Chapter 1

Cersei

Sitting in her comfortable chair next to the Iron Throne, Cersei was waiting for her husband to return from his hunt. She had done everything according to her plan. Her cousin Lancel Lannister, the King's squire, had been instructed to give the King too much of his strongest wine. It would make him vulnerable to an attack resulting in his death or at least a mortal wounding. The only concern she still had was that someone would protect her husband somehow. The coward Lancel would not risk his life for the king and she also did not believe that Renly Baratheon would be able to hit something else than Ser Loras Tyrell. No, those two would definitely not spoil her plan, but Ser Barristan Selmy might be able to interfere and ruin it. After all, it was for a good reason he was known as one of the finest swordsmen in the Seven Kingdoms.

Though she had detested Robert for almost all seventeen years of his reign, it had to happen today. She knew Eddard Stark had found out about the parentage of her children and she also knew that he would not hesitate to tell the king about this. Stupid fool as he was, he had confronted her about this and he had even warned her to escape the city. Did the honorable Ned Stark truly believe that she, the Queen and daughter of the richest man in Westeros, would become a fugitive with her three children and would live the rest of her days as some unimportant lowborn? No, she was a Lannister and she had always been smarter, especially compared to those stubborn Starks. Since Jon Arryn had died and Ned Stark had become the new Hand of the King, the Starks had been nothing but a nuisance to her. It all started with the little boy Bran, who had caught Jaime and her in the act. Luckily, the boy does not remember anything from his fall. Then there was Lady Stark, who for some reason had accused her imp brother Tyrion Lannister of an assassination attempt on Bran and has taken him as her prisoner. Sansa Stark had some courtesy at least, but that little rat Arya also brought nothing but trouble, especially when her monstrous wolf had attacked Joffrey. She also could not stand Lord Stark himself, with his stubborn attitude and excessive obsession for honor. She wished Jaime had killed him, when he attacked the Stark party last week; that way he would not have found out about their secret. She could have lied herself out of such an incident, by telling Robert that Ned Stark attacked Jaime and that he had just been defending himself. Now it was a lot more complicated, but she hoped all would be over soon.

Her gaze was fixed upon the Iron Throne. Soon her boy would sit there, instead of that fat drinking and whoring cunt she called her husband. Though Joffrey still had a lot to learn, she believed he would grow into a strong and wise king. "The Golden Boy" they would call him later and she also believed the crown would fit his handsome face and golden hair perfectly. However, she had to act smart before the time was there. She had to deal with Ned Stark first, who would probably be appointed Protector of the Realm by Robert until Joffrey would come of age. She did not want to wait for that, especially because of his knowledge about Joffrey's parentage. Nevertheless, she also wanted to prevent an expensive and exhaustive war with the North. The debts to the Iron Bank were already high enough, thanks to Robert's great skills of governance. Therefore Lord Stark was not to be killed. Instead she would offer him the opportunity to return to Winterfell with his daughters in peace, so he could continue his miserable life there being loyal to the crown. The only condition that he had to fulfill in return, was to swear loyal to Joffrey. She knew that Ned Stark would hate to do that, but she also knew he hated King's Landing even more and that he probably wanted to protect his daughters at all costs. Even the honorable Ned Stark would most likely not resist the temptation to swear loyal to the new king in exchange for the continuation of his comfortable family life.

At that very moment her husband rushed in. She could not believe her eyes. Robert was alive and he did not appear to be wounded. What had happened? There was no time for her to think about it as he struck her in the face.

"Was this some kind of trick of yours, woman?!" he shouted furiously.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, my dear."

She tried to maintain her dignity by conceiving the pain unaffectedly.

"Quiet now. Though I have no proof of it, I know it was you who instructed that stupid cousin of yours to make me too fucking drunk to stand on my own legs. Do you really think I am that stupid?"

Cersei said nothing as he continued his rage.

"After having slain Rhaegar Targaryen and many other Targaryen followers, do you really think that Robert Baratheon would let himself get killed by some foolish animal? I already knew you were pathetic, but I never realized you are also incredibly stupid!"

"Why do you think I would do such a thing to you?" she asked nervously; now her husband had found out her plan, it became harder for her to uphold her neutrality.

"You better ask that to yourself, woman. Don't further challenge me or..."

"Or what?" she interrupted him, "Would you throw me in some dark dungeon? Would you let my head be chopped off by Ilyn Payne? You know my father would be furious..."

Robert was silence for a moment. He knew she had a point there, even though he could not stand it. He shook his head and took his seat on the Iron Throne.

"Tywin Lannister should remember who is king", he said a little bit more tempered.

"And you should remember to whom you owe your crown and who is still waiting for his debts to be paid."

Having that said, she turned around so her back faced the king, grabbed her dress and walked back toward the big doors of the Throne Room.

"Run away woman, I won't forget this!" the king shouted after her.

His words concluded what had been a very awkward conversation for her. Walking out of the Throne Room, she crossed paths with the limping Eddard Stark, who was going to see the king. At that moment she realized he was going to tell him. It meant she had to act fast, really fast. Robert was already furious and the upcoming news would fuel his wrath towards her even more. She walked to the nearest Kingsguard who happened to be Ser Meryn Trant.

"Ser Meryn?"

"Yes, My Queen?"

"Gather my children immediately at the courtyard. I will be waiting for you there. I want all three of them: Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen."

"Understood, Your Grace."

If he was fast enough, she might stand a chance...