It was the day before the southern lot were due to leave. I was up early to see the hunt off which meant by afternoon I was seeking out my bed again. I had, Maester Luwin estimated, about four weeks left, and all I was fit for was taking long naps and occasionally surfacing to eat.

Jaime was in his room, which I passed through to get to my own chamber. 'You're not hunting?' I said. He was changing his tunic.

'Too fed up to even be polite about it now,' he said. 'I think your lord father wishes he could do the same.'

'He's not a big hunter.'

I watched him fiddle with cufflinks for a moment.

'He tells me I'm to take his bastard into my household. I don't have a household.'

'Don't call him that.' Jon had agreed to be my guard.

'What am I supposed to call him?

'I don't know, Jon?'

'I also gather there will be no betrothal ceremony.'

'Between who?' I said innocently.

'Tut tut, don't lie. Sansa won't have the pleasure of being Joffrey's bride.'

'Sansa is delicate and would not be able for a life at court just yet.' That was the official line; she had certainly demonstrated a delicate bout of hysterics on receiving the news.

'More's the pity. Perhaps we can fix Joff up with Arya.'

'Can you imagine?' I said. 'Arya and Tommen, now that might be sweet.'

'What's wrong with your crown prince? Does he have some hidden flaw I've missed?' Jaime's eyes twinkled. I don't know why he was in such a jovial mood. He looked quite golden, quite boyish, glowing and well-dressed. He was so tall now I measured him against Northmen.

'The only problem with Joffrey,' I said, and paused to check I had his full attention. He raised his eyebrows - 'What?'

'Well he's got a subnormal number of grandparents, and I think it upsets him.'

His face clouded instantly. 'Don't.'

'Most people have four, and he's only had two, isn't that sad?'

'I said leave it.'

'Or what? You think that doesn't have something to do with him?' I asked, now cold. 'His grandparents were cousins, his parents-'

'Don't,' he hissed, looking around. 'I didn't ask for your judgement, your-'

'Well, you've got it, it's revolting.' Where was this coming from? I found myself breathing heavily. 'Your own sister, couldn't you have found anybody else?'

'Keep your voice down. You're a child, you don't understand, you've never been in love.'

'I hope I never am if it means I'd have to fuck my brother.'

His face wound into an ugly snarl at that. 'Look, Cersei and I are different, we're two sides of the same coin, we- Look, I don't know why I'm defending myself to you. You're not saying anything I couldn't have thought of myself, I don't care what you think.'

'Would you care if I told people?' I sat on the end of his bed. I was tired standing and concentrated very hard not to let myself shake. I tried to fix him with the stare of the northborn, radiate my hate.

'You wouldn't do it,' he said. 'You know it's not in your interest.'

'Maybe I don't care. Maybe I'm just a do-gooder loyal to the crown.'

'Well go ahead. It's not my revenge you have to worry about if you do. I'm leaving. You've made me dreadfully late for an appointment with my sister.'

'The gods will strike you down even if I don't,' I said as he moved to leave; one last hollow threat. He let out a bark of laughter. 'The gods are dead,' he called behind.

Be a chill m8 and leave a review xxx