Chapter Eleven: Surrounded By Lannisters
A/N: Finally another update! Only two episodes left now of the season...where did all the time go? I'm honestly still amazed at the response for this story...138 reviews, over 140 favourites and over 290 follows! You're all great, and I really hope that you enjoy this chapter :D
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The bells were crying death as Tamara rode into King's Landing with her entourage, pale dawn just beginning to break on the horizon. She frowned, wondering who could have died, and her stomach contorted into knots as she feared for Ned Stark. Was it possible that Jaime had injured him badly enough that he could just have passed? She clutched the reins of her horse tighter in her hands, refusing to let the suspicion take root. She would just have to wait and see when she entered the Red Keep.
Tamara entered through the drawbridge to find that it was like a ghost city outside. Surely her husband would have sent word ahead that she would be returning to King's Landing? Oh, how frustrated Tamara had been with Jaime. He whisked her halfway across the continent to Casterly Rock, only to send her back because he and Tywin did not want her present while they plotted war against the Starks. At least she had her loyal friends, such as Ser Alek, still with her.
"What do you think has happened?" Tamara questioned as she slid from the horse's back, gesturing to her servants to deal with her things. Frowning deeply, she gathered her skirts and decided that she would just have to enter the Red Keep unannounced.
Almost as soon as she'd stepped inside, Tamara collided heavily with someone – and stepped back to see a clearly frantic Renly Baratheon. Frowning as his eyes flicked over her, slightly panicked, Tamara seized initiative and grabbed Renly by the arm, determined not to take no for an answer.
"Lord Renly, what's happened here? Who has died? Where are you going?"
"It's Robert," Renly stated simply, the blunt answer causing Tamara to blink in shock. The King was dead? It seemed impossible to her. He had seemed so healthy and full of life the day she had departed. She bit her lip, but Renly continued of his own accord. "King's Landing is no longer the place for me, my lady."
With that, he tugged out of the auburn-haired girl's grasp and continued on his way, his retinue following. Tamara was unsurprised to see that Loras Tyrell was one of those accompanying Renly on his flight. However, she was astonished to see him go. Renly had grown up between King's Landing and Storm's End. He had been a familiar face in the capital. What could have driven him to leave, or was it simply his brother's death?
Taking a deep breath, Tamara walked into the halls of the Red Keep. The bell had ceased its tolling, and she found herself looking for a familiar face. So when she nearly collided with someone else – and cursed herself for being clumsy – Tamara was somewhat relieved to look up into the startled face of her good-cousin, Lancel Lannister.
"Lancel. I would speak with the Queen."
"The Queen is busy." Lancel's tone became somewhat lofty, causing Tamara's blue eyes to narrow. "King Joffrey is accepting oaths of fealty. I daresay that yours will soon be one of them, am I not right, Lady Tamara?"
Tamara couldn't help but frown at Lancel's sudden attitude. When she had last been in the capital, he had been friendly, albeit slightly shy. Now he acted pompously, as though she was beneath him. Tamara would not have been surprised if it was Cersei who was responsible for the change in him, considering the fact that Robert was now dead.
"Perhaps you may be, but you may also want to consider speaking more respectfully to the wife of the Kingslayer," Tamara said with saccharine sweetness, causing Lancel to blink a few times in astonishment at her subtle retaliation. Gesturing for her servants to take her things to the rooms she now shared with Jaime at King's Landing, Tamara slid her arm through Lancel's. "Come then. You can show me into the throne room and I will swear whatever oaths her Grace deems necessary."
Lancel looked slightly taken aback by Tamara's false bravado, and she had to swallow the lump in her throat as he led her into the throne room, where court was in session. People were lining up to the Iron throne to swear their oaths of fealty to Joffrey, who watched the proceedings with a smirk. It would have given Tamara great pleasure to smack that look off his face – but no matter. She had to play the part of a good little wife, a loyal Lannister bride.
High As Honor. The words of her house resonated in her mind, but she also remembered that House Tully put family before all else. Well, Tamara had little family left, and she was thinking of her mother and brother when she chose to swear fealty to Joffrey. Things might be tense, but he was the rightful heir to the throne. When it was her turn, Tamara stepped forward and licked her dry lips.
"Aunt Tamara," Joffrey said lightly, causing the auburn-haired girl to grimace inwardly at the reminder that she was related to him by marriage. She was the King's aunt. It was an odd notion. "Come to swear to me?"
"As have all before me," Tamara stated, gathering her skirts around her as she kneeled on the floor in front of Joffrey. "I, Tamara Arryn, do swear…"
"No." Joffrey's sharp voice cut her off, causing Tamara's head to jerk up as she looked at him. The King's green eyes were narrowed as he jabbed a finger accusingly at her. "You aren't an Arryn anymore. You married my uncle. You're a Lannister. Now, say it again."
