The Gold Claw and the Silver Flame
Summary: At the end of Robert's Rebellion, it was the might of the Lannister army that decided the victor. But what if, long before that, the Lannisters had already been tied to the Targaryens? If Aerys II had accepted Lord Tywin's proposal to marry his daughter, Cersei, to Prince Rhaegar, perhaps the game of thrones would have been very different indeed.
Disclaimer: This is merely the produce of too much time thinking about Game of Thrones. All recognisable things belong to George R.R. Martin.
Chapter One
Casterly Rock was a magnificent castle, rising out of the sea at thrice the height of the Wall. It had a sheltered harbour beneath and a winding path to reach the keep itself, which sat on the top of the Rock, although there were many passageways carved within it that formed the majority of the castle. From any window, one could feel the sea air rushing past them and could hear the thunderous crashing of the waves at the stone below.
Cersei Lannister, only daughter of Lord Tywin, sat at her bedroom window, gazing out into the distance, as she so often did. The girl had only left the Rock on a handful of occasions, many of which she could not remember. Her mother had always let her venture as far as Lannisport, so long as a guard went with her... but Lady Joanna was gone now, and her passing had left her husband no kinder.
Cersei ran her eyes over the beauty that surrounded her. From her window on the side of the keep, she could see everything; the sea, the sky, the mountainous lands beyond. Most importantly, she could see the red and black banners of the approaching riders. A smile illuminated her face. They were almost here.
In honour of the birth of the new prince, Viserys, Lord Tywin had invited the king to a tourney at Lannisport. But her father was not simply being kind, that much she knew. Even at only ten years old, Cersei knew that her father never made an idle gesture; he would always have an underlying motive, to better the family. She only wished she knew what it could be.
The girl stayed at her window for as long as she dared, until her septa started calling out her name. The king would be arriving through the gates in little over ten minutes and she had to join the household assembled in the courtyard to welcome them.
Slipping down from the window seat, Cersei stood before her looking glass, admiring her reflection. She had chosen a gown of deep crimson, the colour she knew each Lannister would be wearing that day. There were swirls of embroidery in deepest black adorning the bodice, to honour the royal Targaryens, with a belt of braided bronze tied around her waist. Her hair she left loose, falling in shimmering golden waves past her waist. It was simplistic, of course, and her father would likely disapprove, if he took a moment to notice at all, but Cersei thought it best not to be too ostentacious. She was beautiful enough not to have to drape herself in jewels to be noticed.
"Lady Cersei!" Septa Sarella yelled and the girl had to restrain herself from snapping at the woman. She seemed to do nothing but chastise Tywin's daughter, while she seemed to have nothing but praise for his sons. 'She even likes Tyrion more than me.' she thought bitterly, though she could not imagine why.
"I'm coming." she called in response, putting on her sweetest voice.
When she arrived in the courtyard, it seemed that half of the Westerlands had gathered in the space. Struggling not to be crushed within the crowds, Cersei weaved her way through handmaidens and stable boys, squires, bannermen and her father's wards, until she finally reached the front of the assembly.
"You're late." her father informed her, in that cold monotonous voice he had adopted in recent years. She bowed her head respectfully by way of an apology, then took her place in between Jaime and Tyrion. Convention dictated that she should have stood the furthest from her father, as she was the furthest from his title, but she could not get through this momentous occasion without Jaime by her side. Her father made no comment on the matter and Tyrion, although he looked vaguely confused, was too young to understand such customs.
She had scarcely had time to catch her breath before the fanfares sounded at the gate. Just a moment later, a flash of silver hair caught the sunlight, as the king and his eldest son rode into the courtyard. Reverently, Cersei knelt to the ground, as did the scores of people stood behind and beside her.
"Tywin!" exclaimed the king, signalling for them all to rise. "It has been far too long."
There was, of course, a reason for her father's lengthy absence from court, many reasons in fact, but Aerys' voice did not betray them. Anyone who did not know better might think that the two friends had simply grown apart. Cersei, who was one of those privileged enough to be aware, having developed a great talent for eavesdropping, could not help but shrink back a little from the king.
But she did not have a chance to dwell on that, for no sooner had Aerys' false laugh faded than he had brought forward the silver-haired boy at his side. "I'm sure you know my son, Prince Rhaegar."
"Of course." Tywin replied, inclining his head respectfully. "Welcome to the West, my prince."
"It is a pleasure to be here, Lord Tywin." Rhaegar responded. "Your castle is truly breathtaking. I only wish I'd had the honour of seeing it before."
The slight was unintentional, they all knew, and so Tywin ignored it, choosing instead to make introductions of his own. As he gestured to Jaime, his son and heir, the lord's chest puffed out with pride. It was a barely visible change and it was gone the next moment, as he passed over Cersei and turned to Tyrion, who he clearly introduced out of nothing more than duty.
When it was finally her turn, her father came to her side and brought her forward, in front of her brothers.
"My only daughter, Cersei." Tywin told the royals and the girl curtseyed low once again, her hair falling in a shimmering curtain over her face, disguising the joy that had blossomed there at the thought of her father giving her prevalence over even Jaime.
When she rose again, her eyes met Rhaegar's. 'He has such beautiful eyes.' she thought. 'And such a wondrous smile.'
"She's a true beauty." Aerys commented. He was looking at her oddly, as if he had seen a ghost in her emerald eyes.
"You are indeed very beautiful, my lady." Rhaegar complimented her, taking her hand and planting a kiss on her knuckles. Cersei tried to stop the blush rising in her cheeks, but judging by her father's frown, she had been unsuccessful.
Somehow, though, she could not bring herself to care about anything else; Her father's disappointment, the king's strange stares, even Jaime's jealous frown. The prince thought she was beautiful; that was all that mattered.
A/N: I always thought that two small differences would have changed Cersei significantly for the better. One is her marrying Rhaegar, the other her mother surviving. The second scenario is the basis for my story, Gentle Mother, which will be going up in a couple of days. In the meantime, please review!