The Twins

Boudicca Baratheon

"Gentle Mother, strength of women,
Help our daughters through this fray.
Soothe the wrath and tame the fury,
Teach us all a kinder w-way..."

Boudicca murmured softly, rocking her back and forth as she stared blankly out at the river. She let her sister's blonde head rest against her shoulder and made little to no attempt to move. Her little brother caught her attention and she watched as he sat closer to them, his face red as he sniffed. Tommen was hurt but she could not find it within herself to offer him any words of comfort. Boudicca stroked her sister's hair and went back to humming the soft softly, she couldn't comprehend how she felt, all she felt was numb. It felt as if nothing mattered anymore.

A hand was suddenly placed on her shoulder, causing her head to snap up and she came face to face with Ser Davos and he appeared to have tears threatening to spill from his eyes. She shot him a wild look as he tried to pry her arms away from her sister but she struggled against him fiercely. No! Boudicca thought frantically as she held her frail little sister tighter to her body. I can't leave her alone!

"Boudicca-" He began but she shook her head vigorously as tears fell down her face. "You must let her go."

"No," Boudicca replied hoarsely, her voice barely above a whisper. "She will wake."

"Boudicca," Ser Davos said, his words causing a sob to escape her lips. "Myrcella's gone."

After that, Boudicca went limp and he grabbed her arms gently, slowly edging her away from her sister's body so that she fell gently to the ground with a soft thud. Ser Davos shrugged off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders so that she was unable to dig her nails into her flesh and instead, dug her nails into the fur around her shoulders. All she could do was stare at her sister's peaceful face, she watched her once beautiful sister turn a deathly pale. The eyes that mirrored her own met hers and she let out harsh sobs at the emptiness in them, collapsing against Ser Davos and cried into his shoulder.

"T-That's my sister!" She wept. "My little sister!"

"L-Look..." Sansa began, her voice trembling causing Boudicca to look up from Ser Davos and she stared intently at the auburn haired girl as she shakily reached out closed Myrcella's eyes. "There. Now it looks like she is asleep."

"The world cannot harm her anymore," Ser Barristan stated, causing her to nod softly.

"How?" Boudicca asked, looking to Ser Davos with cold eyes.

"Frey soldiers," He answered, his eyes remaining on Myrcella. "I failed you."

"No!" She seethed, sitting up and turned to face him fully. "We were betrayed. You did not fail me."

Boudicca let her eyes close, listening to the echoing chants in the distance and vengeance filled her pained and heavy heart. Boudicca could not say her sister's name without turning sad and after she turned sad, she began to grow angry. The sadness had gone and it left her with nothing but fury, a new found fury that was burning inside of her. She continued to stare down at her sister's body and slowly brought her brother into her embrace, letting his face bury into her chest as he cried. Boudicca let her eyes close once more and when she did so, she could still remember Robb's blue eyes staring into her own.

The Lannisters send their regards.

"I want to prepare her body," Boudicca whispered. "I wish to be alone. Leave me."

Boudicca placed her hand on the small swell of her belly, looking towards Sansa with a hardened look as the teary eyed girl bowed her head and took Tommen away with her, Ser Barristan trailed behind them, leading the horse away with his sword drawn and ready. The soldiers that had gathered to them and survived the slaughter, followed shortly after them but it was Ser Davos who stayed, loyally kneeling beside her and she reached over, cupping his bearded cheek.

"I will be alright," She urged. "I want to be alone."

"If you are sure, my Queen," He said with uncertainty.

"Yes. I want you to prepare the floating pyres," Boudicca commanded, her eyes trailing to the river where she noticed the rowboats.

Boudicca...

Ser Davos nodded, rising to his feet and he bowed to her before turning on his heel and made his way, following the flowing river towards the small rowboats. Boudicca stayed silent for a few moments, stifling her sobs and looked back to her sister, clutching the furs around her neck and shoulders tighter to her body. They have taken everything away from me, Boudicca thought impassively.

She thought on Lady Catelyn, on Jeyne and Beth, on Eva, on Grey Wind and Orion, on Myrcella...and on Robb. She looked down to the small swell of her stomach, the last ounce of hope she had was residing within her and she let her hand rest on her belly while she gazed down at her sister. I shall take everything from them. Their lands. Their titles. Their families. Their heads. I will have their skin. With that final thought, Boudicca set to work on preparing her sister's body, despite the pain she felt in her aching heart.

