12. I Cut It

                                    

                                          
Bad Blood // Theon Greyjoy Out now
Maeve held her head high as she walked out of her room. Robert stared at her through a clenched jaw. Jorah chuckled when he saw the look on Robert's face. 
"What's wrong husband?" Maeve questioned. It had been months of hell and Maeve was done. Jorah was right, she was a dragon. She needed to start acting like it. 
"Your hair.' Robert hissed. 
"I cut it." Maeve said her fingers going to her shortened hair. 
Robert pulled at her hair so she cut it off. Her hair was something that she loved, her silver locks, every Targaryen wore their hair long, she felt like one of them when she was younger and deemed the bastard, having her hair long made her feel that much more like a real Targaryen. But she knew that the hair didn't make her Targaryen, it was her blood. So she chopped it. She felt more confident, she felt fearless, she felt like a dragon. She sat down opposite of Robert her leg crossed over the other as she leaned back. 
"Do continue.' Maeve assured. She used to sit on her father's small council meetings she was his cup bearer and she was done hiding. She knew more about running the seven kingdoms than any of these men sitting here, they were children playing pretend. They didn't understand the ways of ruling. Maeve did. Robert grit his teeth as he stared back at her, she offered him a coy smile as her cup was filled. 
"Thank you." Maeve said sweetly before looking to Varys.  "Do go on.'
"Of course your grace." Varys said happily. Maeve looked around at the council. Ned, the hand. Varys the master of whispers, grand maester Pycelle, master of ships was Robert's brother Stannis, master of coins and the master of laws... Maeve stared at the empty spots.
"Ser Barristan Selmy." Maeve cut in. "Where is he?"
"Not here." Robert hissed. 
 "He is the lord commander of the kings guard... is he not?"
"He is your grace." Varys answered. 
"Lord commander of the kings guard should be at small council meetings to update the progress of the kings guard, what they need possible threats, our armada should be prepared for a rebellion." Maeve mused.
"You planning a rebellion bitch?" Robert spat sloshing his cup down on the table. Maeve crossed a leg over the other, smug. 
"Your grace, that was uncalled for." Ned told him offering Maeve an apologetic look. 
"We are also missing a master of coin and war." Maeve remarked. "A master of coin is important so we know where the money is going, not just for wine and whores, but things of importance." Maeve told Robert and he threw his cup across the table it rolled stopping in front of her. "Thank you, husband.'" Maeve said kindly as she righted the glass. "But I already have a cup."
"There is our new master of coin." Varys said as Tywin entered. 
"Your grace." Tywin said tipping his head to Maeve. "Your grace." He repeated to Robert before taking his seat. 
"Must be hard." Maeve remarked. 
"What?" Robert spat. 
"Shitting gold." Maeve told him but her gaze and dazzling white smile looked to Tywin. "With my husbands habits your knack for coin will be useful." 
"Thank you your grace." Tywin said and Ned had to bite his tongue. This was the Maeve that had been hiding away. She was fearless, he wondered how long it would last before Robert's beating stole her light.