A Story of Swords and Gowns

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and no money as been made out of this.

A.N.: Please read the author note in the end of the chapter.

Chapter 1

She took a sip of her wine. A sweet poison capable of tolding ones mind. That thought brought a sneer to the Regent Queen's face. Wine and love really are similar. Making one do stupid things, taking control of one's thoughts and actions... The knot on her throat made it hard to swallow.

Sansa Stark was now a married woman. A woman married to Tyrion. Her own blood. It was the third time he stole something dear to her. First, her mother, along with the only chance of love from her family. Then, her only daughter, leaving a void inside of her, a fear that never left, a bad taste on her mouth every single minut of her day, nightmares about what they might do to her, an enormous felling of hate waiting for the second when it would consum her.

And now it had been her ginger girl. Always so naive, always expecting the best in the others. Not so much in the last months... Cersei knew the things she said to the poor girl could be seen as... threatning, a lie from a vicious person that would do anything for power. Yes, maybe that was it. But none the less they were true. All of them. And the Queen Regent could see the impacts her words had. The girl was more atentive, smarter, more cunning and not so easy manipulated. In a way, she had been able to help protect her. Not that Sansa would ever see that.

Cersei Lannister sat in one of the corners of her eldest son bedroom. It had been a hell of a night. Tyrion drunk to much and threatened Joffrey. Her son having her blood couldn't take being humiliated, and of course it had gonne from bad to worst. If only people dreamed how her Joffrey was...

It had been his idea to marry Sansa to Tyrion instead of Lancel. Of course he masked his true motives saying that it would be a great humilation to her family. However, Cersei knew better. Lord Tywin wanted his son married. Tyrion had a good heart (a fool's heart) and wouldn't hurt the girl unless she consented. Wich meant, the marriege wouldn't be consumed anytime soon, so it could be canceled. Joffrey knew her way to well.

Her eyes darted from the window where they had been fixed to her son. He was lazily getting ready for bed. Cersei loved her cubs with all her being, and she knew they loved her. She knew it to well.

Looking at her eldest kid's back made her sicke. There were scars, deep scars, all over his body from where Robert had hit him countless times over the years for any stupid reason. Sometimes there hadn't been evern a reason. And she hadn't been able to stop him.

Some were still redish from the incident with the direwolf. Cersei knew Joffrey had to blame the other girl to protect himself, but Robert couldn't take that his best friend daughter had thrown his eldest son sword to the river. So he had to be punished.

Robert... That man had ruined her kids innocence even before they were five. Where there should be love was fear. And she hadn't been able to stop him sometimes. Tommen's, Myrcela's and Joffrey's screams plagued her nightmares, and she had a feeling that would never change.

She tried to protect them. She really did! But Robert Baratheon was just too strong, and she couldn't harm him in any way because he was King! If she could, she would take the punishments instead of her children, but sometimes it wasn't enough. Sometimes Robert's desire for blood was just to intense. Joffrey always told her there was nothing more she could do, but that didn't help with the feeling of guilt.

Joffrey... her golden boy. Traped in a life he never desired. Scarred from his own father actions, preventing him of thinking clearly. Her knight. Every single time, every single night, when the Queen couldn't take the King's demands anymore, he held her. He protected her. To the point of standing between Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister. If people knew what a sweet boy her son could be..

"What plagues your mind, mom?" Cersei loved how her cubs allways called her mom. It brought a sense of warmth in her chest.

"Tyrion." a grin graced Joffrey's face as he sat on the bed. "What?"

"Oh, nothing. I just thought that it might have something to do with a Northen girl, but I am clearly mistaken, soooooo..." he extended his hand to the wine but Cersei was faster and grabed it.

"No more wine for you. You've already had your fair share." Joffrey sat on the other chair, looking atentively at his mother. Cersei raised one perfect eyebrow, waiting for an explanation.

"You really should talk to her."

"And you really should talk to Margaery." he frowned. Cersei couldn't help but think that her sweet litle baby boy was still there. He had been doing this face since he was born. He was born with THIS face.

"I'm letting my hair grow long." Cersei could see the meaning of such a sentence in that context. For anyone else it might seem weird to say so, but she knew her son.