I don't care what anyone else thinks, what the Gods think or what the world thinks. I don't care what you have done, her sister's voice echoes painfully in her mind. I am lucky to have you. I'm glad that you are my sister.

Myrcella looked peaceful as if she were truly asleep like Sansa had said. Boudicca had covered her head to foot in flowers, trying to cover up the horrific wounds that were inflicted on her sister's body. Her yellow dress was like a golden shroud covering her sister's body along with her beautiful golden hair. Boudicca also braided her sister's blonde hair for the last and final time, weaving various wildflowers within her curly locks like she used to do with her sister. Boudicca could not feel anything anymore as she stared at her sister's body, she could not feel anything except a numbness.

It felt as if she were submerged in the icy waters of the river and she could not escape them. Boudicca dipped three fingers in her sister's blood and looked down at it impassively before stroking the three fingers down the left side of her face. She could not help but wonder how her sister died, it plagued her and consumed her whole. Was it agonising? Was she frightened? Was her death quick and painless? Was her death long and painful? Boudicca could not help but question herself.

I am a woman grown, Boudicca thought to herself. Yet here I stand while my sister and my husband are gone.

"They will pay dearly for this," Boudicca swore, moving a curl away from her sister's face as she pressed a final kiss to her sister's cold forehead. "I promise."

Boudicca felt hands clasp her shoulders, she shifted around to see Ser Davos standing above her. His brows were furrowed, his eyes were sad and angry. Boudicca rose to her feet and felt tears fall down her aching face once more. She could not stop the hurt in her heart, it hurt so much and she was so tired, it felt as if someone had dug their fingers into her chest and were squeezing her heart with sharp nails. Boudicca will end them, they will not live to see winter come after she has brought a storm to them, of ice and fire, of steel and blood.

I did not want to become my father, Boudicca thought bitterly. Robb is Lyanna. I am my father. And Roose Bolton is the Targaryen that took my wolf from me.

"I'm ready," Boudicca breathed, sucking in a sharp breath.

Boudicca watched as two soldiers of House Wylde came forward and lifted up Myrcella's body and carried her towards the funeral pyre that was made for her sister, that was floating by the river bank. Her brother and Sansa came back with Ser Barristan, who held a lit torch firmly in his hand. Boudicca walked between the reeds and entered the icy water with a gasp and continued to move through the rapid waters that almost swept her away until she was knee deep in water. She clutched the funeral pyre and stared as the soldiers lay her sister gently down in the boat, she placed Myrcella's hands on her chest delicately before removing the lion bracelet that she had given her sister and noticed it was covered in blood, her brows furrowed and she wiped the blood away before pressing a kiss to the cool and beautiful metal.

Boudicca let tears fall from her eyes, letting the mix with the icy water. She turned to face Sansa who was approaching her and she stared in confusion until the girl handed her two stones with blue dots. It wasn't what they had in the Sept of the Seven but it would do. The mashed blackberries had given them the dye needed for the small circular stones. Boudicca placed the stones on her sister's eyes before she gradually moved further into the water until she was waist deep within it and she turned to Ser Barristan and gave a firm nod.

"Burn it."

Ser Barristan nodded, leaning down and set the leaves and twigs that surrounded Myrcella alight. As the twigs and leaves caught, the edges of Myrcella's dress caught on fire too. Boudicca stood in the cold depth of the river in silence, watching the fire burn brighter and higher. She pushed Myrcella further down the river until she could no longer reach her little sister. Boudicca looked to her brother, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulled him into her side, embracing him tightly as he sobbed heavily.

Boudicca looked to her chest and stroked the silver direwolf pendant before she ripped it off her neck harshly, she felt a sting but found herself uncaring for it as she clenched it in her hand. All she had left of her sister was a bracelet and her favour and she took the cloth from the breast pocket of her dress and folded it, pressing it close to her mouth and sniffed it. It still smelt like her sister. Like flowers. Like spring. It smelt of everything good about her sister. Only monsters live, Boudicca thought. And I am a monster. A kinslayer. There is no justice in this world.

