Myrcella's room looked like that of a princess. Everything was white, pink and gold, and elegant to the extreme. The four-poster bed reminded Arya of the one in Sansa's room, though hers was blue rather than pink, and she had a closet that could fit another bed if need be. Her sister would have envied the size of it.
" Beth doesn't have a sister named Sansa," Arya reminded herself as she stood awkwardly in the middle of the room.
"You're a little shorter than me, but I think we're about the same size," Myrcella said, flipping through her closet. "I can find something that works."
"Something simple," Beth said. "Remember Miss, I should blend in."
"It's a night out. You have to dress up to blend in," Myrcella gave her a look. "And you don't have to call me Miss, Beth. Myrcella is fine."
"I think I will anyway, Miss."
Myrcella exhaled. "I can see why my mother liked you. She likes it when our employees don't act like equals." She pulled out a green dress from the closet, glancing Beth up and down. "This would look nice."
"No dresses," Beth said. "If I have to fight, I need something more practical."
"You're probably not going to fight you know," Myrcella said. "You're just a precaution."
"Yes, but I prepare for the worst, Miss."
Myrcella sighed. "Later, then." She went back to looking. "So how did you end up as a bodyguard, Beth?"
"My uncle was one," Beth said. "And I've always been good at self-defense."
"Well, I'm glad you're here. You have no idea how worried I was," Myrcella said. "It's hard enough to make friends when you're half Lannister because everyone is afraid of your family. It would have been even more difficult with some hulking bodyguard following me around." She found a pretty green top, the same color as the dress, and tossed it onto the bed. "I understand why mother worries, but I'm not trying to do anything reckless or dangerous. I just want to meet people like everyone else."
Beth did not reply, but she was silently grateful that Myrcella was a talker. If the Faceless Men wanted her to gather any intel, talkers were her greatest asset.
"But then someone tried to put something in my drink," Myrcella said. "And Mom lost her mind. I didn't even drink it but…" She sighed. "Gods, I wish sometimes that I could go somewhere where no one knows my name. You understand, right?"
Beth rubbed her hands together. "Yes. But all the same… you should hold on to your name. It may bring some challenges but… not having it would be harder."
Myrcella studied her for a long moment and Arya cursed herself for saying such a strange thing.
"I suppose that's true," Myrcella said, tossing a jacket and a pair of dark jeans onto the bed. "All right, I think these will work. Put them on. I can leave the room, don't worry."
You just met me, Arya thought absently. I could steal something while you're away.
Beth just nodded. "Yes, Miss."
Once Myrcella was out of the room, she let out a long breath and pulled out her phone, shooting a quick text to Jaqen.
Beth Rivers is in. On the job now. Will wait for any further instructions.
Then she hurried to slip on Myrcella's clothes. The jeans fit fine on her though they were too long, and she had to roll up the cuffs. But the blouse and jacket worked well enough, though it was tight on her arms. She had more muscle than Myrcella.
She checked herself in the mirror, making sure her hair and face hadn't shifted. Arya was barely visible in the reflection. It really was like looking at a stranger.
The knock at the door startled her. "Are you done, Beth?"
"Yes," Beth said, turning to face the door. Myrcella reentered, this time dragging someone else behind her. For a moment, Beth thought it might be Joffrey, but it relieved her to see it was the other brother. Tommen. He was the sweet one if she remembered correctly.
"You look good!" Myrcella beamed. "You're actually really pretty, Beth."
"Oh… I…" Beth stumbled over her words, but that was Arya's fault. Three years ago, no one ever called her that word or anything similar, except perhaps her family. She didn't know how to take it. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Myrcella pushed her brother ahead. He his golden-haired and green eyed just like her with a kind, though nervous smile. "This is Tommen, my younger brother. He's coming out with us. Tommen, this is Beth Rivers."
"Pleased to meet you, sir." Beth extended a hand.
"Sir? You don't have to call me sir," Tommen said, accepting the hand.
"She won't listen," Myrcella said, disappearing into her bathroom. "She calls me Miss. Very professional."
"Explains why mother hired her."
"That's what I said."
Tommen realized he was still holding onto Beth's hand and quickly dropped it. "So… bodyguard, huh? That's cool. None of the rest of our security team looks like you." His brow furrowed. "I'm actually not sure if any of them are women at all."
"There have been a few that have come and gone," Myrcella called out. She was in the process of touching up her hair and makeup. "But not many. I think some men on our security team are… hard to work with. Like Merryn Trant. You should watch out for him, Beth. I've heard stories from some of our maids."
"We've met," she said mildly. And yes, she pegged him as someone she needed to watch, especially since she had humiliated him earlier. That could be trouble later. "Don't worry. I can take care of myself." She glanced at Tommen. "I'm sorry for asking but are you… allowed to go out? I mean, do you have your own guard?"
"He's allowed," Myrcella said. "Mother doesn't worry about his safety as much because he's a boy. But I'm sure you can look out for the both of us, can't you?"
"Yes, I can," Beth said. "I just wanted to make sure you had permission. I'd rather not get fired my first day on the job."