"It suits you."

That was it. She just gave him her bless. Her eyes darted to the rest of the room. There were maps, litle boats in bottles, his own maps, all made by himslef, books about the legends of the seas and their treasures. That had allways been Joffrey passion. The sea. To comand a ship. How many times had she seen her son looking at the ships that came and went in Kings Landing? Enough to know he dreamed of being on one of those. And she had just given him her bless to do so. They both knew he wasn't fit to be king. Now it was only a matter of when and how.

"The Tyrels have invited everyone for a special dinner next week." she had a bad feeling about that dinner. Like something important was going to happen. Something important and terrible and regarding her. And the worst, her father would be there, so there was no escape.

"Good. Than you still have a week to go and talk to her." Joffrey winked at her and kissed behind her left ear, knowing the action drove her insane,

There was nothing more to say, so the Queen Regent tuck her son in bed and kissed his forehead. Joffrey childhood had been dificult, and if there was anything she could do to compensat him, than she would do it. No matter if the others said her son was a spoiled brat. She knew better.

Cersei left her son with his thoughts. She had other problems. If only Sansa left her mind for half a day she might be capable of thinking about a solution for the Dragons. Despite what many thought, Cersei Lannister did believe in dragons and in other magical creatures. Mermaids, dragons, wargs and whites... it was all possible. If it was possible for the Gods to be real than why not those things?

No! There was only one way of ending this impossible war, both between Stannis and Daenerys or whatever her name was! It had to be a truce. But was that even possible?! Would any of the them even agree to such thing? Maybe if... A wicked smile twisted her red full lips. It wasn't her trade smirk, no. It was more. This smile was one that she reserved for VERY special ocasions.

The idea wasn't the best, but just like the Starks said, the Winter was coming, and the Dragons might be their only real help against the Wights. Those letters from the Wall were only ignored by the others, but not her. She knew perfectly well the threat, and she hoped to have the Starks help when the time came. After all, who knew the North better then them?

It had became her costume to undress herself alone. In the beginning she felt ashamed. Ashamed of what others might say about her body. However, with time, that feeling turned into something else. She was now proud of her looks. And the only reason she had no hand maids was because the most likely thing to happen was for them to be one of Varys litle birds. And she would not be played!

It was late when Cersei finally found herself between the sheets of her bed. She wondered where Jaime was, more out of obligation than love. Without him there, she didn't need to be alert at all times. Only almost all. She had long ago given up on trying to catch her father's attention, but that didn't meant Cersei cared not for him. Or more exactly what he could do if she took a step in the wrong direction.

That night, the dreams of the Regent Queen were filled with a certain ginger girl. The look she sent her when Ned Stark was beheaded. The look she sent her wile she was dancing that night. Was it possible for her to feel more than lust towards the Stark girl? Would she ever forgive her? There was no way to know without trying. She only had to keep it hiden from her father.

Maybe Joffrey was right. Maybe it was time to take control over her life. She still had some tricks, and she would take great advantage from them. It was time to stop pretending to be the perfect Lady. It was time for the real Cersei to come back,

A plan started forming in her mind. Finally the pieces of the puzzle were finally getting together.

The next morning arrived for Sansa with a feeling of relief. Tyrion Lannister wasn't as bad as she thought. At least he hadn't taken her virginity. That was a greater mercy than she had hoped. Also, waking up in an empty bed helped her relax a litle.

No! If I let my guard down only the Old Gods know what might happen... The Queen's words made sense to a certain degree. For example, one can use seduction to manipulate the other without going as far as taking them to bed. Or to hide her true emotions and use it as a shield.

Her eyes landed on her weding dress. It had been terrible. Well, not all of it. Tyrion had stood up for her against Joffrey. Of course Margaery and her cousins ignoring her had been painfull, a reminder that they were still at war and that she was now in the Capital and not in Winterfell. Not that she needed one.

Not wanting to think about her family, she quickly stood and asked one of her maids for breackfast. The realisation that it was almost lunch time shocked her. It had been a long time since she slept for so long, and she felt grateful that her husband had instructed them not to wake her up.