She could not breathe, her body could not take any more of the icy air in, her heart slowed down as she watched her sister's burning body float down the river. Boudicca wanted to feel something, anything...but she could not. There was nothing, only emptiness as she kept her brother in a firm embrace and led him out of the river and back onto the land, passing the soldiers that were kneeling at her feet.

"Do we have a messenger?" Boudicca began. "Do we have a raven?"

"Yes, my Lady. We do have a raven. Why do you ask?" A man responded, causing her eyes to flicker impassively towards him.


King's Landing

Cersei Lannister

Cersei felt a victorious and triumphant smile creep onto her face, she was pleased, to say the least. It has been two days since Robb Stark was proclaimed dead, along with that damned mother of his and that meant her daughters and son would soon be returned to her. She had missed them fiercely and once she had them in her hold, she would never let them go again. They were her children and her children alone. The Red Wedding was a great victory for her house and for herself and all she wanted was her children that Roose Bolton had promised he would deliver.

Cersei could not care less about anything else other than her children, all of it was falling back in her favour; Boudicca, Myrcella and Tommen would be with her once more, like they should be. Her eldest son was soon to be married to that Highgarden whore but she found the likes of Margaery Tyrell the least of her problems, she could not care less about that little bitch. She had made preparations along with Olenna Tyrell to make the wedding at least tolerable. And now she had prepared for her children's return. Though she was angered at the fact that neither Roose Bolton or Walder Frey had sent her any ravens, telling of her children's well being and whereabouts.

I have much to do. Cersei had taken care of Myrcella's and Tommen's chambers, though she tended to Boudicca's especially; she had more books placed in her room and the shelves of the many bookcases repainted and all the bedding was new. She had her daughter's circled shined and polished, ready to be worn once again. And she even had her daughter's sword polished. Now, she was ready to make preparations for the grand feast to welcome back her children, too many nights she has eaten alone.

Cersei made her way to Boudicca's chambers, clutching the circlet tightly in her hands and opened the door wide only to see a figure already present. Her green eyes narrowed dangerously and in disdain when she saw Jaime sitting on the edge of Boudicca's bed, looking around the room while he was twirling her daughter's sword in his left hand, his movements fumbling every so often. Cersei cocked her head to the side and eyed him carefully, wondering why he was in her daughter's chambers.

"This is my daughter's chambers," Cersei sneered. "Get out. I am still preparing it."

"I can see that."

Her daughter's chambers were beautiful now, fit for a Princess. A dozen bunches of crimson red flowers in gold vases decorated the chambers, the doors to the balcony were opened allowing in a gentle and sweet breeze. And the chambers were decorated with gold and crimson, she doubted her daughter would be wanting to remember her time with the Stark's as she knew the old bedding of grey, white and black would remind her of House Stark's banners. The chambers were now filled with Lannister crimson and gold. The true colours she should be wearing.

"Still preparing it? I suggest you change it," Jaime said with a scoff, which caused her eyes to narrow at his remark on her hard work. "It's too boastful. It will only scorn her further."

"It will not scorn her," Cersei said, striding over and placed the circlet on the table. "These are my colours. I am her mother."

"Her husband, good mother and many of her friends were slaughtered in the carnage," Jaime leered. "You obviously have let the wine go to your head if you think your reunion with her will be a happy one. Boudicca witnessed the death of Robb and Catelyn Stark. She was the first to be attacked and has no doubt lost her child, Cersei. As for Myrcella and Tommen, what makes you think they have not witnessed us for who we really are? What if all three of them despise you?"

Cersei's brows furrowed as she cast a dark look towards him when she thought on it. She was not pleased that her eldest daughter was harmed but in the end, it was a necessary evil. If her daughter had lost the child, good. If not...they would have to be rid of it one way or another. It did not matter to her what will happen involving everything else in the weeks to come as long as her children were returned to her safely, she did not care for anyone or anything else.

"It is known that Robb Stark forced himself upon her," Cersei scoffed. "Besides, I have reconsidered and I can now marry her to someone who will be what I want for her."

"To whom?" Jaime asked ludicrously as he raised his brows towards her in surprise.

"Willas Tyrell."

