Hello everyone! Thank you for reading, and all your reviews and favs are most welcome!
Love,
TLC
The road to King's Landing made for wearisome travel.
Her father's duties had taken them up the Riveroad, which delayed a fortnight their arrival to the capital, to Cersei's dismay. The first days of travel had seemed exciting, sleeping in pavilions and spending most of their days on the road... At first, Cersei had even insisted on riding, despite the septa's recommendations, but soon found herself sore, her back and neck hurt from the riding, and had relented to travel in the ornate wagon Lord Tywin had commanded be prepared for their use. She had thought lord Tywin would keep her by his side, at the head of the column, but she had been disappointed on that front: she spent most of her days with Septa Saranella, while Lord Tywin spoke with his captains and guards.
Today, the Tumblestone would come within their sight, and Riverrun as well. For this reason, Cersei was once again riding her mare, closely followed by her septa.
"Riverrun lies between the Tumblestone and the Red Fork," instructed her septa. "It's a three-sided castle, and only its west wall faces land. Still, a great moat grants Riverrun protection. When in danger, the lords of Riverrun can command the ditch to be open, and fill the moat. This way, Riverrun is completely surrounded by water, and thus..."
"...making it unassailable," finished Cersei.
A cry caught Cersei's attention, as a red cloak rode all the way down the column, bidding them to stop in the name of the King's Hand. The caravan stopped swiftly, and Cersei pulled the reins on her mare, as her septa did the same with her donkey. The air was filled almost instantly with the rush of half a hundred voices, moving fast to make the best of the little respite they were given. Septa Saranella proceeded to climb down from her grey donkey, as one of the knights offered to help Cersei down from her mount.
"Thank you, ser," said Cersei, courteously, as the man helped her down. She analyzed the young man's face, with scrutiny. "May I know your name, ser?"
"The knight is Ser Lyle Crakehall, my lady," said her septa, before the young man could speak, "second son of Lord Roland Crakehall, your father's bannerman." The knight smiled at that.
"At your service, my lady," he bowed his head. "The other knights prefer to call me Strongboar, though." Cersei's eyes traveled to the man's shoulder, where a silver, boar shaped pin kept his cloak in place.
"None so fierce," recited Cersei. "Are you in the service of my father, ser?"
"Only for a couple of moonturns now, my lady."
"Do you intend to accompany us to King's Landing?" asked Cersei. She could see, from the corner of her eye, Septa Saranella's mouth tightening with disapproval. She decided to ignore it.
"Only if your father commands me so, my lady. I'm your father's man, to do as he bids me to."
"A fine answer," declared Cersei, with a smile. "I hope he does, as you seem the kind of westermen my father needs among his guard." At that, the septa clacked her tongue.
"It is not your place to question your father's decisions, Cersei," she scolded.
"My lady!" called someone, from the van of the column. Cersei turned to see the man walking towards them, taking his helm off. Captain Vylarr, she thought, as the man held his helm below his arm. "Lady Cersei, your lord father wishes to sup with you," said the captain, handsome in his crimson cloak.
"Thank you, captain," said Cersei, smiling to the man charmingly. She turned to meet her septa's face, who gave a little nod.
Her eyes found Strongboar, who bowed to her once more.
"I'm pleased I met you, Ser."
"It was my honor, my lady." Captain Vylarr made a dismissive gesture to the knight, and turned to face Cersei once more.
"With me, if you will, my lady." Cersei followed the man to the head of the column, where her father rode. Men had already lit fires, and prepared to cook whatever game the hunters had managed to get. Cersei spotted her father's gelding being fed, and beside the beast, a crimson tent had been raised. Surrounded by red cloaks on duty, her father was sitting on a wide bench, peeling an apple with his knife, a sober table of dark wood in front of him. As they got closer, the guards only raised their eyes for a heartbeat, before letting them through.
"My lord, the lady Cersei," announced captain Vylarr. His lordship's eyes met Cersei's, and gestured for her to come closer.
"Good day father," greeted Cersei, giving lord Tywin a kiss on the cheek.
"Sit, child." Cersei did as she was bid, sitting across the table. "Are you hungry?"
"Only a little." Lord Tywin's pale eyes seemed to examine her.
"Have you been eating well?" he asked, cutting the apple in half. Cersei noticed today he was wearing the chain of the Hand of the King around his neck.
"Everything is fine, father."
"Good. I know it may be hard for you to ride this hard, but I have pressing matters to attend."