When she asked of his whereabouts, she was informed that he had left early in the morning for one of the Council meetings. Sansa was probably not going to see him until later in the afternoon.

The sound of water atracted her attention. Further from the window where she was standing, her maids were preparing her a bath. Her bed had been made in the short time she had been awake and there was a dress now laying there.

Now, that was weird. If her Lord told the maids not to wake her up, why were they preparing a bath? It was almost ready if the looks were anything, wich meant they had started before she was awake...

"Shae, is there a reason for you to be preparing a bath?" Sansa knew she could trust her friend, but she wasn't so sure about the others. And Tyrion had warned her to be very carefull with what she said and did around other people. More than she already was.

"You have received an invitation for lunch from the Queen, my Lady." Shae was a smart woman and knew exacly what game her Lady was playing.

Hapinness filled Sansa chest. Maybe Margaery behaviour yesterday was only a façade for the Lannisters. What would happen if she told Lady Olenna that her marriege had not been consumated? Would the Queen of Thorns still take her to Hight Garden?

However, when she asked to see the invitation, all her hope and dreams were crushed. Again! The lion of Lannister was imprinted on the wax that had been used to seal the letter. Sansa felt like slapping herself. The letter was from the Queen, wich still meant Cersei Lannister, not Margaery Tyrel! How was it possible for her to be so naive after everything that hapenned!?

She IS right... I really am a stupid girl...

The first thing out of common that she saw was that the letter was addressed to her and not to her husband. Normally the letters were only adressed to the wife if it was a very important matter or if the husband wasn't there with her. If it was an invitation for a simple lunch than the letter should have been adressed to Tyrion asking for her to go... Wich meant that Cersei didn't want Tyrion to be there... And if he was in a meeting with the Council than the Queen Regent knew exacly where he was... Was this some kind of trap?

Yes. That must be it. Or maybe she wants me to spy him for her... It's not like I can refuse her offer anyway. I suppose I will have to wait and see.

Accepting her fate, she quickly disposed herself of her sleeping gown with help of one of her maids and steped into the bath. The warm water did nothing to calm her nervous. If she was going to meet with the Queen than she needed to have her emotions under control. She took a deep breath and tried to be reasonable. She was now married to a Lannister, wich meant that if they wanted a claim to Winterfell they needed her alive. But alive didn't mean unharmed...

Knowing it wouldn't be a good idea to keep the Queen waiting, Sansa was as quick as she could in her bath and dressing herself. One had to be carefull not to step on Cersei Lannister toes.

Something that surpriesed her was the fact that the perfumes that had been brought for her to choose the previous day were still on her vanity. When asked about it, a maid told her that they were a present from the Queen. That was... surprisingly nice.

When finally she was ready, Sansa headed to the Queen's chambers where she was told Cersei would be. Her heart beat faster with each step. There was nothing she could do to calm her nervous, and unfortunally the Lannister woman would certainly pick up on them. She was almost there when a hand touched her shoulder lightly.

Her eyes widen and she almost triped. Whoever was there helped her not to fall flat on her face. When Sansa eyes darted to the person she was greeted with soft brown curls and a warm smile.

"Sansa, you must be carefull. Where are you heading in such a haste?" the melodious voice of a certain Southern came to her hears and she couldn't be sure if she should be happy or suspicious.

"Margaery... I.. uhm... I was invited to join the Queen for lunch and..." for some reason she felt like she shouldn't be telling this to the future Queen. The knot she felt on her throat seemed to become tightier and a feeling of worry took over her.

"Oh. I see... Would you like me too walk you there?" without waiting for an answer, Margaery hold onto Sansa hand and almost dragged her all the way.

If she could get a glimpse of the Queen... Was it possible that her Grandmother's theory was right? If it was, than it would be easier to get the Queen on their pocket. Lord Varys and Litlefinger weren't the only ones with spies on the Red Keep. Only that the Tyrel's ones were atentive to other things. Such as the Queen's sexual preferences. For example, they were sure all Cersei's three kids were Robert's. They also knew that the Queen didn't slept with her twin brother. But she had been caught staring many times at some servants or Ladies. They had never been sure if Cersei really prefered the company of women, but Lady Olenna believed so. And she also believed that she had a speacil like for the red headed Stark girl.

