CERSEI
She pulled, screamed and cried, but her efforts had no affect on the man, he pulled her around with ease along the many hallways and corridors of the Red Keep right to the chamber where she had spent the night.
"It was fathers, mothers and Jaime's chamber two"
The thought remained her of what happened mere minutes ago and she doubled her effort in crying.
"Just shut up brat!" said the man as he yanked her into the chamber.
"If you do not stop I will kill you!" threatened the man before closing the door and yet this threat didn't stop her crying.
She just looked at the door, Cersei knew that on the table behind her was fathers sword, mothers dress and Jaime's toy lion.
She knew that if she saw these items that her crying would become even louder, she was to afraid of what the man might do.
Her crying toned down and turned into sobbing.
Thoughts ran thru her head.
Nobody would think that a child her age would know of death or it's finality and yet she did know, having witnessed a fool failing into the lion pit at Casterly Rock and getting devoured just a month ago.
She had liked the man, he made her smile, so a great effort had to be given by both her parents to make a smile appear on her face again.
But she recovered.
The sobbing stopped, she will recover again.
"For Jaime, father and mother two"
"You are a Lannister and Lannisters always make it thru" her father had told her once, she will stay true to those words.
Cersei stood up, glancing at the table.
The sword was hers to wield, the dress hers to wear and the toy hers to always remind her of her brother.
She approached the table and sat on a chair, her face still red and feet dangling in the air, studying the objects, especially the sword.
It was an ordinary longsword, with the words 'Hear me Roar' spelled on the steel, with a lion head handle.
She imagined the sword going thru Aerys's neck, cutting the link of his head with his body.
Her smile was cut short through, as a man barged into her chamber.
White hair and white beard.
"Aerys"
"How are you little girl?" he asked innocently, like he hadn't just ordered the massacre of her family.
No answer, just silence.
"You know if you do not answer me I will be very angry" Rhaella appeared behind him, with Rhaeagar sneaking looks from behind her dress.
Cersei mumbled quietly.
"What?!" she could see that Aerys patience was thinning, still she did not care.
A yell came next, but not from the source most would expect.
"A LION DOES NOT CARE FOR THE OPINION OF A SHEEP!" big words, especially for a four year old.
Aerys went into a fit of rage.
"HOW DARE YOU!" he yelled as he hit Cersei.
She fell to the floor, her attacker raised his foot to stomp her head when Rhaella grabbed her husband and pulled him back.
She told him something, Cersei could not hear what, but it was enough for Aerys to focus his rage on her and not Cersei.
He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her in front of the chamber, closing the door behind him.
Cersei could hear it all, yelling, hitting and screaming.
And it went on for a full minute before a third voice intervened and convinced the king to concern himself with more serious matters.
"Thank you" Cersei muttered when she was sure no one could hear, a tear coming from her eye.
She quickly wiped it away, she will cry no more, she will not be weak again.
A few minutes after a knock on the door, she was ready for another beating if it had to come, but to her surprise came in a middle aged man with a graying beard, in his hands water, food and rags.
"That madman" he whispered as he knelled by Cersei, she tensed.
"It is okay child, I will not hurt you" he said as he started wiping the place where Aerys hit her with the rag.
As he finished he said: "There, this should stop the swelling"
Cersei looked at the food, hunger and thirst in her eyes.
"Ah, yes, here you go little one. I have heard you haven't eaten much at the feast" he put the food and cup of water in front of her.
Cersei gave him a look before she started devouring the food.
She ate with her hands, not caring for her manners or caring about the man wanted, when she finished she drank two cups of water, enough for now.
"Have you eaten your fill and extinguished your thirst?"
Cersei nodded.
"Then I will need to leave, I will be back in the evening with more" was all he said before grabbing the fathers sword and exiting.
When she was sure everyone was gone and that no one was listening she climbed the bed and curled into a ball, eventually going into sleep.
Cersei did not know, but word spread quickly thru Kings Landing about the brave little lioness that stood up to the dragon, many thought that one day bards would sing of her bravery.
STEFFON
It was early in the morning when Steffon awoke, he and his son Robert had been traveling all day by ship to the capital, something about Aerys needing an old friends council.
A disgusting smell lingered in the air.
"Like dead flesh"
There must be a lot of dead people for the smell to be this strong, but why would so many men die? In the capital no less.
Steffon got up and started pulling up his pants and boots.
"Where are you going father?" asked Robert, his firstborn.
"Sleep Robert, I'll be right up on the deck"
"Why?"
"Just sleep son, you need rest to grow. Okay?"
"Okay" said Robert before he turned his head to the wall, a few seconds latter he started pretending to snore.
"The little rascal"
Steffon ascended the stairs and got up on the deck.
"What is that strange smell?"
The captain turned to him.
"My lord, the odor seems to be coming from the city"
"Do you know what it is?"
"It smells like the dead my lord"
Steffon nodded before walking to the front end of the ship.
Kings Landings was close, a mere thirty minutes left.
Nothing could compare Steffon for the sight he saw when they docked.
Dead bodies impaled on wooden poles, what's worse they had Lannister colors.
"Dad?"
"Just close your eyes son" Robert complied as Steffon lead him thru the docks towards the city streets, then another shock.
The body of his friend Tywin, his son, brothers, sister and her husband and another Lannister Steffon didn't recognize, impaled.
On the chest of Tywin the words 'TRAITOR' were carved.
Steffon could not believe it, he just stood there.
"Dad?"
The words brought him back, he continued walking.
"Just keep them closed Rob"
"Leave it to Tywin to look intimidating with a wooden pole up his ass" he heard one Crownlands lord say, but he didn't care, Steffon had to leave this horrible sight, for his and Roberts sake.
He rushed thru the streets so fast that his guard struggled to keep up.
Once they were far enough away Steffon did stop.
As his guard commander approached he asked:
"Do you know what happened?"
"M'lord, people say that lord Tywin was discovered plotting to overthrow the king. Weapons and plans in his chamber"
"I don't believe it"
"It's what the smallfolk say m'lord"
Steffon nodded.
"Tywin would never plot to overthrow the king, not after working so hard to preserve the realm"
He thought, but Tywins body was out by the dock, with the words traitor.
"No, no way. Tywin isn't stupid, he certainly wouldn't leave that stuff in his chamber"
"Cersei and Joanna aren't up there"
It was known that Aerys lusted for Joanna, he just hopped that his worst fears would not materialize.
A servant came up towards him.
"M'lord, the king is asking for your presence at the small council chamber"
Steffon nodded.
"I'll be right there"
The servant scurried away, Steffon the turned to his guard commander.
"Commander, I want your men to be near me at all times"
"Yes m'lord" the commander turned away and started organizing his troops.
"You have a lot of explaining to do Aerys"
Surpremus85: Barristan takes his Kingsguard vows very seriously, he will do everything his king commands, even if it goes against his morals.
Castamere: I felt pity for Tywin once I found out how much his wife's death destroyed him, thanks for the compliment.
magnus374: Kevan has always been one of Tywins greatest advisors and commanders, only a fool would underestimate him.
