MORNINGS IN HIGHGARDEN WHERE, in Lilith's opinion, perfect. As the sun rose from beneath the earth, it would cover the golden flowers that surrounded the castle in light, causing the roses to glitter as if they were rare gems. Birds would fill the skies with song and the breeze would softly blow through the windows, waking the House of Tyrell.

Lilith was always the first to wake. At first light, she was out of her plush bed and dressed. Before breakfast, she was on her horse, galloping through the fields as the sun rose to its peak. It was the only time of day she was ever able to do so. Her grandmother busied her at every hour with sewing and curtsying and manners galore.

Her chestnut brown hair flowed free in the wind as she rode her horse, allowing him to take her wherever he pleased. The freedom was something Lilith constantly craved, day and night. She wished she could be as free as a horse. But she was born into the wrong family for that. Guards stood their place, watching over the castle, every eye on the small dot that was the firstborn Lady Tyrell.

Their burning eyes took Lilith out of the blissful moment. Her back tingled at the feeling of being watched. With a soft tug on her horse's reins, she slowed his gallop to a trot and turned him back towards the castle. "Time for us to head in, Cyrus." She said with a twinge of sadness.

Cyrus whinnied and bobbed his head, seeming to understand her words and disappointment. She lead him up to the castle gates, which opened within seconds of her approach. The guards bowed as she passed and she returned their gesture with a smile.

Awaiting her arrival at the stables were her brothers, Willas and Garlan. Their smug faces told her she was already in trouble. Lilith walked Cyrus past them without a second glance into his stall. Removing her feet from the stirrups, she threw her right leg over his back and slid off. Her boots hit the dirt and hay with a thud.

There was a slow clap. "Well done, sister. You didn't even fall that time."

Lilith rolled her eyes without looking. "Good morning to you too, Willas. I'm surprised to see you up and walking, given your leg. How is Oberyn Martell these days?" She deadpanned, returning his snide comment.

As she untacked Cyrus, she watched Garlan cackling from beside Willas, giving him a few good smacks on the shoulders. "She got you good!"

"Shut up!" Willas hissed, pushing Garlan away. He resumed his good posture, fixing his cane to hold him upright. "Oberyn is well, since you care to know."

Lilith snorted as she heaved the saddle off and placed it on its stand. "I don't care. But any man that beats you in a joust is a friend of mine," She gave Willas a wink before removing Cyrus's bridle. Brushing her hands off of her skirt, she patted the horse's side and exited the stall. "What do you two want, anyway?"

"Father and Grandmother want to see us," Garlan explained. "Urgently."

Lilith groaned. That meant there would be no time to get changed and her grandmother would know of her outing. "Just us? Not Loras or Marg?"

Willas shook his head. "Apparently not. I think I heard mention of the King."

Lilith turned to him, wide-eyed. "The King?" Her mind raced. Were they to go to King's Landing? And if so, why? If their father was ever needed by King Baratheon, he went on his own. "Oh gods..." She ran a hand down her face.

The three eldest Tyrell siblings made their way to their father's council room. Lilith found herself unable to stop flattening her riding skirt. Maybe if she made it presentable enough, her grandmother wouldn't notice? She knew that was unlikely.

As soon as the guards opened the doors and Lilith stepped in, Lady Olenna rolled her eyes from her seat at the head of the table. "You reek of horse, my dear."

Lilith immediately dropped her head. "I apologize, grandmother."

Lady Olenna waved her off. "It's not important. Come. Sit, children. We have much to discuss."

The siblings glanced at each other before hurrying to their seats. Lilith did her best to ignore her father's gaze as she did so. To most, Mace Tyrell was not an intimidating man, but any daughter would falter under their father's harsh glare.

"I supposed you're all wondering what this is about?" Lady Olenna began. Her grandchildren nodded silently in response. She turned her head to Lord Mace. "Son?"

Mace Tyrell coughed, as if not expecting to be called upon. "Oh, yes! Lilith, my dear..." At the mention of her name, Lilith looked up. His gaze partially softened, but it was still stern. "You are my eldest, my first-born, and your mother and I have given you much more leeway than most parents would..."

Lilith's stomach dropped. She had an inkling of where he was going, but she hoped it to be false. "Yes, father. I thank you."

Lord Tyrell smiled thinly. In his eyes, Lilith could see the dread of his next words. "Most ladies of your age would be married already,"

There it was. Exactly what Lilith had been dreading -- marriage.

"We believe," He gestured to himself and Lady Olenna. "That the time has finally come. You can no longer put it off. You are twenty years of age. This is your duty." He finished his sentence with a sharp nod.