One glimpse, one glimpse would be the only thing Margaery needed to solve that question. And if she could, she would take advantage of it.

Soon both women were standing in front of the Lionsess of Lannister's Den. With a confidant knock, they waited to be welcomed inside.

The confidant knock surprised Cersei. She expected the Stark girl to be nervous, afraid maybe. That made the Queen uneasy. She had a bad feeling about this, a feeling she didn't have before the knock. And Cersei Lannister's instinct was very rarely wrong.

She had been preparing that lunch all morning. Tyrion was going to be ocupied all day, with meetings and probably his litle whore, so it was perfect to place her plan in motion.

Cersei knew it would take time for Sansa to trust her, but maybe if she offered a bit more knowledge about herself than it would be easier for her to open up. It felt weird to try and court someone, principally when trying to do it hiden form everyone else, but it also felt weird the sensation she had in her chest when she looked at those beautifull eyes.

The Queen Regent had asked the servants to bring the food to the table and leave before Sansa arrived. It would do no good to her if a servant was to get suspicious on her. She hadn't told anyone asside from her children. Cersei was sure they were the only ones who would understand and accept her for sure. But now she kind of had a problem... With Sansa being married to Tyrion, it might be possible that she would have to explain to him her... situation. He could use that to blackmail her, if it wasn't the knowledge she had about that maid, Shae. Oh, she had shown Tyrion the wrong girl on purpose. In this way he would think to have the upper hand. But if he was to know of her secret than they would be in the same ground, wich was also the perfect ground for a truce. It was a weird idea, to try and actually start being nice to her litle brother, but that anger had gotten her nowhere so far, and it wouldn't bring her mother back anyway. And after all, both of them suffer from the same thing: living in Jaime's shadow.

Taking a deep breath, Cersei quickly walked to the door. She could see her hand shaking and slapped herself mentaly. Why was she so nervous about this lunch? She had had plenty of other meals with Sansa.

There were allways other people there. And you weren't trying to impresse her back then... Oh, shut up! It's not that dificult! It's only Sansa! You promessed you would try and be yourslef around her! Oh great, now I'm talking to my self!

Shaking her head, Cersei placed a warm smile on her face and opened the door. The smiled was imideatly gonne.

Sansa and Margaery wondered what was taking to long. The Stark girl thought that maybe the Queen had had second thoughts and decided to eat with her children. She felt imideatly reliefed, and strangly, also disapointed. Why would she be disapointed? If she could avoid the Queen Regent she should be happy, right? Only that she wasn't has happy has she had thought she would be.

When she looked at Margaery, she saw that the other woman was smirking. Was there something that Margaery knew that she didn't?

The future Queen was starting to believe in her Grandmother more and more with each passing second. Was it possible that Cersei was taking this long just thanks to her nerves? If the Regent Queen really liked women, than Lady Olenna would certainly have a plan on how to play her.

When the door openned, she saw that Cersei was smiling. It wasn't her usual smirk or her fake smile. No. That was a true smile. And it disapeared the instant her eyes landed on the Tyrel woman. That was the only prove Margaey needed.

"Good afternoon, Your Grace." the look the Lannister woman sent her was full of hate, and that gave Margaery an idea.

"Margaery... what a... surprise to see you here. I was only expecting Sansa." her voice was dry and it was obvious she was trying to control her temper.

"I was only making Sansa some company. I will leave now." turning to Sansa, she kissed her on the cheek and left.

Lady Olenna was resting in her bedroom with a glass of wine in hand. She had almost forgot how life in the Capital was. Almost. Her biggest problem right now was Cersei Lannister. Sure, she could try and blackmail her, but that would give away the only chance they had of manipulating her. Also, the Lannister was a proud woman, she would probably tell everyone about it if there was the threat of being blackmailed.

No. There had to be other way. And the sooner the better. The woman was supposed to marry her grandson, but she wasn't stupid. It would be very dificult to force the Queen Regent to marry. Unless she had some gain in it. But what could a Lannister woman want?