"You won't. I'll make sure of it." Myrcella flounced out of the bathroom, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Not one eyelash was out of place on her face. This was a goddamn good-looking family if nothing else. "Then Mother would have to find some other bodyguard and I bet they wouldn't be nearly as fun as you."
"I'm not here to be fun, Miss."
"Yes, yes, I know ." She looped her arm through Beth's. "But you will let us have fun without mother worrying. Come on, Tommen, the night is young!"
Beth glanced back at Tommen who gave her an apologetic smile as Myrcella pulled her along. This was not something she was used to after three years in Braavos. In fact, it wasn't something Arya was ever used to.
A lifetime ago, Sansa had been the pretty one who ran in the same circles as Myrcella and Arya had been a shadow who watched them from the distance. When she started secondary school, some girls and boys called her horse face, but once she got older, they stopped noticing her all together. She didn't know how to dress well, nor did she care to try. Makeup had always eluded her. So she watched the prettier girls from a distance.
Some days she resented them and wished she could be as effortlessly pretty. Some days she looked down on them. It really depended on the moment. But that was all very distant now.
For now, her task was protecting Myrcella and keeping her eyes and ears open. Whether or not she was used to the situation, she had to adapt.
That was what it was to be a Faceless man.
Beth had to stop by the security building to get her equipment first. She could hide her holster beneath her jacket well enough and the new gun fit well in her hand. She had shot this piece before and was confident in her ability to use it if needed.
"Don't fuck up tonight," Clegane said. "You're a fresh hire, so the lioness will look for you to fail."
"Understood, sir," Beth said.
The driver, Phillip, had already picked up Myrcella and Tommen when Beth left the building and he pulled up beside her.
"Get in!" Myrcella crowed. "Come on, we don't want to be late."
Late for what, Beth wondered. Taverns and pubs in King's Landing were open until all hours and the sun had barely set. But then, maybe Myrcella was just eager to get out of the house again.
They ended up at the Gold Street Pub near the center of the city. It was a ritzy bar known for expensive drinks and high paying customers. It was also known for letting under aged teens drink if they paid enough money, but they never got busted by the cops. The privilege of being rich. Myrcella, at least, was of age, though Tommen wasn't. Beth would watch him just as carefully. Cersei Lannister had hired Beth to protect her daughter, but if she let anything happen to her son… well, she didn't imagine the lioness would be pleased.
Myrcella tried to coax Beth into getting a drink with them, but she refused on the grounds of being professional. Instead, she took up a place near the wall that gave her a good line of sight. The bar was packed with people, but from this angle she had eyes on Myrcella and anyone who went close to her drink.
Myrcella was popular. Many people in the bar knew her and more than one boy offered to buy her a drink. She declined most of them, except for one boy with curly dark hair and light brown skin. Arya did not recognize him from school, but he looked Dornish. She made a note of him as a potential threat, but he seemed friendly enough and his hand never touched Myrcella's drink.
Once, Tommen slipped over to join Beth on the wall. "You're sure you don't want a drink? I know they're expensive here, but I can get you one."
"No, thank you," Beth said. "I don't drink, so it's not a question of money."
"Not even wine?"
"No. Not even wine." Beth shrugged. "Personal choice."
"I don't drink much either. I mean, I'm technically not allowed to but… I don't like the taste very much."
Beth's mouth twitched. "I hear it's acquired."
"That's what they say," Tommen said. "But I only choke the stuff down when I'm out with friends and I haven't acquired it yet."
"You don't need to do that, you know," Beth said. "Who cares what they think? Drink what you want." Tommen gave her a look, and she cursed herself. That was too much of Arya creeping into her voice. "Sorry, sir. That wasn't my place."
"No, it's fine." Tommen smiled at her. "Well, whether or not you drink, you don't have to stand up against the wall. You can meet some people if you want."
"I'm fine," Beth insisted. "Go have fun."
They stayed at that bar for an hour before going onto the next one, along with another crowd of rich kids who were getting progressively more inebriated. They walked in a crowd, shouting up at the stars, singing off key. Myrcella swung one of her friends around in circles, laughing like a girl with no cares in the world. And Beth trailed behind him, never taking her eyes off her.
A worry passed through the back of her mind. A worry that belonged to Arya. A lot of these teens and young adults seemed like Sansa's people when she was in school. What if she came out with them or met them at a bar? Would Arya be able to hide behind Beth's freckles and brown eyes and red hair then?
She shook the thought away. Of course she could. She was not hiding behind Beth. She was Beth. And she knew how to go unnoticed when she needed to. Despite going to multiple bars in the next few hours, full of drunk boys with nothing to lose, none of them noticed Beth standing against the wall or tried to buy her a drink. Because Beth was nothing more than a shadow to them, slipping between the bright lights of King's Landing. She was only seen when she needed to be.
Close to midnight, she could see Myrcella was becoming a bit drunk, and she knew she should get her back to the car soon. Tommen was still sober enough, and he seemed to watch out for her, sliding her a glass of water every once in a while. It was good that they two of them had each other when their older brother was such an absolute waste of space.
