Having the Royal Family present in Casterly Rock was an experience that Cersei thought she'd never get over. She'd met them once before when she'd been very young and that had been in King's Landing. She'd been impressed with the splendour of the capital, but hadn't thought it anything compared to the Rock. How naïve she had been! The Prince was as handsome as she remembered, more so, and Princess Shaena was even more beautiful than she had been all those years ago. Cersei wasn't sure she was jealous of the Princess, she was a Targaryen after all, it was only right that she marries her brother the Prince, no, Cersei was beginning to think she was more jealous of the Prince for getting to spend so much time with the Princess, she wasn't sure why she felt like that, only that she did. It was something to consider for later.

Right now, though she was with her mother and so she asked. "Mama, if Prince Rhaegar is marrying Princess Shaena, and Jaime is marrying Princess Daenerys, who will I marry?"

Cersei was thankful that Mama was not like any of the other ladies she had met. The other ladies would've made some silly noise about that and then fussed about her and ignored her question. Mama merely considered the question for a moment before responding. "Someone kind and smart and brave. Someone worthy of you, sweetling."

"Does that mean I will have to wait a long time before I can be betrothed?" Cersei asked, and as she did so, she found that she did not really mind.

"I think so yes. Does that bother you?" Mama asked.

Cersei shook her head. "No, I'm glad. It means I get more time to think about what I want to learn before it does actually happen." That was important to her. Jaime was so very excited to be marrying Princess Daenerys, but he had not thought about the things he would need to know before he could marry her. Cersei knew that as a boy Jaime could get away with that. But Cersei as a girl could not. She would need to know almost everything there was to know before she could get married. No husband would want a wife who was stupid, after all.

Mama nodded approvingly. "And what things do you still wish to know? You know about how to keep track of things in the accounts, you are better than even your uncle Damon at managing the flow of money…" Cersei beamed with pride at that, it had taken her a long time to figure that out. "So, what more is there that you wish to know?"

Cersei thought about the question for a moment and then said. "I would like to learn how to ride properly. Not just side saddle, but to actually ride. I cannot be a good wife if I cannot go out hunting with him and ensure that he gets the right food for us to have for dinner." That was important, though she made sure to grin to make sure Mama knew that she was at least partially joking.

Mama grinned. "Well, I suppose that can be arranged. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to be able to learn how to ride once the royal party has gone." There was a pause and then Mama asked. "How are you finding it? Having the royal family here? Is it as good as you hoped it would be?"

Cersei nodded enthusiastically. "It is really good Mama, really good. I feel that there are more things to talk about with Princess Shaena and Princess Daenerys than there are some of the noble girls that come through the Rock." Certainly, more than there was to talk about with Melara Heatherspoon and Jane Farman, but she did not say that out loud. "We talked about Princess Naerys and the Princesses in the Tower the other day." That had been a very interesting conversation. Princess Shaena had found Princess Daena's conduct unbecoming, whilst Princess Daenerys had thought that Princess Daena should have simply killed her brother and been done with it.

"And what conclusions did you reach after speaking with the Princesses?" Mama asked.

"That there is more than one view over just what happened with the Princesses in the Tower. That because none of them left any actual accounts and the fact that Princess Naerys did not really speak much about anything, we can never really know for sure just what happened." Cersei said, and then added. "So, in contrast to what Maester Creylen says."

Mama laughed. "Of course. Maester Creylen is but one man, sweetling, he is going to teach you what he knows and present you opportunities to question him. You must do so if you think it would be beneficial to do so."

Cersei nodded. "Yes Mama." She glanced at the window outside and then asked. "Might I go Mama. I'm going to meet with Princess Shaena and Princess Daenerys and we're going to go wandering through the castle."

Mama nodded and smiled. "Of course, have fun sweetling and be safe."

Cersei smiled and stood up and kissed her Mama's cheek before turning and walking out of the room. She walked through the corridors, passed courtiers who gave her a glance and nothing more, passed men who were doing things with women that she knew would have their parts removed if Papa or Mama saw them. She stopped when she got to the Princesses' rooms and knocked once and then twice. The door opened and Princess Shaena stood there, dressed in red and black, her hair done in a nice braid. "Are you ready, Princess?" Cersei asked, trying to fight down the swooping sensation she felt.

The Princess smiled. "Yes, of course." She turned back and said. "Dany, come on let's go."

Princess Daenerys appeared then, dressed in silver and violet and smiled at her, Cersei smiled in return and then they walked out of the room. Ser Gyles of the Kingsguard and ten other guards accompanying them. They walked down the steps, and then out the door into the Stone Garden. Princess Daenerys spoke then her voice filled with question. "How old is the Stone Garden?"