Tamara forced herself to maintain her patience. It would do no good to lose her temper at Joffrey. He had been cruel before, but now he had more power than she could ever hope to hold. If she spoke up against him, the punishment could be severe, and she was very much aware of that.
"I, Tamara Lannister, do swear fealty to my King, Joffrey Baratheon – from this day until my last day."
"Very good." Joffrey beamed, and Tamara took that as her cue to push herself to her feet. Offering the King one last curtsy, she took her leave without another word. What was going on in King's Landing? For surely, Joffrey's reign would be a terrible one.
As Tamara exited the throne room, Eddard Stark entered. He was leaning heavily on a walking cane and limping, but was quite clearly well. Excitedly, she turned to speak with him – only to see that Ned was accompanied by Varys, Petyr and several members of the City Watch. Frowning, Tamara observed her uncle carefully as he limped across the throne room, and stepped back into the shadows to watch. Considering the quarrel between the Lannisters and the Starks, would Ned still swear fealty to Joffrey?
"Ser Barristan." Ned's voice rang clearly through the throne room. "I believe no man here could ever question your honour."
The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard stepped forward, taking what seemed to be a scroll from Ned's hand. Curiously, Tamara pressed forward so that she could get a good view of what was happening.
"King Robert's seal, unbroken." Ser Barristan turned to glance over his shoulder at Joffrey and Cersei, who had taken a seat beside the Iron throne. He unfurled the scroll and began to read. "Lord Eddard Stark is herein named Protector of the Realm, to rule as Regent until the heir come of age."
"May I see that letter, Ser Barristan?" Cersei pushed herself to her feet, and Tamara could tell that if the Queen was getting involved, nothing good could come of this. She hated Ned, everyone knew that. Ser Barristan's armour clinking was the only sound heard in the otherwise silent throne room as he stepped forward to hand Cersei the scroll.
"Protector of the Realm." There was no doubting the scorn in her voice. "Is this meant to be your shield, Lord Stark? A piece of paper."
Cersei proceeded to tear up said paper into four pieces, scandalizing Tamara. She knew the Queen had no care for Robert Baratheon, but to so openly disregard his last wish…her contempt towards Cersei grew.
"Those were the King's words," Barristan protested.
"We have a new King now," Cersei said dismissively. She turned her cold gaze upon the Warden of the North, who had remained silent yet shocked at her actions. "Lord Stark, when we last spoke you offered me some words of counsel. Allow me to return the favour. Bend the knee, my lord. Bend the knee and swear loyalty to my son, and we shall allow you to live out your days in the grey waste you call home."
"Your son has no claim to the throne," Ned announced bluntly, his words surprising Tamara. How could he say such a thing? It was true she hated the Lannisters. She had no doubt they had been the ones to convince Ser Hugh to poison her father, if what Ned had told her was correct. The question was not how Jon Arryn had died, but rather, why. Now Tamara feared for Ned's life, with him blatantly debating Joffrey's claim to the throne.
"Liar!" Joffrey roared.
"You condemn yourself with your own mouth, Lord Stark," Cersei stated, and Tamara bit down on her lip. "Ser Barristan, seize this traitor."
"Ser Barristan is a good man, a loyal man, do him no harm," Ned said quickly as his own men moved forth to defend him from the impending threat.
"Kill him!" Joffrey bellowed, and Tamara did not even have to wonder why she hated him so much when he reminded her of it like this. "Kill all of them! I command it!"
"Commander." Ned addressed Janos Slynt, head of the City Watch, which astonished Tamara. She felt there were too many surprises today, and she did not like it at all. Since when had Slynt been working alongside Ned? She had the horrible feeling something was about to go wrong. "Take the Queen and her children into custody. Escort them back to their royal apartments and keep them there, under guard."
"Men of the Watch," Slynt said, and the sound of spears and swords being drawn caught Tamara's attention. A voice called 'now!' from the back of the hall, and then the men of the Watch started killing Ned Stark's guards. Tamara took a few slow steps back, watching in horror as she realised her uncle had been betrayed. It was only when Petyr pressed a dagger to Ned's throat that she turned and fled, knowing there was no safety with the Starks. To survive in King's Landing, she had to pretend to remain loyal to the Lannisters.
As she exited the hall, someone grabbed Tamara by the arm. She spun around, but there was no time to see her pursuer before something heavy came down over her head. Her world span, everything faded to black, and she didn't even feel it when she hit the ground.
Tamara woke to the sound of moaning. She lurched upwards in disgust, wondering where she was and what in the seven hells was going on. Someone gently took her arm, and Tamara jumped and saw that Petyr was sitting beside her. He urged her back so that she was lying down, and Tamara frowned and nursed the sore bump on her head.
