain, “You think so?”

Petyr nods, taking a step closer to her. "I do. He cares about you very much. More than you know." Jaime clenched his fists, the urge to hit him growing stronger.

Astoria's eyes widened, a hint of sadness in them. “But he never writes. Or sends gifts. It's like I don't exist to him." Petyr put a hand on her shoulder, his touch gentle.

"That's not true, my dear. He's a busy man, that's all. But he thinks of you often. And he wants to see you. Very much." Petyr ignored Jaime's glare, keeping his focus on Astoria. He moved his hand to her chin, tilting her head up to look at him.

"I know it may seem that way, but he loves you. Just as I will love you." Astoria took a moment to process his words.

“What?” She asked, confused and thinking she must have misheard him. Why was he talking about loving her? Petyr chuckled again, his hand still on her chin. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he couldn't resist.

"I said that I will love you, Astoria. I'm sure you'll come to love me too." Astoria's heart skipped a beat, not knowing how to respond. She looked to her brother for help, but he was too stunned to say anything. Petyr took advantage of her silence and continued speaking. "After all, we're going to be married soon."

Jaime finally found his voice, his tone sharp and angry. Did Baelish never even tell Astoria that he was asking their father for a betrothal? "What did you just say?" Petyr smirked, his eyes never leaving Astoria's face. 

"You heard me, Ser Jaime. Your sister and I are betrothed. I'm going to marry her." Petyr affirmed and Astoria's eyes widened in shock, her mind racing. She looked at Jaime, then back at Petyr.

"I... I didn’t know. Is this true?" Astoria asked, her face unsure. Jaime couldn't believe that she didn't know already, he tried to stay calm but was struggling.

Petyr nodded, taking her hand in his. "It's true, my sweet. Your father has given his blessing and we are to be wed in a few moons." Astoria stood there in shock, her heart racing from disbelief and slight betrayal.

“You asked my father to wed me?” She questioned him, wanting to be sure she was understanding the situation right.

 Petyr nodded again, his expression serious now. "Yes, I did. I proposed the idea to him and he agreed. He believes it is a good match."

Astoria felt as if she would be sick. She didn’t see Petyr that way. And although she had always wanted to marry for love, she had also known it was unlikely given who her father was. “I see,” Astoria spoke quietly, knowing she had to keep her head until she understood how she felt about the arrangement. Petyr hadn’t even asked her if it was alright.

Jaime was furious. He couldn’t stand to see his little sister looking so upset. "Astoria, you can't seriously be considering this. You barely know him!" Astoria almost flinched, Jaime never used her full name. He was angry and she knew it.

Astoria swallowed, trying to steel her expression as she prepared for the oncoming storm, “Lord Baelish and I have been friends since he first became the master of coin, Jaime.” Petyr smiled at her, glad that she was defending him. The Kingslayer’s eyes felt like they were going to pop out of his head. Not only had this man gotten himself betrothed to Astoria, but he had obviously been working towards this for a long time.

"That's right. We have a deep connection, and I know we can make a wonderful life together." Petyr smiled. He had been befriending Astoria behind Jaime’s back, the fucking snake had been scheming and lying and turning Astoria into a pawn. And he knew Jaime would never allow it if he had known. But why wouldn’t Story tell him that she was friends with him?

Astoria pulled her hand away from Petyr's grip and took a step back, trying to gather her thoughts. She was torn between her duty to her family and her own desires. "I need time to think about this, my lord. It's a lot to take in." Petyr's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly composed himself.

"Of course, take all the time you need. I understand that this is a big decision. But remember, I'm not just a stranger to you. I care for you deeply." Jaime snorted at that statement, knowing it was a lie. He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. He was pissed but he was starting to understand how this had happened.

It was all his own fault. He had turned away every person that Astoria had an interaction with. He was the reason she had kept her friendship with Littlefinger a secret. And the snake had made it too easy. Jaime had never seen them interact, which meant Littlefinger had only ever approached her when Jaime was on duty or busy with something Cersei-related.

Petyr could see the realization on Jaime's face, and he smirked inwardly. He had outsmarted the Kingslayer. He knew exactly how to get to Astoria, how to win her over without anyone noticing.Jaime’s expression darkened and he wanted nothing more than to kill the man. 

But his anger was interrupted by Lord Stark, who was looking for Littlefinger. The Hand approached the three, glancing between the two lions and the Master of Coin as he sensed the obvious tension. He was naturally curious but he also knew it was none of his business. “Lord Baelish,” The Hand spoke, catching the attention of the three. “You are late for the meeting.” 

Petyr feigned disappointment as he looked at Ned. "Ah, my apologies, Lord Stark. I was just having a private conversation with Ser Jaime and Lady Astoria."

Petyr excused himself and left. Ned noticed the murderous glint in Jaime’s eyes before following behind the Master of Coin, himself. Jaime looked at his sister, slightly disappointed. “What were you thinking, befriending him? I warned you that people here are not to be trusted.” 

This angered Astoria and she bristled at his tone. She had only wanted someone other than Jaime and Tyrion to talk to about things. "I wasn't thinking anything. He was kind to me, and I was lonely. All I ever wanted was a friend and you made it impossible for me.” She stormed off, leaving her eldest brother to his own thoughts.