In that moment the door opened. Her grandaughter had a smirk on her face. That only meant good knews. That girl was as cunning as her, very diferent from her father. She said girl because in her eyes she would always be her litle flower, but to be honest, she was very much of a woman now.

Yes, my grandaughter is woman now. A beautifull and clever woman. Uhm... What if...

"You were right. Cersei Lannister really prefers the company of women." Margaery sat in a chair in front of her.

"Of course she does. And that might be the solution for our problems."

"How is that? We have already talked about it for hours and there is jut no way of blackmailing her or manipulate her!" the younger women felt frustated with the all problem.

"We were just thinking a litle to hard." when Margaery sent her a confused look, she continued. "You see, Cersei Lannister likes to have everything under control. I'm sure she is the dominant type. Now, I wonder what would happen if that changed..."

"Do you think she would fall for it? I mean, she has proven to know how to play people an-"

"You forget that your Grandmother has a lot of experience in this things. I think she would like a litle change. She might even want to make it... permanent." Margaerys eyes opened wide when she understood what those words meant. A smirked apeared on her face, exacly like Olenna's. That might actually work. After all, she was Tyrion Lannister sister.

"And who do you had in mind for such a task?"

Lady Olenna only raised an eyebrow. She stood up and walked to her nightsand. There, she grabed a litle botle with a green almost transparent liquid insid and a handkerchief.

"This, my darling, is chloroform. One breath and she will be sleeping like a baby for half an hour. Is that enough time for you?"

Margary grabed the vial and inspected the substance. Maybe this plan could actually work. Her Grandmother had allways told her that she had been good, very good when she was younger, but that she would be even better. But could she make Cersei Lannister submissive to her?

"It'll only take fifteen minuts." she looked worried to her Grandmother. "What if something goes wrong?"

"Tie her up. And make sure you don't let her go until you have fullfield our plan, yes?" The Queen of Thorns poured another glass of wine and gave it to her daughter.

"I should do it in my bedroom. No one will disturbe us there and there will be no questions of where she was like there would be if I was to do it in the dungeons or the Sept, fo example." Margaery took a sip of wine. She was confidant in her abilities, but this was Cersei Lannister, and she would need a lot of courage.

"I see you have already started thinking on the details." Lady Olenna looked outside the window, to the streets of KingsLanding. "If she is enfatuated with you, then she might agree to actually marry your brother. Tell her he will become the knew Hand, that she will be living here with you. And then, we will have her on our hands."

To be continued...

A.N.: Hey everyoe! I hope you like it. I'm sorry for any mistakes, but I'm only fifteen and portugese, so I'm still learning. This story will not follow the all the things that were in the series or the books, but the story in the North will basicly be the same, as well as Dany's, and the biggest changes will happen in KingsLanding.

Also, I'm going to write only about what's hapenning there, and you will know what is happening in the North, in Dorne and with Danny by letters this characters receive or conversations... But don't worry, they will apear 'fisicaly' in this story, only that it will be later.

I will try to keep some couples together, others maybe not... A lot of characters are going to be a litle (a lot) OC, but this is my fanfiction so fuck of! Just kiding. I really want to explore a lot of the tension between the Margaery and Cersei, and you will see in next chapter what is in stor for our favorite Lannister woman. I don't really know if I'm going to kill the same characters that died on the show, because I like to keep them alive so that I can make them suffer a bit more... Also, I don't really like Margaery and I think Lady Olenna is awsame, but not as awsame as Cersei, so there will be a lot of conflict there. So if you don't want to see those characters hurt or humiliated, I don't think this is a good fanfition for you.

The interaction between Margaery and Cersei in the next chapter was written to help me kind of coope with it. I read another fanfiction where something like that hapenned, and I didn't like the end so it was kind of stuck in my head and I coudn't stop thinking about it and it made me really unconfortable. So I decided to write about it. If any of you as the same problem, tell me about it and I will try to write something where I abord that scene or problem and try to make you feel more at peace.

Please let me know about your opinion. If you like it, what would you like to read, what can I improve, what couples do you want to see, wich characters, what plot twists... anything, really.

Hope to see you soon, and don't worry, I can tell you that Cersei can handle herself against anything her enemies throw at her, after all, she is a Lannister. Adeus.