"You opposed that offer before," He informed her but all she did was roll her eyes at him. "You cannot be serious. You honest think Willas Tyrell, would be a good match for the likes of Boudicca? You forget, she has fought a bloody war! Boudicca became a Kinslayer, like how I became a Kingslayer! Lady Olenna, Margaery and Mace Tyrell are here for the marriage between Margaery and Joffrey and will most likely stay here for a long time now that Mace has a place on the Small Council. If you wed Boudicca to the likes of Willas...this must be a jest of some sort?"

"I do not jest," Cersei snarled, gifting him an accusing look. "Boudicca is my daughter, she would never betray me."

"Boudicca may be your daughter but she is her father's daughter too," Her twin brother points out. "The daughter of the great Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister."

"You always hated her," She hissed, spitting out the words as stalked over towards her daughter's bookshelf and picked out one of her daughter's many favourite books. The Rains Weep O'er Their Halls. Cersei smirked at her daughter's preferred choice of literature. This was based on the downfall of House Reyne. Cersei held the book tightly in her hand, her sharp nails digging into the bindings of the book as she walked back towards her brother and placed the book on the table nearby her daughter's bed.

"I have never hated her. I pity her, I pity you," Jaime admitted, a sneer present on his face.

"We did not ask nor want your pity. We do not need it," Cersei said, raising her voice and gripped the edge of the table. "Leave."

"You know why I don't hate her...it is because I can relate to her, you see? Boudicca and I both know what it is like to feel neglected by you," He retorted.

"I have never neglected either of you," She scoffed, her lips curling into a leer.

"Admit it, when you had your golden and fair son, you did not speak to her for nearly a years worth. I know because I had to stop her from trying to enter that fat oaf's chambers each night, she kept having night terrors and wept every night for a mother and for a father that weren't there. I had to stop her from going in because I didn't want her to witness her father drunk and whoring. Boudicca was Princess. Like all Princesses do she looked up to knights in ever shining armour, though she looked up to them, not because of those pathetic stories but because they were warriors. And who did she look up to the most? Her warrior father. And where were you when she cried into my arms each night? You were fawning over that little shite. Boudicca and I, we are more alike than you want to think and you know it. We both know what it is like to be neglected by you and what it is like to look up to our father's and then be neglected."

"Our father did not neglect you, he neglected our brother," Cersei responded.

"After I had joined the King's Guard, I became nothing to him," Jaime said coldly, they were met with a long period of silence before he spoke once more. "Tell me, Cersei. When was the last time you saw Boudicca? When was the last time you heard and spoke to Boudicca? She will not be the same boisterous and proud doe that you claim to love. She has changed, Cersei. You haven't seen her. Boudicca knows about us, Cersei. She knows. The wolves have changed her. The doe is dead. Boudicca is a wolf now."

"Was," She correctly abruptly. "Robb Stark is dead. She is no longer married to him, therefore, she is a widow."

"Boudicca is a Queen nonetheless. The Stormlands, The North and the Riverlands. They will still view her as such," Her brother retorted. "She is fierce."

"Boudicca has only been Queen for a few moons," Cersei said, raising a brow. "I have been Queen for over ten and eight years."

A knock sounded on the door after she said this, causing their heads to snap towards it. Cersei ordered for them to enter and a tall, lithe and doe eyed boy entered the chambers and looked on at them with wide eyes, briskly walking towards them with a piece of parchment in his shaking heads. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at him, snatching the parchment out of his trembling hands and watched as he bowed before her and her brother.

"A r-raven, Your Majesty," The boy stammered. "F-From Boudicca herself."

All thoughts left her as she dismissively dismissed the boy with a wave of her hand, he bowed once more before he hurriedly left her daughter's chambers. Jaime stood up, his armour clattering as he did so and moved to her side, standing to her left and was looking over her shoulder at the letter. Cersei eyed the letter, it had a strange feel to it and weighed heavier than it should, letting her know that there was something other than a piece of parchment contained in it.

She opened it with desperation, wanting word from her daughter that she had not received in moons worth and instead was greeted with a bloodied lion pendant falling into her hands along with a bloody piece of cloth decorated with a black lion with piercing green eyes, the green eyes of the lion seemed to be glaring at her. Her hands started to shake and her eyes widened at the three words written in blood that the letter held.

THE NORTH REMEMBERS.