"Around six thousand years old." Cersei said, she knew because Ned had told her. "I think that it was here before the castle."

"Wow!" Princess Daenerys said. "Is it a natural creation or a man made one?"

Cersei did not know that and she knew Ned did not know that, so really she was somewhat floating empty here. She decided to answer with what she thought would be the right answer. "I think it was a natural creation. Most of what we see here is a natural creation only the odd thing is manmade, and that's because either the Casterlys or the Lannisters wanted to make more of a statement."

Princess Daenerys looked around the garden again and exhaled. "That's really, really something." There was a brief pause and then she turned to Princess Shaena and asked. "Do you think we'll be here for another moon?"

Cersei felt her heart flip then, she really hoped so. She wanted to get to know her future goodsister and the future Queen a bit better, why should Jaime get to have all the fun after all? Princess Shaena was slow to respond, her words considered. "I think we might be getting that chance. I heard from a page that there's supposed to be another tourney happening."

"Really?!" Cersei and Princess Daenerys exclaimed. She'd not heard about that.

"I think so yes. From what I was told the first tourney was to celebrate the King and his Hand and welcome us to the Rock. This tourney will be held to celebrate our two families and the union that symbolises our strength." The Princess said.

Cersei looked at Princess Daenerys and smiled at the princess who smiled back. Then she looked at the Princess Shaena and saw an odd expression on her face. Quietly she asked. "You do not think there will be another tourney?"

Princess Shaena was hesitant for a moment and then she sighed. "I do not know. I was told that there would be people from all over Westeros coming to attend the tourney. And whilst I know that the Rock is big enough to host most, I am not sure there is enough food supply to make it worthwhile. Nor am I entirely sure that the person who told me this can be relied on to be truthful. After all, if there was going to be another tourney, the King would've said something, or Lord Tywin would have."

Cersei thought about that and then nodded, it made sense after all. Princess Daenerys spoke then. "Who was it who told you about this?"

"Garett." Princess Shaena replied a slight blush on her cheeks.

Princess Daenerys squealed then. "Garett!" another squeal and then. "Surely you know he can't be trusted for anything. Especially when it comes to you, Shae?!"

Princess Shaena blushed again and Cersei found her curiosity piqued. Quietly she asked. "Who is Garett?"

"Garett Peake. He's a page in the royal household. He comes from a minor branch of the House of Peake and really he thinks he's something more than what he is. And that comes from the fact that I smiled at him once and said thank you for something. Now he spends most of his time trying to impress me with things that are usually lies." Princess Shaena replied.

There was a blush spreading over the Princess's cheeks and Cersei found herself asking. "If that's the case, why do you believe him here, when he said there might be another tourney?"

The Princess sighed. "I don't know. I guess, I thought that things might've changed. Rhaegar had spoken to him and he said that Garett had changed. And I don't know, it was silly of me."

There was a brief pause and then Cersei spoke again. "I've heard most of the House of Peake can't really be trusted anyway. Something about them all being liars."

Princess Shaena laughed. "That's true." Another pause and then she said. "Now, Cersei, I've heard that there is some sort of fortune teller in Lannisport, do you wish to visit them?"

Cersei had heard about this fortune teller. Some lady from Essos, who had plied her trade throughout the Seven Kingdoms. She had made her home in Lannisport some five years ago. Mama had always told Cersei not to go and visit her or believe whatever nonsense she heard from such people. But Cersei also knew it would be a crime to refuse the Princess and so she nodded and said. "Of course, Princess. Shall I let the guards know?"

The Princess shook her head and said. "No, no need to. Ser Gyles here will tell them."

The white knight of the Kingsguard nodded and walked off, a few moments later they walked out of the Stone Gardens and into the corridor proper, as they made their way to the tunnels where the horses would be waiting Ser Gyles found them. Alongside him were several gold cloaks and several red cloaks, and Cersei could've groaned with anger then, Jane Farman and Melara Heatherspoon as well. Cersei nodded to them and then took the lift down to the tunnels, where she then mounted a horse and began the quick journey out of the tunnel down the slope and into the city. They dismounted outside the Seven Gate, left their horses with Ser Stafford, her Mama's brother, and then walked into the city.

Lannisport was bustling with activity. There were merchants calling out for the sale of their wares, there were women calling out for the sale of sweets and fruit and drinks. There were children running through the street playing games and doing all kinds of other things. Cersei walked with confidence through the streets, ignoring the whispers and the looks, she knew roughly where the witch's shop was, she'd heard about it and turned right down Slater's Alley, and then left into Guild Corner and there it was, the shop. It was more of a shack than anything else, she stood before it and asked the Princess. "Do you wish to go in?"

