Sitting beside Joffrey, in the great Throne room of King's Landing, Cersei Lannister gazed down as she watched her niece walk into the room. It had been some time since Cersei had seen her niece, and in the time that had passed Lyra had grown from a child into a young lady. The gown she wore was deep Lannister Red, embroidered with golden lions, narrower at the neck than Cersei normally chose, but it still showed that Lyra was beginning to become a woman, and was no longer a child. She wore golden cord about her waist, and her sleeves were wide, draping elegantly towards the ground as she walked towards the throne, her head held high.

Lyra was elder than Myrcella by just under a year, although they did not look very similar, the most obvious difference being the colour of their hair. Still, Cersei could see some of Jaime in the newest arrival to her son's court, as well as a great deal of the Northern whore her father and husband had seen fit to marry Jaime and be the lady of Casterly Rock.

Whispers had broken out amongst the assembled Lords and ladies present, and Cersei heard more than one voice whisper something akin the "the Kingslayer's daughter." If Lyra heard the whispers, she didn't react, instead sinking into a deep curtsey, her head bowed, the back of her pretty neck exposed as her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulders.

"Your Grace," she greeted Joffrey.

There was a lengthy pause, as if the entire court were holding their breath. Cersei knew that most of them remembered that day in the gardens, the day the rivalry between Tywin Lannister's oldest two grandchildren…between Jaime's eldest two children, became widely known.

Cersei knew that her father would be livid if Joffrey killed Lyra, but at this point, as much as she didn't want to admit it, there was little Cersei could do to prevent it. She'd been stunned when she'd been informed that Tywin wanted Lyra to be in the capitol, but then she remembered her father's blindness. Tywin Lannister was blind to everything about his family. He'd been blind to her relationship to Jaime, he'd been blind to the stupidity of Robert's idea to marry Jaime to that Mormont girl, and he was blind to the contempt that Joffrey and Lyra had for each other, and the danger he was putting his granddaughter in by just having her near Joffrey now that he was king.

Cersei had no love for her niece, her very existence proof that Jaime had once bedded another woman, and that another woman had carried Jaime's child. Not only that…Lyra was legitimate, without the stigma of being a bastard, and Jaime was free to treat her as he child…something that he did whenever they were together.

In Cersei's mind Jaime, and his seed, belonged to Cersei, and no-one else…not the Northern whore who he had been forced to marry, and not the child the union had created. The girl herself had little pleasing about her. She was no great beauty, not like Cersei or Myrcella, nor did Cersei find her terribly witty or clever. She could sing, dance, embroider and do all of those things that a lady should be able to do at a level that was acceptable for someone of Lyra's age, Cersei would concede that, but there was still something…northern…about her. A certain wildness that the child had inherited from her mother. It was to be expected, of course, given who her mother had been. It was a small mercy that the she-bear had died so early in the so called "Young Cub's" life, lest the child had learned even more bad habits.

Cersei allowed herself a small smile at the thought as she gazed down at the girl. The thing that Cersei didn't like the most about her niece, was how Jaime felt about the child. Cersei was the centre of Jaime's world. She had been since birth, and even before that, but whenever Jaime was with the child…his eyes would be on her. Doting on her, playing with her, teaching her to wield a sword, when Cersei had never been allowed. Even when Cersei was in the room, Jaime would always go to Lyra first, and Cersei couldn't abide that kind of favouritism against her.

Maybe it would be better if Joffrey ordered his cousin to be beheaded right now. He'd proven himself capable of such acts before. It would certainly rid Cersei of the last main reminder of Jaime's marriage, and, well, she was sure her father would move on from the loss.

Cersei looked to the other side of the Throne, where Tyrion stood. She took a moment to savour the look on his face. Concern, fear, worry that this reunion between cousins was going to end in bloodshed. As Cersei watched Tyrion turned his gaze towards her, and tier eyes met over the top of Joffrey's head.

Sister looked at brother, and brother looked at sister, and they said nothing, communicated nothing, simply assessing each other, noting their findings, and then returning their attention to the spectacle before them.

Eventually Joffrey rose to his feet, and outstretched his arms, "welcome, cousin," he greeted, his tone cheerful, "your presence brings joy to my court."

The rest of the court seemed to let out the breath it had been holding in anticipation, but no-one looked particularly joyful. Lyra Lannister, for her part, remained kneeling, her eyes still fixed on the floor.

"Your Grace humbles me with your kind words," she replied. Careful…cautious...submissive, the wild streak hidden, for the moment.

"Come, rise, it has been far too long since we have seen each other."

Lyra rose to her feet, although she kept her gaze downcast, "I grieved to learn of your father's passing, King Joffrey. King Robert was a fine man, and an even greater King. I am sure you will surpass him in the magnitude of your great deeds as King."

Cersei watched Joffrey as Lyra spoke, gauging his reaction, as only his mother could. She could almost see Joffrey's smile growing as Lyra stroked his ego.

"Thank you, cousin, for your kind words. If only all members of our family were so respectful."

"If any man was not so respectful of their King then they are a fool."

Joffrey laughed, and Cersei didn't notice the sideways look Joffrey sent towards Tyrion.

"Yes…yes they are cousin," he agreed.

Lyra inclined her head one last time, with another deep curtsy, before she retreated back into the crowd and Cersei lost track of her niece in the mix of bodies. The assembled nobles began to idly chatter between themselves, satisfied that there would be no excitement between the King and his cousin. Tyrion too seemed to visibly relax.

"Well, that went rather well, don't you both think?"

Joffrey shrugged, sitting back down on his throne. Cersei too said nothing, and Tyrion did not push, instead offering his own bow to Joffrey, before he stepped down from the dais and walked away, off to attend some duty, Cersei didn't care what. It didn't matter to her, after all.

Just like Lyra's presence. Lyra was just another piece on the board, one of little importance, despite her name, and Cersei would not let anyone interfere with her plans…regardless of if they were family or not.