"Were you the one who knocked me unconscious?" she asked disdainfully. She found that she had no patience for Petyr, not when he had been the one to betray Ned Stark. It shouldn't have surprised her, but then she wondered if he could betray Ned that easily, what would he do to her? Petyr was unpredictable, and that gave Tamara cause to be wary.
"I apologise for that," Petyr stroked his beard in contemplation. "I knew that, after what you saw, you would not trust me enough to come with me. I had to take action."
"So you kidnapped me?" Tamara accused, earning a heavy sigh from Petyr. She pushed herself into a sitting position, blue eyes scanning around. She realised the moaning she'd heard before meant she must have been taken to Petyr's whorehouse. Her lip curled in disgust.
"I brought you here so that I could warn you." Petyr's leaned forward, taking Tamara's hands in his own. "You saw what happened to Ned Stark today. I warn you not to cross the Lannisters, Tamara. I have no desire to see your head on a spike. You must not under any circumstances back the Starks."
Tamara tugged her hands away from Petyr's, taking a deep breath and almost choking on the thick taste of incense. It frightened her, to see what was happening in the capital, the animosity between two great houses – one of which she was related to by blood, the other of which she had married into. How could Tamara turn her back on the Starks when they needed her the most?
"I am not a coward like you." Tamara's voice was cold as she looked right at Petyr. "I saw the role you played. I saw you put a dagger to Ned's throat. You betrayed him, and you would have me do the same."
"I would have you survive," Petyr stated, leaning back in his chair and examining her critically. "Is it truly so difficult to believe that I care what happens to you, Tamara?"
"Yes," Tamara grated out. Petyr didn't care for anyone. He was a man of ambition, not emotion. While Ned Stark might put all his cards on the table for everyone to see, Petyr always kept his hidden. Even though Petyr had kissed her once, it didn't mean anything. Perhaps even that had been another piece of manipulation, designed to see how she would react. "Now if you'll excuse me, I shall take my leave."
Cersei crumpled the letter up in her hand and gritted her teeth. It had been hours since she had received news of Jaime's capture by Robb Stark, yet her simmering fury had still not died down. She had summoned Tamara, determined to see how the girl would react to the news about Jaime. Cersei did not trust the redhead, with her pretty face and innocent blue eyes. She was bad news, the Queen was sure of it.
Cersei turned when the door opened and Tamara walked in. Although Jaime's wife had sworn fealty, there was no denying Cersei knew she was torn. Tamara had been close with Ned and the Stark girls during their time in the capital. Now most of the Stark household had been slaughtered without remorse. Cersei did not deal well with treason.
"Tamara." Cersei forced a smile, taking another sip of her wine and gesturing to the chair across from her. "Please, take a seat."
Hesitantly, the auburn-haired girl took a seat. Cersei examined her critically. Of course it was her that Jaime was married to her. She was young and pretty. There didn't seem to be much more to her, except for one other than that caused Cersei envy: she was intelligent. If Tamara had been a little fool, Cersei may have been able to forgive her.
"Is something the matter?" Tamara inquired, watching as Cersei set the crumpled letter on the table. Cersei just wanted to tell her to stop the pretenses, to give up feigning the innocent little girl. She was smart and politically savvy. Cersei tossed her blonde hair over her shoulders.
"I think we can both agree to lower our guards, Tamara. It tires me so when you pretend to be the naïve child your cousin Sansa is." Cersei picked up the letter and handed it to the auburn-haired girl. "Jaime has been captured by your cousin, Robb Stark."
Surprise came over Tamara's face, and she read over the letter. Cersei observed her in silence, sipping her wine every now and again. After a few moments, Tamara slid the furled letter back across the table. A look of determination had come across her young face, causing Cersei to raise her eyebrows.
"I should go to Robb's camp and negotiate with him for Jaime's release."
"Do you think he will listen to you?" Cersei didn't even try to keep the derision out of her voice. "What do you have to offer him?"
"Nothing." Tamara's blue eyes blazed. "But you do. You have his sisters, and his father."
Cersei knew she had a point, although she neglected to mention that they could not find Arya. If Robb thought he was going to get his family back intact, he might see fit to release Jaime. Unfortunately, Tamara was right in this instance. A Lannister messenger would quickly be dismissed. But Tamara – Robb's cousin, someone he knew and could possibly trust – was a different story entirely.
"I agree." Cersei said, and couldn't help but smile wryly at the look of astonishment on Tamara's face. "Robb won't listen to us, but he will listen to you. Go to the Stark camp then. See what you can do to negotiate for Jaime's release."
"Will you release his sisters and his father if Robb agrees?" Tamara persisted, knowing that she could not simply expect something unless she had Cersei's word – and even that wasn't worth much.
Cersei smiled enigmatically and finished the last of her wine. "We will see what happens."