And that's when the man approached her.
He was older, probably in his early thirties, and very drunk. He leaned against the bar between Tommen and Myrcella, all but physically shoving the boy away. Beth could not hear what he said to her, but she saw Myrcella's shoulders hitch in discomfort.
Beth's eyes narrowed, and she made her way through the crowd, weaving in and out of the mass of people. She caught some words as she got closer.
"-one drink, darling. I know you're a rich girl and you don't need a guy to buy you anything. But I'll show you a good time on the other side of the tracks."
"I don't… no thank you…"
Cersei's words echoed through her head. "If someone harasses her, diffuse the situation."
Beth came up to Myrcella's other side. "I think it's time we go," she said. "The driver is close."
Myrcella looked grateful to see her. "Yes. You're right. We should go."
"Hey, not yet," the man pushed off the bar, standing to his full height. "Don't ignore me, darling. I offered a drink. Don't be impolite."
"She doesn't want your drink," Tommen said, circling back to his sister's side. "Come on. Let's go."
"I said wait," the drunk said, reaching out and seizing Myrcella's arm.
If they put hands on her, you put hands on them.
Beth's hand locked around the man's arm in an instant and her other hand came up to grasp the back of his head. Before he could blink, she slammed his head to the bar with a loud crack that echoed throughout the room.
There was silence as the drunk groaned and slumped to the ground, unconscious. It had the intended effect. He wasn't touching Myrcella anymore. Everyone nearby turned to look and Myrcella stared at the man, wide eyed. A delirious laugh escaped her lips.
"Wow, Beth."
Beth looked back to the bartender. "Apologies. We'll be going now." Then she moved forward, resting a hand on Myrcella's back and guiding her out into the street.
As soon as they were out into the cold air, Myrcella turned and caught her up in a hug before Beth could avoid it.
"That was amazing, Beth. So amazing."
"It was cool," Tommen was practically jumping up and down. "Guess they hired you for a reason, right? Do you think you broke something?"
"No," Beth said. "But I… might have concussed him."
Myrcella laughed, taking Beth's hands in hers and spinning her around. "You're amazing, amazing, amazing. I don't have to worry when you're around, do I?"
A little smile cracked across Beth's face. It had been some time since she had heard praise for anything she had done. For the past three years, Arya only heard insults. She needed to be faster. Stronger. Better. She was too weak. It wasn't enough.
The word 'amazing' made her feel warm in spite of herself.
Cersei had not gone to sleep. She rarely did when her children were still out and about. Except for Joffrey. If she waited until he came home, she would go days without a proper sleep. But Myrcella and Tommen… they were still with her and if they did not come home, she would have a real reason to fret.
Close to 1:00 AM, she heard the front door open and a chorus of laughter. She stepped out of the parlor to see them in the front hall. The new bodyguard was between them looking as if she would rather be anywhere else.
"I'm really not supposed to be in the main house, Miss."
"You won't be here long," Myrcella said. "But you have to return your clothes, you know."
"Yes, but…" Beth noticed Cersei and straightened quickly. At least she was trying to be professional, which could not have been easy around her daughter and son. They made friends too readily. But at least she was stone cold sober, so her earlier statements hadn't been a lie. "Sorry, ma'am. Did we disturb you?"
"No," Cersei sipped her wine. "I was staying up to make sure they returned home."
"Mother!" Myrcella beamed and flounced over. She was tipsy, though at least she was happy to be so. Cersei couldn't remember the last time she had been happy drunk. The privilege of youth. "You should hear what happened tonight. Beth was amazing."
"Was she?" Cersei glanced up at the bodyguard.
The girl shook her head. "I just did my job, ma'am. It wasn't amazing."
"It was," Tommen disagreed. "Some guy tried to grab Myrcella because she wouldn't take a drink. Beth slammed his head into a bar. I don't think he got up. She moved so fast."
Cersei raised an eyebrow and Beth shrugged.
"He put hands on her."
Cersei's mouth twitched. "Yes. Well, as Miss Rivers says, I wouldn't call it amazing. It's what we're paying her for." She gave a little wave toward the stairs. "You may change quickly and leave. Report back to Clegane in the morning."
Beth gave her a nod. "Understood, ma'am." Then she let Myrcella pull her along up the stairs.
Cersei watched them go, tilting her head to the side. Beth was an extraordinary find. When she asked the agency, she knew she was unlikely to find someone that Myrcella wanted as a guard. A girl so young with no field experience shouldn't be such an ideal candidate, but she was. Almost like someone had tailor-made her to fit the bill.
Perhaps she was hiding something, like her father suggested. She was a closed off girl. But so long as she did her job and protected Myrcella, Cersei didn't much care.
She wouldn't be the only one in this house with secrets.
When Arya arrived home, she checked her phone and found a reply from Jaqen.
Work hard and well. Watch and listen. Wait for instructions.
A vague assignment, but she had expected as much. Jaqen told her to practice patience and she would do exactly that.
And try not to speculate too much on why she was there… and what the Faceless Men meant for her to do here.