Cersei glared with contempt at the beast that found its way into the room. The dog looked at her with dark round eyes, waging his tail in a gentle manner, hobbling on three feet to the unsuspecting Lyanna, who was listening to an exciting story of Daeron's. The boy's bravery was frequently praised by the sister-figure.
Sixpence, the odious creature, placed its mangy head on Lyanna's white dress. Cersei nearly vaulted out of her seat. It was such a pity that a nice creation such as the one the Stark girl had been given to wear was to be destroyed without much thought by a flea-ridden mongrel.
"Forgive me, Your Grace," she interrupted the storytelling, "but is it necessary for the beast to plague this room?" She nodded towards the dog, who gave a low whine. "It's dirty and quite dangerous. These hounds always are."
"Oh no," Lyanna countered softly, a smile playing on her lips, "Sixpence is not at all dangerous. He is such a loyal and loving friend. Perhaps you have not had the opportunity of befriending such a noble beast." The blind girl had the audacity to pet the dog's head and the hulking creature did no more but yawn and allow its tongue to loll.
"I only fear that it would cause you harm," Cersei insisted. Her father had insisted that she was to befriend the Stark girl and make the most of her acquaintance. And though Lyanna was a gentle enough soul and not adverse to Cersei, she was not, for that matter, very close to cultivating her friendship. Lyanna and her were very different, not only in appearance and upbringing, one might add.
"I know," the other offered," her empty gaze sliding towards the Lannister maiden. "It is commendable of you, Lady Cersei, but I assure you I am in no danger whatsoever. Perhaps if you would know Sixpence better." The suggestion was followed by a log silence. It stretched out between them, lying in wait for a response.
Cersei breathed in deeply. She had to do her duty. She could not disappoint her father. She had to find out why the King and Queen kept Lyanna Stark so very close, yet not once mentioning what plans they had for her. For the Queen seemed to no longer be conceiving. It had little sense that they would keep Lyanna with them, unless they planned to wed her to one of the Princes.
Father was certain they had intended her for Daeron, as the boy was often encouraged to keep company with the blind child. For her part, Cersei knew not what to think, as all the Targaryen brothers seemed fond of Lyanna, even the babe of the lot.
Stepping towards Lyanna and Sixpence gingerly as if every step hurt. Her hand shot out, fingers slightly curled inward. A small tremor shook her limb. Cersei gulped. The parasite looked up at her with wet eyes, the gaze almost trusting. Holding in a scowl, Cersei touched the top of its head. She shuddered and pulled her hand back. "There, I am not afraid of it."
Daeron was watching with a menacing glare that Cersei hadn't been aware a child could produce. She scowled at him on account of the fact that Lyanna would never be able to tell. The boy snarled at her and that was when Lyanna intervened.
"Your Grace, please." She placed a hand upon the younger child's and squeezed it. "The King shall return soon and so will your older brother. Until then, do go on with the story."
"Well, Ser Jon Darry wanted to chase the man but Ser Whent said it would not help matters. Ser Gwayne Gaunt was laughing the whole time. He found the incident very amusing."
"They should have caught the man and flayed him," Cersei could not help saying. "He was a thief." Her father would have not stood for it. But apparently in King's Landing ruler were lax, lax enough for a thief to get away with stealing.
"It was merely an apple, Lady Cersei. I daresay he needed it more than the vendor." At that Cersei had to shake her head. Lyanna, as if sensing it, offered a small smile and continued. "He was hungry. And it was but an apple. What did you do, Daeron."
"I paid for two apples," came the reply of the boy. "It was only an apple."
"But that is condoning thievery." It was bad enough that they had allowed the man to escape justice, but to pay for him as well; it was preposterous.
"Sometimes we have to be forgiving. It is not always required of us to push other in the mud. Come now, enough of that. I daresay it would be better if we moved to another subject entirely." If there was one thing that Cersei had learned during her stay with Lyanna was that, despite her calm appearance and usually tranquil replies, the she-wolf actually did have a temper. She just hid it well. Commendable, of course, but not at all effective on Cersei.
She could understand from the other's posture that something had made her close off. It was, of course, another characteristic of the girl's. She was easily upset, though just as quick to forgive transgressions. Her avoidance of confrontation attested to her having been raised in court where no matter was settled in a straightforward manner. She had the making of a good courtier and within proper context, it was not unlikely that she could gain much power.
Still, all these observations had been made before by her father. Cersei had yet to find Lyanna's purpose and she struggled to keep herself within the girl's circle of favourites. If only she had been born a male, just like Jaime, then she could have been doing something fruitful, something other than sitting around and listening to the bleating of two foolish children with strange notions of forgiveness in their minds.
But she hadn't been born a man. And as such she could do little else but follow the path her father had assigned to her. Just until the day she would be queen, Cersei promised herself. After, she would listen to no one but herself. The promised burned pleasantly in her mind, warming her to the marrow of her bones. A queen she would be.