Lilith stayed silent for a few moments and the tension in the room grew thick. Willas and Garlan watched her with wary eyes, worried that she would snap at any moment.

Her hands gripped the arms of her chair, turning her knuckles white. "Does mother know about this?" Her first words were tensely spoken.

"She does," Her father answered.

After that, a few more seconds of silence followed. No one dared speak, except for Lady Olenna. She stood up sharply in her chair, causing Lilith to jump. "Oh, quit your sulking, child. You are old enough to know that this is the way things are done. There will be no arguing. Tonight, you will leave for King's Landing, where we will find you a suitable husband."

Lilith stared at her grandmother, unmoving. Willas, on the other hand, spoke up. "Why are we here, grandmother?" From beside him, Garlan nodded in agreement.

Lady Olenna scoffed. "For the same reason. You will find wives. It is especially imperative for you, Willas, as heir. But you will also serve as protection for your sister. King's Landing is not a place for a lady."

Her brothers both looked to Lilith who silently fumed beside them. She obeyed her grandmothers' words -- no arguing.

Their father stood slowly. "Your things are being packed as we speak. Go and say your goodbyes. We leave at sunset."

As he and Olenna made to leave, Lilith managed to find her voice one more time. "Will I ever come back to Highgarden?" Her voice shook ever so slightly. The thought of never returning to her home brought tears to her eyes.

"Oh, my first granddaughter," Lady Olenna sighed. She walked over to Lilith and put her face in her hands, wiping away rogue tears. "You will. That is certain."

LILITH HELD ONTO A sobbing Margaery, cradling and rocking her like a babe. Her six-year-old sister, her only sister, was not responding well to the news of her imminent departure from Highgarden. The young girl spewed incoherent words and all Lilith could do was stroke her hair and tell her that everything was okay.

But it was hard to lie to her baby sister. Lilith could barely keep her composure, but she knew breaking down wouldn't help Margaery. "My sweet, sweet, sister..." She cooed. "It will all be alright. I won't be gone forever."

Margaery sniffled loudly and pulled away just enough to look Lilith in the eye. It was heartbreaking staring into the bloodshot eyes of a child. "But you'll be gone! You're leaving me here with Loras!" She spoke her brother's name as if he were the worst person in Westeros.

Lilith smiled sadly. "Loras is your family just as much as I am. You two will keep each other safe while your brothers and I are gone. But it will only be for a few months and then I'll be back right here with you."

Margaery's crying was stifled as she tried to regain her breath. Lilith sighed and slowly moved back, allowing space for her hand to be placed on Margaery's small stomach. Her little sister looked at her with confusion. "Breath with me," Lilith simply said.

Slowly, she took a deep breath in, watching as Margaery attempted to copy. Then, with a soft hiss, she exhaled just as slowly. They did it over and over again until the youngest Tyrell could once again breathe calmly on her own. Lilith removed her hand and tried her best to smile. "See? All better."

Margaery looked away and huffed. "I guess..."

"You guess?" Lilith gasped dramatically. "How dare you!" And with a lion's roar, she pounced on her sister and thus began a tickle fight. Finally, Margaery was laughing. That was all Lilith wanted to hear before she left -- the pure laughter of a child.

"Am I interrupting?" The soft, angelic voice of their mother floated into the room.

"Mum!" Margaery gasped and tore herself from Lilith's hands to rush into her mother's arms.

Lilith stayed seated on the edge of the bed and smiled softly. "Mother..."

"My darling," Alerie Tyrell's voice shook. "I knew this day would come, but I had hoped it wouldn't be so...sudden."

"You and I are in agreement there, mother," Lilith sighed and stood, crossing the room towards the doorway. "But duty is duty."

Lady Alerie scoffed. "Duty. Marriage isn't duty. It shouldn't be, anyway. But that is the world we live in," She sighed and opened the arm that was not wrapped around Margaery. "Come, my child."

Lilith did not hesitate to melt into her mother's embrace. She breathed in her rose-scented hair, and listened to the rhythm of her heartbeat, trying to soak in every amount of information for her to remember in King's Landing. A few tears slipped their way down her cheeks. Would this be the last time they hug? Her grandmother promised her return but eight months is a long time, and things can change.

Lilith pulled away with a sad smile. Lady Alerie frowned at the site of tear tracks on her daughter's face. She cupped her cheeks in her hands and Lilith closed her eyes. "My beautiful daughter...you will do great things in King's Landing. Be brave for me."

Without opening her eyes in fear of ruining the moment, Lilith spoke. "I will, mother."