"I don't mind the riding," she said, shrugging. "I do get bored alone with the septa." Her father nodded, and Cersei kept on. "I was wondering if it was possible for me to stay in the head of the column, as your cupbearer." Lord Tywin dismissed the thought with a flick of the wrist.
"You will ride in the heart of the column, protected by the guards, as a lady should. The van is no place for a woman."
"But father..."
"I will not discuss it any further," her father interrupted, and Cersei fell quiet. "Still, we must be at Riverrun by sunset, my scouts tell me. You can ride in the head the rest of the way." He offered Cersei half the apple.
"Thank you, father."
"I mean to accept the hospitality of Lord Hoster for a few days. We have matters to discuss." Cersei took a small bite, and nodded. "Lord Hoster has two daughters, around your age. They should keep you entertained, at least for the time." Her father's guards let in the cook and a couple of lads, bringing them their supper. Her father stood silent as they were served potted hare and mashed yellow turnips with butter, as well as a salad of spinach and chopped carrots.
"Bring us watered wine as well," commanded Lord Tywin. After they were served, her father continued. "I could offer Tully to foster one of the girls, to keep you company in the Red Keep."
Cersei lowered her eyes and occupied herself cutting her meat. After what had happened with Melaria and Jeyne, she wasn't so sure she wanted more girls close to her. More than anything she missed her cousins, but she wasn't sure his father would be willing to summon them to King's Landing with her. Still, she said nothing. She knew it wouldn't do to argue with her father even before she met the Tully girls.
"Do you have news, about uncle Stafford's babe?" Her father gave her an odd look, almost curious.
"A girl. Myrielle, they have named her." Cersei smiled at that. Devan would be pleased.
"Can I write to my cousins? When we reach Riverrun?"
"I don't see why not. I'll make sure Lord Hoster's maester provides you with ink and parchment." Lord Tywin took a bite off the hare's leg, before asking. "Will you be writing to your cousins often?" Cersei just shrugged. "When we reach King's Landing, I'll tell the steward to keep your chamber provided with everything you need." Cersei thanked her father with a smile.
"How long will it take to get to King's Landing?" she asked, as her father sipped his wine.
"Another fortnight at least," said lord Tywin. "I sent word ahead, so your chambers will be ready by the time we get there. Are you pleased?"
"I am, father. Thank you."
By the time Cersei was back to her mare and to Septa Saranella, the men had already packed their pots and quenched their fires. Captain Vylarr had sent one of his men to get both the horse and the septa, so Cersei wouldn't have to walk back to the heart of the column.
Cersei heard the rush of the Tumblestone before she could see it. It was certainly something to look at, its blue-and-white current threatening. They rode within the sight of the river for a couple of hours, before a cry grabbed their attention.
Atop a black stallion, a handsome knight awaited. Behind him, half a score of guards and a standard-bearer followed. The man held a double banner high in the air: the leaping trout of house Tully, and below, a black device Cersei did not recognise.
"Lord Tywin!" the knight greeted from the distance, as he galloped the rest of the way.
"Ser Brynden." Lord Tywin let the man approach him. The Blackfish, thought Cersei, curious. The man was famous for his prowess at battle, as well for his refusal to take a bride. Cersei had heard the washerwomen in the Rock talking heatedly of him. He seemed a comely man to Cersei, his red beard a fiery thing.
"I welcome you to Riverrun," said the man, gesturing towards the castle behind him with an ample motion. "On my brother's behalf, I came to escort you the rest of the way."
"Thank you, Ser Brynden," said her father. He spurred his gelding to move up besides the Blackfish, and the rest of the column followed.
"How was the road?" asked the knight, politely.
"Without incidents," said Lord Tywin "No outlaws whatsoever."
"I'm please to hear it. Outlaws had been growing bold this days. The so-called Brotherhood of the Kingswood..."
"Peasants," deemed Lord Tywin with disdain. "Bold, as you name them, but peasants all the same."
"Not all of them, to hear the smallfolk talking," continued Ser Brynden. "We have been informed that Simon Toyne is leading them."
"House Toyne had been known as a nest of traitors since the times of Aegon the Unworthy," said Lord Tywin. "Stripped of their lands and titles. This man... Simon, might wear the name of his forebears, but he is a far cry from a lord."
"Who is this man, Simon Toyne?" asked Cersei to her septa, in a low voice.
"House Toyne was a highborn family from the stormlands," informed the septa, eyeing Lord Tywin as he continued to speak with the Blackfish. "The last lord of that name was executed for treason."
"Treason?" The septa nodded, but did not elaborate any further, to Cersei's irritation.
"I assure you, the king's men will put an end to this... Brotherhood of the Kingswood."