The king entered the room, followed by his oldest son. The entrance, far from impression Daeron with its stateliness, prompted the boy to merely slide off his chair and run towards his father. This in turn made Aerys slight annoyed with the child, on account of the fact that as a prince he should not be displaying such obvious adoration.
"Run along now," Aerys told his younger son, but not before caressing the boy's tumbling curls. "I am certain they wait upon you in the courtyard."
Another thing that she could not do, Cersei thought with no little amount of resentment, as she watched the child excitedly run out the door, was train in the courtyard. She understood, of course, the reason for which no one would ever put a sword into Lyanna Stark's hand, as the girl was just as likely to slay herself with it as she was to hit an enemy. But Cersei had no such problem. Yet no one would aid he in learning. Not even Jaime. He would laugh lightly whenever she asked it of him and promise that he would always protect her, so she wouldn't have to learn anyway.
But bitterness gave way to curiosity as another figure made its way in. The young man that came in was a few years older than her, but there was something unmistakable about his long face, much too serious and scared. There was unmistakable fear about his eyes. Cersei raised her own gaze to meet his. Steely grey captured her attention. Unlike the flat colour of his sister's eyes, a curious spark animated the stranger's gaze. She flinched, instinctively, as he scrutinised her.
But hi gaze did not linger on her. His eyes moved towards his sister and the moment he saw her, Cersei swore that some nameless emotion filled his features. But it was overpowering and it hit her quite suddenly. So suddenly in fact that the momentum of it made her gasp for breath. The way he looked at her was as if he had finally found not only a sibling, but a part of himself. Could he be the twin Lyanna had spoken of?
Jaime and she were two faces of the same coin, they were mirror images of one another. But the boy was different from the girl. He looked older. But then why would he have such a reaction to her? Cersei watched through her lashes as Lyanna, after having curtsied properly, walked forward, stopping a moment after her sibling made his way in.
Sixpence walked in front of his mistress, sniffing curiously. Cersei could not blame him for once. She waited with baited breath for the introductions to be made. Finally, she would have something to tell to her father. The boy glanced between her and Lyanna again and then the Prince laughed, an easy sign of amusement. more to put the guest at ease than anything else, Cersei suspected.
"Now, now," the King interrupted. "None of that. Lyanna, come here. We've brought someone here who wants to meet you."
It was quite clear from the look on the blind girl's face that she was flabbergasted. "Me?" she questioned. Of course, she knew that three persons had entered. She could tell how many persons entered, provided that their number was no large. It was a strange effect of being sightless, Cersei reckoned.
"Indeed, you," the Prince replied to her. Cersei's eyes were drawn to the proud, tall figure. She hid a smile by biting the inside of her cheek. He was simply wonderful. There was no other man to equal him in the Seven Kingdoms and beyond.
And someday soon, she would be his wife. Her father had promised. She took a deep breath, willing him to look at her as well. She stared, wide-eyed and lovingly, but he seemed not to feel her gaze linger. Disappointment crashed through her, yet she would not despair. Lyanna Stark had been a sister to him for many a year. Cersei having just appeared in his life would not gain the same attention. It was comforting. Instead she allowed her smile to bloom, like a pretty flower spreading its petals to the gentle rays of the sun.
"Come, don't just stand there, boy," the King spoke out again, distracting Cersei. "Speak."
The guest walked past the King, approaching Lyanna slowly. Sixpence miraculously hopped away just a little. "My lady," he began, voice cracking slightly, "my name is Eddard Stark." Ah, but he was a blunt one. Little blind Lyanna breathed in loudly, her hand shooting forward without direction. Eddard Stark's own hand reached out to meet hers. "I am your brother."
"My brother," she repeated, her own voice a bit high. Her slender shoulders shook with emotion and indeed her whole body followed suit. Finger wrapped tightly around his hand, she turned her face towards Cersei. "Look, Lady Cersei. My brother is here."
"So he is," Cersei offered, suddenly a bit shy as all eyes turned towards her. Embarrassment coloured her cheeks when she understood that she had been quite forgotten. "So he is, Lady Lyanna. Your brother."
"Perhaps we should leave them for a few moments," the Prince suggested. He was still looking at Cersei as he spoke. "Lady Lannister, if you would be so kind." He offered her his arm. Cersei nodded her head and with a smile walked towards him.
Tall for her age, and much taller than Lyanna Stark, who despite being a mere year her junior, was of a slight built, Cersei nearly reached the level of the Prince's shoulder. She placed her hand gently upon his arms and smiled at his dreamily. The Prince, however, had returned his eyes to Lyanna and her brother.
"Eddard Stark, bring your sister to the gardens when you no longer wish to sit in," he said. The King was nodding his head in agreement. Come to think of it, the king had done very little but watch the scene unfold. Something unpleasant crawled into Cersei's heart, s shadow of doubt. But she would not have it, With a decisive rebuttal to her wayward fears she turned her thoughts back to the joy that awaited her. Nay, there could not be what she thought she saw. Her eyes were deceiving her. 'Twas all there was to it.