"Yes." The Princess said and so they walked into the shop, the door clinging with bells as they did so.

An old woman appeared then, her skin brown and fading, her hair tangled in webs of silver and black and her eyes were slumped and big. "Well, what do you want?"

Cersei shared a look of disbelief with the Princess, could this old hag really be a fortune teller. She moved forward and the old woman's head snapped forward to look at her. "We wanted to know whether you are really a fortune teller, or just a fraud."

The woman straightened then as if insulted. "I am Maggy the Maege, I have come from a line of seers that spans back long before the first men lived in Westeros. So, if you wish to know the future then you are in the right place." There was a long pause and then the woman looked at Cersei and said. "You are filled with love and hate. You resent your brother and you idolise your father and mother. You want to be more than you can ever be. It will eat you inside and spit you out."

"I do not understand." Cersei answered honestly.

The woman, Maggy snorted. "Of course not. You are a child. But remember this, Cersei, you are a woman who will have many things go right for her, but before they do, they will go wrong and you will want to die."

Cersei felt as if she'd been hit in the stomach. "How do you know my name?"

The woman snorted again. "I know all of your names. Princess Shaena, come to hear whether there is truth in the prophecy." Cersei saw the Princess move slightly, uncomfortable. "I will tell you this. There will be children and there will be war. The Rat might be tamed, but the Hawk and the Pig are still at large and they will continue to wreak havoc until the Brotherhood is ready to emerge from the shadows. And you, Princess Shaena will play the largest role possible."

"What nonsense is this? What are you talking about? The Rat, the Hawk and the Pig are nothing more than a fairy tale." Princess Shaena said. "A story told to ensure that nobody got too many ideas. They were destroyed long ago."

The woman laughed, or cackled she was not sure which was the more appropriate word to use. "Ah, child, you think that that is the case? You are not as silly as that to believe such a lie. They haunt the waking fabric of the Targaryen dynasty, as they have done since they first came to be with the Vulture King. And they will continue to haunt the dynasty until all is said and done, and the ground is littered with bodies."

Princess Shaena sighed. "I knew this would be a mistake. Come , Dany, Cersei let us go." The Princess turned and left the store, the door clinging as she walked out. Cersei followed shortly after, after seeing the woman looking at her with something akin to manic laughter in her face, that worried her. As they walked back through the streets, the Princess spoke again. "I knew I shouldn't have come. Mother was right. These people do not know what they're talking about."

"Why did you want to go and see her, Princess?" Cersei asked. She was still a little unsure of herself, and what the woman had meant by the things she'd said. Something was playing in the back of her mind, a memory of something, and she had to remember where it came from, for she did not think it was genuine.

"I do not know." The Princess sighed. "I thought it might be an interesting experience, but I was wrong. Never mind, there will always be other times to discuss things of importance."

Cersei nodded and they were silent again, Princess Shaena looked as if there were countless things on her mind, and Princess Daenerys face was unreadable. Cersei found herself struggling with the words that the woman had said. The way she had said them made her think that the woman truly believed them, but she was not sure why she would. It had been foolish to go there, that much was for sure. Foolish and not right and Mama would be disappointed in her for going, for entertaining such foolishness. She sighed and got on her horse, said goodbye to Ser Stafford and then kicked her horse onward, biting her tongue against how uncomfortable it was.

As they rode, Princess Daenerys spoke. "What did she mean when she said that the Rat, the Hawk and the Pig were related to the Vulture King? I thought the Vulture King was just some mad Dornishman the first time and the second time. Definitely not worth mentioning again. The Rat, the Hawk and the Pig were threats that harmed the royal family directly."

"She seemed mad. Did you see her eyes?" Cersei pointed out. "I think she was speaking nonsense." She certainly hoped so, the alternative was not something she wanted to think about.

"Yes, she was definitely mad. The rat, the hawk and the pig were things that hurt our great-grandfather and his grandfather not anybody else. They've been dead for decades; they aren't relevant anymore. I think she was a madwoman." Princess Shaena agreed.

"Will you tell the King, Shaena?" Princess Daenerys asked.

Cersei looked at the Princess and she realised then that the words the woman had said had been borderline treasonous and therefore as good subjects they would have tell the King, but then they would need to admit to going to see her and that would cause all kinds of other issues. She was very impressed when the Princess said. "I will tell him a version of what happened. And you shall all agree with me should he ask."

"Of course, Princess." Cersei said at once, to question the decision would be wrong. Still the woman's words echoed in her head as they got off their horses and took the lift back to the Rock proper.