AT SUNSET, LILITH BOARDED the carriage, along with Willas, Garlan, and her father. From the window, she watched her mother, grandmother, Loras, and Margaery wave goodbye. And then for seventy days, she was stuck in a stuffy carriage. King's Landing was too far for its own good, in Lilith's opinion.

Most of the days were spent travelling. The only stops were made to empty the chamber pots and allow for the Tyrells to stretch their legs. Once they had arrived to King's Landing, Lilith was almost at her breaking point. Another night spent in that cramped carriage and she might just strangle her brothers.

The bustling city could be heard just enough through the windows. Lilith had pressed her nose against them to watch the buildings go by and just catch a glimpse of the Red Keep. It would be more exciting if she were not to be married off to some Lordling who thought himself better than her.

The carriage entered the courtyard of the Red Keep, slowly coming to a halt. Its door opened and sunlight flooded through. Lord Tyrell was the first to exit and Willas pushed Lilith to be second. She squinted in the bright light, just barely managing to grab the hand of her father as she stepped out.

Her eyes adjusted and before her stood King Robert Baratheon, Queen Cersei with their son, Joffrey, in her arms, along with the Kingsguard, of which stood Jamie Lannister. Her father and brothers bowed and Lilith curtsied.

"Welcome, Tyrells!" King Baratheon's voice boomed. He had swept Lord Tyrell into a bear hug, then shook Willas and Garlan's hands. He towered over Lilith as he stepped in front of her. It would be intimidating, if not for the boyish grin on his face. "Lilith Tyrell, the Rose of Highgarden. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." He took her hand and kissed its back.

Lilith's face flared red. The King was complimenting her. "T-The pleasure is all mine, your Grace."

King Robert smiled and kept his hold on her hand. "Come, meet my wife."

Lilith could not argue as he softly pulled her over to Queen Cersei and Prince Joffery. As he did so, she noticed a man looming over the Queen's shoulder. He seemed to tower over even the King. His face was covered by a helm in the shape of a hound and his big body was made even larger by his armour. His eyes were just barely visible, but Lilith could see they were nearly pitch black and staring right at her. Her face grew even hotter and she pried her eyes away and onto the Queen.

King Robert let go of her hand, allowing her to greet the Queen with a low curtsy. "Your Grace,"

Cersei smiled kindly and bowed her head. "Lady Lilith. You are even more beautiful than described."

Lilith rose from her curtsy with a lowered head. "You're too kind, Your Grace,"

The two-year-old prince cooed in his mother's arms, squirming to grab a hold of Lilith. "Joffery!" Cersei said with an exasperated sigh.

"He's beautiful, Your Grace," Lilith smiled at the prince.

"Thank you," She sighed with tight lips. "Children are hard work, but rewarding. Something you will learn very soon."

"Yes..." Lilith nodded stiffly. She adored children and wanted some of her own one day, but it was the fact she had to marry for them that held her off.

The way Cersei looked at her made Lilith think she knew exactly what she was thinking, but if she did, the Queen kept it to herself. "My brother, Jamie, will show you all to your chambers."

All eyes moved to the blond, chiselled man that was Jamie Lannister -- the Kingslayer. He stepped forward and bowed. Lilith curtsied. "My Lady," Jamie greeted, his voice as smooth as silk.

If Lilith were to marry anyone, it would be Jamie Lannister. But, of course, he was a Kingsguard and sworn to celibacy. Just her luck. "Ser Jamie..."

He held out his arm and Lilith gladly took it. Even if she couldn't marry the eldest Lannister son, she could at least revel in the small amount of physical contact.

As he moved them towards the castle gates, Lilith's shoulder narrowly missed the chest of the towering man in the hound mask. She kept his gaze for a few seconds, entranced by him.

But the moment was over as soon as it had started. Jamie continued walking, beckoning her father and brothers to follow. All Lilith could do was replay the memory in her head, wondering who the man was.

AUTHORS NOTE

HI YALLLLLLLLL! WELCOME TO 'FOR THE DANCING AND THE DREAMING' (ftdatd for short)!!!!! You guys have no idea how FUCKING excited I am for this fic! This is probably the most prepared I have ever been for a fic ALL BECAUSE of my lovely friend @VRPond ! Vi helped sooooo much with the logistical planning for this, making sure the story worked with the timeline of the show and such.

I literally love Lilith sm. She's baby and must be protected. In this first act, when she is younger, I'm really just basing her off of Merida from Brave for most of her personality (yk except for being in love with the hound). Like she has a horse, longs to be free, doesn't take shit from anybody, and is just as strong as any man. She truly slays (her and brienne are gonna be such a power duo).

I hope you all enjoyed this first chapter and please tell me what you thought because it helps me write better stories for you! Thank you!!