"Come then. Let us depart." So spoke the King and they turned towards the door. "Sixpence," His Majesty called after the three-legged creature, "you too." The dog's ears flattened and he gave a low whine. He was however called again and he bounded away as had been demanded of him.
She had not managed to obtain any information from the Prince. Cersei sat on the edge of the bed in her father's bedchamber. It was no less than her duty to visit her parent when she could and given that she had been released from her duties to Lyanna for some time, she thought she would speak to her father. He was, however, not n his rooms, though the guards had admitted her in without blinking an eye.
Apparently, the Hand of the king was detained by business. The servant she had sent with word of her arrival returned with the answer that she was to wait upon her father's pleasure until he could come and converse with her. Given no other instruction, Cersei had gone into the bedchamber and remained waiting.
Soon enough, footsteps in the hallway alerted her to the presence of another. The door opened with a low sound and in came a heedful of shining golden tresses and a face similar to her own. Jaime smiled at her from the doorway, his grin at once full of hope and desire. He entered the room and closed the door softly behind him.
"I've been wondering when you would come," he breathed out silently. "Father has been waiting and wondering too." Those words produced a smile on her own face. At last, her father saw her value. "I've missed you, sister."
Cersei beckoned him over. "And I have missed you." Jaime sat next to her on the edge of the bed. She leaned against him, her head meeting his shoulder. He was about her height, both of them lean and golden. If it were Rhaegar, the shoulders would be wider, the voice deeper. But it was her brother, her sweet Jaime. "You cannot know how much I've missed you."
"Is Lady Lyanna that bad?" he japed. Jaime has seem the blind girl just once and it had been in the throne room, at the side of Prince Daeron who has, for some reason incomprehensible to Cersei, been allowed to observe the proceedings. "I wouldn't have said. Such a small thing, she is." Her brother looked down at his hands and Cersei followed his gaze. "I could probably lift her up with one hand only."
"She's a fool, that one," Cersei countered. "But she is the Queen's pet. Some say that she is a sorceress, you know. They say she healed all the King's sons born after Prince Rhaegar." Odd, that bit of information. What did the other matter? They would not be ascending to the throne. If anything, it was Rhaegar they needed to care most for.
"Sorcery? I doubt that," Jaime laughed. "But she doesn't matter anyway." He leaned in and pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth. "She is no match for you, my dear sister. And when the Queen tires of her, they shall send her back to the frozen lands she came from."
Rewarding him with a kiss of her own, Cersei caught his face between her hands and slid her lips to his. She did not close her eyes as he did. She wanted to see him. It was like looking into a mirror. She loved it. She loved that about them. They broke apart for breath a few moments after.
"I love you," she told him, threading her fingers through his in a loving manner. Words of love were spoken seldom between them and only when they were sure no one heard them. It was only safe if they did it so. The last time they'd been caught, by their mother no less, they had been separated until her death.
"And I love you as well," Jaime returned her confession. His arms came around her, pulling her further into him. "I love you more than anyone else."
"I know." And he would do anything for her. But that was Jaime. She knew she could always count on him. It was comforting knowing she had his undivided loyalty. Nothing could ever come between them. They had been born together, he following her into life as he would follow her into death if need be. "Have you no idea when father is returning?"
"Nay, I know not." His response was swiftly brushed away in favour of curious lips meeting once again in a game they knew all too well. Cersei felt him shift his position and her body followed his retreating form.
"Running away from me, are you, brother?" she laughed. From outside a ray of sunshine slashed into the room, falling on his face. He laughed at her words and shook his head. "I say you are," she challenged."
"I am not," he insisted and lunged for her. Nimble, Cersei escaped him. She was retreating and he was following. They nearly tumbled over the edge but Jaime caught her in time and pulled her up. "Careful," he warned.
Cersei nodded. But she was more amused than anything else. And she trusted him. "I always am," she answered. Her arms wound around him and pulled him down. "I hope father stays away until the morrow comes." But that was not to be. They both knew it. Still, until they heard footsteps from the hallway they could well play some more.
"We should tell him to return us to the Rock." The suggestion made Cersei shake her head. "Why not? We could be together there."
"Oh, Jaime. My foolish brother. He would not send us back to the Rock." She sighed deeply. "And he will not allow us to be together. But I shall find a way. I promise."
But the sincerity of the moment was lost in peals of laughter. All of Cersei's protests were met with the insistence of her brother. By the end of it they were both laughing, two lion cubs playing in the sun. There could be nothing better than that. And Cersei promised herself that she would never lose the feeling.
But then another arrival was signalled by sounds coming from behind the door. She broke away from Jaime and pushed him a bit away. Thankfully, they had enough time to straighten their clothing before Tywin Lannister made his way into the dimly lit room.
"I find you together, I see." His eyes fell upon them disapprovingly.