"I pray they do, and soon," continued the Blackfish.
The gates of Riverrun stood before them, its portcullis raised up and the wooden bridge down, over the dry moat that covered the west wall of the castle. As they crossed ahorse, Cersei glimpsed the sluice gates containing the Tumblestone and the Red Fork at both sides. It was a dwarf castle, compared to the Rock... But then again, all castles would seem small to her, except maybe for Harrenhal. Below the gate, the lord of Riverrun and his household waited for them.
"Lord Hoster," greeted Lord Tywin, climbing down from his horse. Captain Vylarr rushed to help Cersei down from her mount, as the riverlord saluted back.
"My lord hand," said the man. Behind him, his redheaded children awaited. The two girls seemed close to Cersei's age, as father had told her, and the babe was a boy of age maybe with her cousin Lyonel. Their septa and maester stood right behind them, as well as another man whose rank Cersei could not figure out.
"Well, you already know my brother, Ser Brynden Tully... My children," continued Tully, turning to name them. "Catelyn, Lysa, and my heir, Edmure." Each child bowed in time, and lord Tywin nodded in approval.
"A pleasure. My maiden daughter, Cersei Lannister." It was Cersei's time to bow. Her septa silently took her place besides her, a grey shadow.
"A beautiful maid. She has your lady wife's look," complimented Lord Hoster. Cersei smiled at him.
"You are too kind, my lord."
"The hospitality of Riverrun is yours, my lord hand," said Tully, turning his attention to her father once more.
"I will accept it gladly," said Lord Tywin soberly. "My daughter is not used to the road, and I believe she has found our travel quite wearisome."
"Come inside, then. We have a feast prepared," said Lord Hoster. He gestured to the men between the septa and maester, bidding him to come closer. "This is my steward, Ser Utherydes of house Wayn. See that his belongings are taken care of."
"Cat, Lysa," called the Blackfish. The older girl nodded, and turned to face Cersei.
"Will you walk with us, Cersei?" Lord Hoster and her father were already walking with long strides down the hall, followed closely by the maester.
"Of course. Thank you."
"Can I come as well?" asked the little boy, before being hushed by his nursemaid.
"You will come with me, little lord," said the woman affectionately, taking the child's hand. Edmure did not seem too happy, and began to throw a tantrum, but eventually gave up and followed his nursemaid. They began to walk down the hall, followed by both septas.
"Forgive my brother," apologized Catelyn. "Edmure can be very stubborn, but I believe all little boys are."
"They usually are," agreed Cersei, thinking of her younger brother. Catelyn smiled gently at that.
"How was the road?" she asked, and Cersei sighed.
"Boring, mostly."
"Why are you traveling with your father?" asked Lysa, curious. Catelyn turned to face her, a disapproving look in her blue eyes.
"Don't be rude, sister," she scolded, but Lysa paid her no mind. Cersei looked back, and saw both septas had fallen behind.
"We are heading to King's Landing," said Cersei. "Only father had matters to attend here at Riverrun."
"What kind of matters?" asked Lysa.
"None that you should concern yourself with," said Catelyn, before Cersei could speak.
"My father's affairs are between him and the king," she said finally, to Lysa's disappointment. Catelyn gave Cersei something akin to a apologizing look.
"Do not think ill of us, Cersei," said Catelyn later that night, as she showed Cersei to her chambers. "Lysa has always been of a rather impulsive nature. And since our mother died... well, she doesn't listen to me or the septa, and father doesn't find in his heart to chastise her."
Cersei's green eyes followed the Tully girl, and she felt something like pity for the Tully children. It cannot be easy, growing up without a mother.
"Do not apologize," said Cersei. She hesitated for a heartbeat. "Your lady mother... was it recently?" Catelyn shrugged.
"A couple of years ago. Edmure had not yet seen his forth nameday... She died in childbirth. Our little brother only lived a few days."
"I'm sorry to hear it." Catelyn gave her a sad smile at that. The door opened, and the Tully's septa peeped shyly from the entrance.
"Lady Catelyn..."
"Yes, septa. I'm almost done." Catelyn turned to face Cersei. "If you need anything..." Cersei nodded, and thanked her. "On the morrow we could go hawking, if you like."
"It would be my pleasure." Getting back on her mare was the last thing Cersei wanted, but she did not find in herself to reject the girl.
As septa Saranella helped her out of her gown, Cersei's mind wandered. If it came to that, Cersei was almost certain she would choose Catelyn for her companion. The girl seemed amiable and correct, if only a little bit older than Cersei herself. Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad thing, having her a her companion.