1st Month of 299 A.C. Casterly Rock

Lord Jaime Lannister

His sister was still beautiful, though childbirth was slowly beginning to take a toll on her, or rather was that her plotting? He was not sure. All he knew was that he no longer found her as attractive to him, as he once had. Ashara far outstripped her in smarts and kindness, Cersei was never kind, not unless she wanted something. He looks at her now and speaks. "So, sister, tell me, how would you handle the situation within, with the Faith?" His sister is never one who is shy to give her opinion, and Jaime wonders where her thinking is going now.

"I would have them all hung, if they dared to speak out against me. I do not tolerate disobedience." Cersei says simply.

Jaime laughs softly, Ashara smiling at his side. Of course, Cersei would say something like that, she has always been somewhat slow to understand changing tides. "And you would ignore the fact that these are supposedly holy men, who are merely doing the work of the Gods?"

Cersei seemingly hesitates then. She has cultivated an image of being incredibly pious over the past few years, no doubt done, to try and contrast herself with Ashara's bluntness. But now, now she has been caught out. "If they are doing things that call into question their allegiance, then yes, I would."

Jaime keeps his breathing even, even though there is a growing anger in him. He knows full well that his sister has not been doing what she has advised him to do, she has not even been bothering. And so, it is with some great pleasure that he asks her. "And what about Septon Dunsen and Septon Messange?"

His sister does not even blink. "What about them?"

"Do not play games with me, Cersei." Jaime snaps. "We both know that you have been using both of those Septons to spread some sort of virile about myself and Ashara. I want to know why."

His sister looks like she has been caught in the storm. "I have done no such thing."

Jaime looks at his sister, and then to Ashara, who unfurls a piece of paper and begins speaking. "On the fourth day, Septon Dunsen spoke to a crowd of twenty men within Lannisport, to speak of the treasonous behaviours of Lady Ashara Dayne, and how she had cuckholded her husband, Lord Jaime, with her brother Ser Arthur. Septon Messange, then claimed that all good men of Faith would take up arms, to free their lord from the spells of a wicked witch." Ashara falls silent, though Jaime can feel her anger emanating off of her, he takes her hand under the table, and she continues. "On the seventh day, the Lady Cersei appeared with her husband, and spoke of how she was grieving for her falling family. She believed that the Lady Ashara was evil, and was someone who was a threat to the Faith. Both Septons were then seen speaking with the Lady, to ensure that they stuck with the message."

His sister's eyes have widened comically, and Jaime can hear her breathing coming in thick and fast. Her denial is quick off the tongue. "I did not say those things. Those are things that someone has made up."

"Cersei, enough." Jaime replies, yawning slightly. "Tell me, why are you having these people say these things? And before you deny it, I have had people watching you for the past few moons, they all say the same thing. You are always meeting with these two, and other, less savoury characters. I would know why."

Cersei's eyes have widened to a worrying proportion now, and Jaime is somewhat glad her husband is not here, if that smug fool was here, Jaime likely would've knocked him out by now. Eventually, Cersei speaks, her voice strained. "I…I…I was merely trying to protect the family."

"How?" Jaime demands. "How was spreading these vicious lies about my family, about my wife, an attempt to protect the family? Tell me honestly!"

"The High Sparrow has gotten so much support in the Reach and the Riverlands, I was trying to pre-empt him getting support here, by giving the people a visible target to blame for when things start going bad." Cersei explains hurriedly.

"The economy of the Westerlands has grown sevenfold in the past decade." Jaime says, his voice laced with anger. "The people of the West are seeing more money come into their pockets than they ever did under father. So, tell me Cersei, were you really doing that? Or were you doing it for your own selfish reasons?"

"I was doing it for the family!" Cersei pleads. "Please, Jaime, you have to believe me!"

Jaime stares at his sister, wondering how he could have ever loved her. How he could have ever believed that she was a decent person. He sighs, his shoulders slumping and then straightening up once more. "You will go and speak with your two Septons, and you will give them information about a plot against their lives. If they have any sense, they shall leave for the furthest place from here. If they do not, then I will kill them myself. As for you, you shall retire to the Crag, and you shall not return until such time as I have dealt with your mess. Your children shall stay here."

Cersei's mouth drops open then. "You cannot be serious!"

"I am." Jaime replies bullishly. "Now, get up and leave. I want you gone before the sun sets tonight." His sister reluctantly rises and curtseys before she leaves the room. Once she is gone, Jaime turns to Ashara and says. "She is going to try something before she leaves."

Ashara nods. "I agree, but what do you think she will do?"

Jaime runs a hand through his hair. "I do not know. I think she might well try and organise something with her husband. He has connections with all kinds of unsavoury people, and as such I think we will need to be guard for the next few days." He has already given the orders to the guards, they are to watch his sister like lions' stalk their prey. And the guards are watching their children as well, hopefully this will dissuade Cersei from doing something too stupid. But knowing her, it could go either way.

Ashara does not need to ask if he has arranged proper protection, she knows him well enough to know that he has. Instead she says. "We should send her on her way to the Silent Sisters."

Jaime laughs. "I would my love, but she'd likely try and escape, and then I'd have to kill her. And if I can, I'd like to avoid doing that. She might be many things, but she is still my sister, and I am no kinslayer."